Advisory Board Member

Title: Advisory Board Member

Type: Voluntary

Term: Each new member is appointed for an initial term of three years

Engagement: The individual will provide time when required by the role

Location: Remote

The Cyber Helpline

The Cyber Helpline is a movement by the information security community to step in and fill the gap in support for victims of cybercrime & online harm. It is a UK charity that provides free, expert help to victims by helping them understand, contain, recover and learn from experiencing a malicious online issue. We have helped over 22,000 individuals and families in the UK. 

The Cyber Helpline is a young, fast-growth charity with a mission that is becoming ever more critical. Effective strategic guidance is going to be vital to the long term success of the charity.

Role Summary

Advisory Board members are appointed by the Board of Trustees due to their knowledge and experience in an area relevant to The Cyber Helpline. They will assist in problem solving, exploring options/concepts and strategic direction. 

The Advisory Board members will advise and make non-binding recommendations to the Board of Trustees and Senior Management Team on various decisions that will impact the future of the charity.

Key Responsibilities

The Advisory Board Member will:

  • Attend quarterly Advisory Board meetings

  • Keep up to date with the operation of The Cyber Helpline through attending meetings, reviewing reports and reading internal/external communications. 

  • Contribute to Advisory Board outcomes through value-driven insights and advice

  • Provide strategic guidance on company goals and growth strategies

  • Provide counsel on issues where the member is a subject matter expert

  • Strategic introductions and advocacy within approved guidelines for the charity

  • Identify growth opportunities such as fundraising and marketing opportunities

  • Help to create strategic vision for the charity 

  • Assess the impact of programs, projects and events

  • Support short-term events such as meetings and conferences ad hoc

  • Serve as an advocate and ambassador for the charity 

  • Provide input on policies and procedures

Requirements

Candidates must be 16 years old or older and be resident in the UK. Successful candidates will need to be background & criminal record checked.

All Charities have a public benefit responsibility and in carrying out their role, The Cyber Helpline’s Advisory Board Members are expected to adhere to the Principles for holders of public office:

  • Selflessness: Members should act solely in terms of the public interest. 

  • Integrity:  Members must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships. 

  • Objectivity: Members must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias. 

  • Accountability:  Members are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this. 

  • Openness: Members should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing. 

  • Honesty: Members should be truthful. 

  • Leadership: Members should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour.  They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and be willing to challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.

Key attributes we are looking for:

  • Passion for our mission of supporting victims of cybercrime & online harm

  • Ability to provide the level of commitment required for this role

  • Experience of governance – desirable not essential

  • Ability to work as a team

  • Strong attention to detail & ability to challenge

  • A strong skill set and experience in a key area such as

    • Charity law & governance

    • Privacy

    • HR

    • Finance & accounting

    • Sales & marketing

    • Fundraising

    • Victim support

    • Cybercrime & online harm

    • Law

    • Policing & justice

    • Academia

    • Government relations

  • An understanding of the challenges facing victims of cybercrime & online harm

  • Experience on Advisory Boards previously is a bonus