The Women in
STEM
Network
Professional connection across disciplines, regions and career stages
Thank you for contributing your knowledge, experience and perspective as a member of the Advisory Board of The Women in STEM Network.
Mums in Science Limited owns and operates The Women in STEM Network and trades under that name.
The Advisory Board supports the development of the Network by providing independent advice, professional expertise, constructive challenge and strategic guidance.
This framework explains what Advisory Board membership involves, what is expected of members and the boundaries of the role.
The Advisory Board brings together people with knowledge and experience that can support the mission and development of The Women in STEM Network.
Members may contribute expertise from areas including:
The Advisory Board provides advice. It is not the statutory board of Mums in Science Limited and does not manage the organisation.
Dr Shara Cohen is the Founder and sole Director of Mums in Science Limited.
She retains ultimate legal, statutory, financial and governance responsibility for Mums in Science Limited and The Women in STEM Network.
Appointment to the Advisory Board does not make a member:
Advisory Board members do not have executive authority and cannot make binding decisions on behalf of Mums in Science Limited or The Women in STEM Network.
Any separate authority given to a member must be granted in writing by the Director and must be limited to a defined activity or responsibility.
Advisory Board members are expected to read and follow:
These documents form part of the governance arrangements supporting the Advisory Board.
An Advisory Board member is expected to provide thoughtful, independent and constructive advice.
Members may be invited to:
Members are not expected to manage daily operations unless they hold a separate operational appointment.
Advisory Board members are expected to:
The Advisory Board advises the Director.
The Director may ask members to provide advice on strategic, professional, operational or organisational matters.
The Director will consider the advice provided but retains authority to:
Advisory Board members do not supervise or direct the Director.
The Chief Executive Officer manages the day-to-day activities of The Women in STEM Network under authority delegated by the Director.
The Chief Executive Officer may:
Advisory Board members may provide advice to the Chief Executive Officer but do not manage or direct the Chief Executive Officer.
The Chief Executive Officer remains accountable to the Director.
Advisory Board members do not have authority to manage or direct:
Requests involving operational work should normally be directed through the Director or Chief Executive Officer.
A member may work with staff, contractors or volunteers on an approved activity where:
Advisory Board members are appointed by the Director.
Before accepting an appointment, a prospective member should receive information about:
The appointment becomes effective when confirmed by the Director.
The duration of the appointment will be confirmed in writing.
An appointment may be renewed by agreement between the member and the Director.
Membership is not permanent and does not create an entitlement to continued appointment.
The organisation’s needs and Advisory Board composition may change over time.
The expected time commitment may include:
Members should only accept responsibilities they can reasonably complete.
If a member’s availability changes, they should inform the Director or Chair.
Advisory Board meetings may take place:
Members should make reasonable efforts to attend meetings and notify the Chair or Director when they are unable to participate.
Meeting information and papers should be treated appropriately, particularly where they contain confidential, personal or commercially sensitive information.
Members should:
Members are not expected to provide advice outside their knowledge or professional competence.
Advisory Board members provide recommendations rather than binding decisions.
Members should aim to:
The Director retains responsibility for deciding whether and how a recommendation is adopted.
Unless expressly authorised in writing, an Advisory Board member may not:
Members should refer to the Delegation of Authority Policy whenever they are uncertain about the limits of their role.
Advisory Board members must comply with the Conflicts of Interest Policy.
Members must declare any actual, potential or perceived conflict as soon as reasonably possible.
A conflict may arise from:
Having a conflict does not automatically prevent someone from serving on the Advisory Board. The conflict must, however, be declared and managed appropriately.
Depending on the circumstances, a member may be asked not to receive information, join a discussion or contribute to a recommendation relating to the matter.
Advisory Board members may be asked to complete a separate Declaration of Interests when they are appointed and to update it when their circumstances change.
The declaration will be managed in accordance with the Conflicts of Interest Policy.
The Declaration of Interests is a separate governance record and does not form part of this framework.
Members may receive confidential, commercially sensitive or personal information.
Advisory Board members must:
Confidential information must not be used for personal, professional or commercial advantage.
Personal information must be handled in accordance with applicable data protection requirements and organisational policies.
Advisory Board members must not:
Any suspected data breach must be reported promptly.
Advisory Board members may state that they serve on the Advisory Board after their appointment has been confirmed.
They must not suggest that they:
Media enquiries and requests for official comments should be referred to the Director or an authorised spokesperson.
The name, logo and materials of Mums in Science Limited and The Women in STEM Network may only be used for approved purposes.
Members must obtain permission before using the organisation’s branding in:
Membership of the Advisory Board must not be used to imply endorsement of a separate organisation, business, product or service.
Members may support the Network by making introductions to potential:
An introduction does not give the member authority to negotiate or agree terms.
Any partnership, sponsorship, funding or commercial arrangement must be approved through the organisation’s established processes.
A member may represent the Advisory Board or the Network at an event where this has been agreed in advance.
When representing the organisation, members must:
Advisory Board members are expected to contribute to a respectful, inclusive and professional environment.
Members must not engage in:
Professional disagreement and constructive challenge are encouraged when expressed respectfully.
Members must report any safeguarding concern that becomes known through their Advisory Board role.
They must not attempt to investigate a safeguarding concern independently unless formally authorised and professionally qualified to do so.
Immediate concerns should be referred to the Director or the designated safeguarding contact.
Documents and materials supplied by Mums in Science Limited remain the property of the company or the relevant rights holder.
Materials created specifically for the organisation by an Advisory Board member should be managed according to any written agreement applying to that work.
Members must not copy, publish, license, sell or commercially exploit organisational materials without permission.
Advisory Board membership is normally voluntary and unpaid unless a separate written arrangement has been agreed.
Reasonable expenses may be reimbursed where:
Advisory Board membership does not create an employment relationship.
Any separately commissioned paid work must be covered by an appropriate written agreement.
The Director may periodically review each member’s:
The review may result in renewal, amendment or conclusion of the appointment.
A member may resign by notifying the Director in writing.
Where possible, reasonable notice should be provided to support an orderly handover.
On leaving the Advisory Board, the member must:
The Director may suspend or end an appointment where:
Immediate action may be taken where necessary to protect people, information, legal compliance or the organisation’s reputation.
Ending an appointment does not require a finding of legal wrongdoing.
Members should contact the Director or the Advisory Board Chair if they:
Questions should be raised early so that they can be addressed appropriately.
By accepting an appointment, an Advisory Board member confirms that they understand:
Any formal acceptance or signature should be recorded separately as part of the member’s appointment documentation.
This Advisory Board Member Framework was approved by Mums in Science Limited, trading as The Women in STEM Network, in October 2026.
Approved by: Dr Shara Cohen
Position: Founder and sole Director
Last updated October 2026