Celebrating Trustees' Week 2025

To mark Trustees' Week, we asked Council member Dr Matthew Tuck about his experience of serving on the College’s Board of Trustees.

1. What inspired you to become a trustee, and what has kept you engaged in the role? 

I developed a passion for the College's work whilst starting as a Council member. Council and the Board of Trustees represent the dual functions of the RCoA – to be the professional home for our speciality, and to further the interests of patients and the public.  

I wanted to understand more about how we ensure patients are central to the decisions we make. It was also a personal challenge and a chance to be a part of a team tackling the current challenges faced by the College.  

2. What do you think are the most rewarding aspects of being a trustee?  

Balancing the day-to-day needs of my colleagues, alongside making the right decisions for the College as a charity. 

I think the decisions surrounding the move to Jubilee House will be something I look back on with pride, as both current and future members will benefit from a modern, speciality-focused space.  

Meeting and understanding the background of the lay trustees, alongside the wisdom they have brought into our processes, has been eye-opening and has added immense value behind the scenes for our members.  

3. How can organisations better support and retain their trustees?  

I think a significant barrier to continued board contributions is the feeling that others know more than you or understand complex terms beyond your everyday vocabulary. Accounts, finances and policy documents are not things most members of the College encounter in their everyday lives. The right training and support can make all the difference in the world, as can allocating a mentor to check in from time to time.  

Retention usually hinges on people seeing the value of their contributions reflected in the organisation's ‘final product’. Being included in the celebrations of the College's successes, whether that be our diplomates ceremony or other key moments in the College calendar, goes a long way to appreciating the time and experience of trustees.  

4. What skills or perspectives have you gained from being a trustee that you've found valuable elsewhere?  

As an anaesthetist and, more generally, as a healthcare worker, we often work in diverse yet quite niche teams, so the opportunity to contribute to a team that addresses a broader range of problems and challenges is an absolute joy.   

I find that my clinical role gives me a valuable perspective on trustee matters, and the experience of being a trustee, in turn, invigorates my clinical work. The roles enhance each other and ultimately make the clinical work feel more connected to the profession and to the public.  

5. And, lastly, what advice would you give to someone considering becoming a trustee for the first time?  

My first tip would be to talk to existing trustees. I had some excellent guidance from the previous College president and some of the other outgoing trustees.  

Secondly, don't worry if you're new to the world of trustees; the College recruits lay trustees to provide business, finance, and governance expertise that the board might otherwise not have. A key part of your role is to scrutinise the College's work and its charitable aims as a working member and anaesthetist. Your experience in the workplace, in representing your colleagues, and in using your professional voice are the attributes the board needs to ensure it is doing the right thing at the right time.  

You can find out more about the College’s Board of Trustees in the governance section of our website.