AGM 2026
The greatest power you have to bring about change is to be a member of the National Trust and vote in AGMs.
Our members’ resolution
Any member who wishes to stand for election to the Council of the National Trust should be nominated and seconded by other members.
The Council of the National Trust should have a strong mandate from the members. However, governance is currently suffering from member disengagement. Between 2023 and 2025, voter turnout fell by about 60%, partly due to an overly-long ballot that makes meaningful scrutiny of candidates nearly impossible. Currently, any individual can appear on the ballot via an online form with no prior commitment to the Trust. In contrast, members wishing to bring a resolution must show the support of 50 members of 17 months’ standing. This disparity is illogical.
Requiring a proposer and seconder is a standard democratic safeguard. It ensures candidates have a baseline of support and have engaged with the wider membership before seeking a seat on the Council. This minor change will improve candidate quality, shorten the ballot to a manageable length, and help build confidence in the Trust’s democratic processes.
The candidates
Voting for the National Trust Council is now open. Choose your candidates yourself rather than letting a single box do it for you.
Here are the five we recommend to protect what the Trust is for:
Mash Bonigala, founder of The England Archive, documenting the blacksmiths, pub landlords and traditional crafts at risk of disappearing
Georgia Cristea, RIBA-accredited Conservation Architect and Interior Designer based in London, specialising in historical buildings
Lawrence Goldman, Oxford historian of 29 years, former Director of the Institute of Historical Research and former editor of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
Anthony Mealing, practising Conservation Architect accredited for building conservation, who believes our built heritage should be managed as a living legacy, not just preserved
Bijan Omrani, award-winning British historian, classicist and writer, who led the campaign that kept Shute Barton open to the public
The Council appoints the Board of Trustees and monitors its work. Leave the Quick Vote box unticked and pick your five.
Voting closes at 11.59pm on Friday 30 October.
Voting closes on 31 October
Only current National Trust members can vote.
Get AGM updates
If you would like a paper AGM booklet for upcoming AGMs to make it easier to read about the candidates running and the resolutions put forward, you can request one by clicking the button.
If you have previously made a request for a postal vote, you do NOT need to make this request again. Your preferences will be saved.
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