POLYAS Election Glossary

We provide explanations and background information on elections, voting rights and digital democracy

Board Members

Board members sit on the board of directors of an organization. Responsible for overseeing the smooth running of their organization, board members can also be known as “trustees”, “directors”, “board officers”, or “council officers”. 

Boards generally have some form of hierarchical structure. For example, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) or Managing Director sits at the top, whilst the next most senior members include in the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

The number and structure of board members will vary between organizations. Furthermore, depending on the rules governing the organization, board members may be either elected, appointed or a mixture of both.

See also: Board Officers, Council Officers, Board Chairman


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