Call for Nominations

IMA Honorary Secretary for Mathematics Communications

Deadline 18 September 2026 / 17:00 HRS

Help promote public awareness and understanding of mathematics and its applications

The IMA Council invites applications for a new Honorary Secretary for Mathematics Communications, starting in January 2027, to lead the IMA’s mathematics communications and help us provide effective messaging, communications-related strategies and projects which promote and provide public understanding of mathematics and its applications. The officeholder will chair the Communications Committee and be an ex officio member of Council, working closely with the President, officeholders and staff team to deliver our goals.

This role reflects the efforts of the current VP Communications and IMA senior leadership team to invest in membership engagement, marketing and social media visibility, enabling the new officeholder to dedicate more time to developing projects and initiatives which will increase public awareness of the importance of mathematics and its applications across society.

There are already a number of exciting related projects underway, including the President’s revitalised Mathematics Matters programme. The IMA Communications Committee also now acts as the key advisory body for the IMA’s materials for schools, the MathsCareers website and outreach events, as well as continuing to develop links between the IMA and the Maths Communicators community.

About the Communications Committee

The IMA Communications Committee meets 2-3 times per year and oversees a number of projects and activities of the IMA, including:

Advising, supporting and developing activities which communicate the importance of mathematics in society across multimedia formats and channels.
Developing content and opportunities for further engagement and awareness which offer the added potential for new revenue stream development.
Oversee and convene the panel for the biennial IMA/LMS Christopher Zeeman Medal
Implementation of a new IMA prize for early career maths communicators.
From time to time, review responses to official inquiries or consultations received by the IMA (the content of which may be produced by another IMA committee or specialist representative).
Writing and/or approving announcements on major news stories or notable events relating to IMA members or related institutions.
Overseeing and advising on IMA content and materials to promote mathematics to young people such as the MathsCareers website content and competitions, outreach events and posters and materials for distribution at events and/or to schools etc.
Representing the IMA at events and meetings as required.
Building links between the IMA and the maths communicators community.
Contributing to IMA strategic reviews and planning,

Other responsibilities and time commitment

Trustee and Member of Council

By its Royal Charter the IMA is required to have two Honorary Secretaries. These are amongst the seven Honorary Officers specified in the Charter.

The Honorary Secretary for Membership is an ex officio member of IMA Council.

There are three Council meetings per year, the dates of which are set well in advance, but are usually in March, June and November and held in London with online attendance options also available. Honorary Officers of the IMA are expected to contribute to strategic reviews and planning and attend related events and meetings.

Council members are currently IMA trustees, and, as such, must meet the eligibility criteria to hold trustee positions within a Registered Charity as set out by the Charity Commission.

Member of the Executive Board

The Executive Board currently meets online three times per year, usually in March, June and November, with the occasionally additional meeting.

Member of the Mathematics Today Editorial Board

The Editorial Board meets annually each June in London and online. Members are also encouraged throughout the year to contribute ideas, content, editorials and other suggestions for the IMA’s flagship membership publication.

The maximum term for this post is six years.

How to Nominate

Criteria / Requirements:

Self-nomination is permitted for this voluntary role; the deadline is 18 September 2026.
Applicants should be IMA members at Member (MIMA) grade or above and have established extensive links across the mathematics community, ideally to include Mathematics Communicators.
Nominees should submit a summary, stating their background and their reasons for standing for this role, with their nomination form. These summaries must not exceed 500 words.
The nomination must be supported by two members who have attained the IMA grade of FIMA.
Interviews for shortlisted applicants will be held in early October.

The nomination form can be downloaded here: Self nomination form – Honorary Secretary Mathematics Communications. If you have any questions regarding this role please contact the IMA Governance Team Governance@ima.org.uk.

The IMA is committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable and diverse professional community. We seek a Council that reflects the breadth of experiences, backgrounds and perspectives within our membership. Nominations are welcomed from all eligible members, with particular encouragement for those who may have been historically under‑represented in our leadership.