How we are governed

Our Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees is responsible for the governance and strategy of the BHF. The Board is made up of 14 Trustees, comprising a mix of medically-qualified and lay members. The Trustees have full legal responsibility for the actions of the BHF. Members are appointed for a renewable term of three years and are the directors of the company for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006.

The Board meets at least four times a year. They delegate the day-to-day responsibility for the running of the BHF to the Executive Group. It has approved and adopted a Conflicts of Interest Policy and Code of Conduct. 

Trustee appointments

Our trustees are appointed for a three year term. Renewable for a second term on the recommendation of the Nominations Committee. Each year, a small number of these positions become vacant, and are evaluated against the existing skills, knowledge and experience on the Board. Trustee vacancies are advertised as necessary, and BHF will also approach individuals thought to have the right skills.

Our Committee Structure

The Board also delegates specific responsibilities and activities to various specialist sub-committees, see below. Including the Audit and Risk, Investment, Retail, Nominations, and Remuneration and People committees. 

Our investment in research is overseen by five medical committees with responsibility for specific areas of Research. Including the review of grant requests and other scientific award proposals. For further information on our research strategy and committees please visit our research section.

To clarify the role and function of each committee we have adopted a structure whereby each committee is placed in one of three streams: Governance, Operational or Advisory.

In this way, the broad function of each committee and the way they contribute to the running of the BHF is immediately apparent:

Governance committees

To ensure all decisions are informed and appropriate for the BHF. Where it is beneficial to the BHF, the Trustees have delegated certain tasks to directly accountable committees (the ‘Governance Committees’). Each of these committees has members who are independent of the Trustees and have relevant specialist knowledge. 

Audit and Risk Committee

Chaired by Mark FitzPatrick, a member of the Board of Trustees, the Audit and Risk Committee is responsible for reviewing and evaluating the risk management and  internal control of financial and non-financial risks. It also assesses the role and effectiveness of our internal audit function and ensures the organisation responds effectively and efficiently to any recommendations for change.

This committee recommends the external auditor to be used by the BHF, reviews the BHF’s annual financial statement, recommends the reserves policy, and develops policy and approval processes for non-audit services by the external auditor.

Nominations Committee

Chaired by our Chair of the Board of Trustees, the Nominations Committee is responsible for recommending individuals for appointment or re-appointment as Trustees, conducting skills audits, and overseeing the induction and training programme for Trustees. It is also responsible for recommending individuals for appointment as Chairs of some of the BHF’s Committees, as well as overseeing the search and selection of the Chief Executive, Finance Director and Chief Scientific & Medical Officer.

Remuneration and People Committee

The Remuneration and People Committee is responsible for ensuring that clear and effective arrangements are in place for the appraisal of the Chief Executive, and for determining and regularly reviewing the broad senior management remuneration policy. This Committee may advise the Executive Group on the general remuneration policy of the BHF. Additionally, the Committee reviews feedback from employee and volunteer engagement surveys and other initiatives relating to health at work, equality, diversity and inclusivity. 

Operational committees

The Operational Committees review and make decisions on key operational matters on behalf of the Board of Trustees. 

Chairs and Programme Grants Committee

The Chairs and Programme Grants Committee is responsible for assessing cardiovascular research grant applications and selecting those for award, in line with the guidelines set by the Board of Trustees. Applications include those for Personal Chairs, Programme Grants, Special Projects, New Horizons Grants, Infrastructure Grants and Strategic Initiatives. The Committee also ratifies awards made in partnership with external research funders.

Project Grants Committee

The Project Grants Committee is responsible for assessing applications for project grants and selecting those for award.

Fellowships Committee

The Fellowships Committee is responsible for assessing basic and clinical research grant applications for Fellowships. For researchers at various stages of their careers from PhD level to senior scientist and selecting those for award.

Clinical Studies Committee

The Clinical Studies Committee is responsible for the approval and monitoring of applications for clinical studies

Investment Committee

The Investment Committee assists the Board of Trustees in safeguarding the charity’s investment and cash assets and reviewing and recommending the investment and treasury policies, including the BHF’s stance on ethical investment. It is responsible for appointing and fixing the remuneration of advisers and investment and cash managers. Setting appropriate risk and return benchmarks for the portfolio, and regularly monitoring performance against those benchmarks.

Translational Awards Committee

The Translational Awards Committee is responsible for the approval and monitoring of applications for translational research awards.

Advisory Committees

The BHF Advisory Committees cover specific areas of expertise each designed to support BHF’s key strategic themes. Working with supporters, specialist advisers, patient representatives and other key stakeholders. To drive the new strategy through its key themes, the groups:

• Provide tailored, expert support and advice to the Board and Executive Group. 
• Keep the Board appraised of major issues and concerns. 
• Provide a forum for stakeholder involvement and consultation to inform the BHF’s work.

Committees include:

Retail Committee

The Retail Committee assists the BHF by reviewing the medium and long-term development strategy of BHF’s Retail Division. As well as provide advice and assistance on UK trading generally.

Plus other specialist advisory groups including a Technology Advisory Group, a Commercial Advisory Board and Marketing Board.