What’s on the agenda? Highlights from Members Board March 2026

The Members Board meeting held on 25 March 2026 was filled with key updates and meaningful discussions aimed at shaping and improving member engagement work at ICAS. Here’s a snapshot of the key highlights:

Updates from Board Members

Board members shared updates from three key areas. From the Sustainability Committee, David Wilson highlighted committee membership changes (including Catherine MacLeod’s appointment as chair) and progress on ICAS-funded research into sustainability governance with the University of Dundee and Metis, with outputs expected in June to inform a member toolkit.

For the EDI Committee, Ashley Gibb, Senior Engagement Manager at ICAS reported strong progress against the current plan and early work on a new 2027–2030 EDI strategy, with an emphasis on deeper integration, stronger monitoring and data, and using networks to build belonging.

Carolyn Spencer, ICAS Executive Director – Technology & Operations, provided an update on the AI Working Group, which will reconvene to confirm priority themes for members and build a 12–18-month content calendar focused on practical upskilling, alongside work with Edinburgh University’s Futures Institute.

Member Engagement and Value Strategy Breakout Sessions

Three breakout groups focused on practical ways to increase engagement and demonstrate value. The first group’s suggestions focussed on ideas for early-career engagement, including the need to reach different audiences earlier (particularly through schools), using members as ambassadors, offering work experience touchpoints, and making qualification feel like the start of a supported community through onboarding, networking and targeted CPD. 

Discussions in the second group focused on the value of ICAS membership, with emphasis on starting with a clearer understanding of the emotional “why” behind member engagement. Discussions also covered sharpening ICAS’s post-qualification purpose, and communicating benefits more effectively by suggesting the use of short member stories, more modern channels alongside email, and clearer renewal messaging. 

A third group explored how stronger networking supported by smarter use of member data could help ensure every member can access a relevant community and see tangible, ongoing value.

Area Networks and International Communities

The Board discussed how to strengthen two-way communication between ICAS, its Area Networks, international communities and the wider membership. Networks were recognised as an effective channel—particularly through events—for sharing short, clear updates on strategy and priorities, while also gathering anecdotal insight from member conversations.

Suggested approaches included agreeing a small set of insight questions for events, standardising how feedback is captured and reported, and improving connectivity for international ambassadors through either a “buddying” model or periodic joint calls. Concise, easy-to-share formats (such as 30-second micro-updates) and appropriate access to member and student data were highlighted as enablers.

Michael's final meeting

The meeting closed with thanks to Michael Kay as he chaired his final Members Board meeting, recognising the significant contribution he has made to advancing engagement work over the past six years. The Board and ICAS executive colleagues acknowledged his passion, commitment and constructive leadership.