Camara Education is an award-winning international charity which provides computers, teacher training and innovative learning programmes to schools in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia. It has given digital learning opportunities to over 4.4m children by supplying over 12,000 schools with more than 130,000 computers thus far. In addition to traditional fundraising, Camara uses a social enterprise model to raise funds for its school programs. This model includes monetising end-of-life computer assets donated by companies.

Founded in Dublin, Ireland in 2005, Camara sent its first shipment of computers to schools and colleges in Ethiopia that year. In 2009, it was registered as a charity in the UK, and in 2010 was registered as a 501(c)3 organisation in the USA. During this period Camara set up local education support hubs in Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Tanzania and Zambia to work with the schools in expanding their eLearning programs. These operations are supported through services centres in the UK, Ireland and the USA. The charity's aim is to provide children with the educational tools and digital skills to improve opportunities in life for themselves, as well as for their families and their communities.

The model of education delivery which the charity has built is both sustainable and highly scalable. Having won a number of awards including the Vodafone World of Difference Award and the Arthur Guinness Award, Camara hopes, moving forward, to increase the scale of its work in order to provide greater access to its programmes. 

The Chair of Trustees leads the Board and plays a crucial role in guiding the strategic direction and overall success of the charity. They oversee and ensure that the Board fulfils its duty to the charity's mission, which is to improve access to, as well as the quality of, education in the schools in which it operates through the training of teachers and the provision of computers and educational software.

Routine activity will involve:

• Holding the Board and executive team to account for the charity’s mission, vision, culture and strategic direction
• Providing inclusive leadership to the Board of Trustees, ensuring that each Trustee fulfils their duties and responsibilities for the effective governance of the charity
• Acting as an effective ambassador for Camara and its mission
• Providing regular counsel and support to the CEO
  
• Developing and maintaining relationships with key influencers across the education, technology and international development sectors, including engagement with potential donors
• Ensuring that the Board fulfils its duties to ensure sound financial health of the charity, with systems in place to ensure financial accountability
• Leading Board recruitment to ensure that there is an appropriate number of Trustees with the required mix of skills, experience and backgrounds represented on the Board

With Cormac Lynch due to complete his term as Chair in the new year, Camara Education is seeking a new Chair to lead the organisation into its next chapter.

The ideal candidate will be a dynamic and inspirational leader with a passion for the role that a quality education can play in transforming lives. With a modern and inclusive style of leadership, they will galvanise and empower the organisation's committed and talented group of Trustees. Candidates will possess substantial strategic-level experience gained across the public, private or third sectors, and they must be prepared to roll up their sleeves in support of the charity. The Chair is expected to get involved in fundraising efforts, acting as an ambassador for the charity externally. Although having a connection with education and / or Africa would be valuable, it is not a requirement of the role. Equally, candidates are not required to have chaired an organisation before, provided they have the skills required and a fundamental understanding of the governance role.

Given Camara's social cause, applicants will bring passion and enthusiasm for its mission and values, and will be keen to learn and contribute to the organisation’s mission to drive positive change towards how learning occurs, especially in impoverished environments. They will also bring an interest in, and commitment to, the long-term success of Camara.

A full list of current Trustees can be found here. 

This role is unremunerated, however reasonable, pre-agreed travel expenses will be reimbursed. There are six Board meetings annually, with each one approximately two hours long. In addition, the Chair will join the Finance Sub-Committee, which meets every two months in advance of the Board meetings, as well as breakout meetings when required. Board meetings are held in London, with a hybrid model of half in-person and half virtual meetings. The Chair will be expected to visit Africa within the first six months to immerse themselves in Camara's activity on the ground. The Chair will also establish a regular cadence of communication with the CEO of the organisation. The appointment is for a three-year term, which can be renewed once at the discretion of the Board.

Camara welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, belief or disability.  All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where candidates from underrepresented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.