Council

The NACA Council provides the strategic direction and governance of the National Association for Clean Air. Council works to ensure that NACA remains an active, credible and relevant professional association serving the air quality community in South Africa.

Council brings together members from academia, industry, government and other sectors of the air quality community. It includes the Executive Committee, ordinary Council members, branch and chapter chairpersons, co-opted members and government representatives, supported by the NACA Administrator.

Our role

Council is responsible for guiding the work of the Association and overseeing its activities in line with the NACA Constitution. This includes:

• providing strategic direction for NACA;

• overseeing the financial and administrative affairs of the Association;

• supporting NACA branches and specialist chapters;

• coordinating training, technical activities and professional development;

• supporting membership, outreach and engagement;

• overseeing communications, publications and digital content;

• strengthening relationships with government, industry, academia and civil society; and

• supporting the organisation of NACA conferences, workshops and other events.

Council members also take responsibility for specific portfolios, allowing members to contribute their expertise to different areas of NACA's work.

How Council is elected

Council is elected by NACA members in accordance with the NACA Constitution.

Ahead of the Annual General Meeting (AGM), NACA calls for nominations for Council positions. Members may nominate another eligible member or nominate themselves. Nominations must include a proposer and seconder, and the nominee must confirm that they are willing to stand for election.

Eligibility to nominate, second and stand for election is determined in accordance with the membership requirements set out in the NACA Constitution.

Where an election is required, voting may take place by electronic ballot or another approved voting process under the supervision of the Returning Officer. The outcome is confirmed at the AGM.

Not every member of Council is elected directly at the AGM. Branch and chapter chairpersons serve on Council through their respective leadership roles, while Council may also co-opt members where particular expertise or representation is required. Government representatives and the NACA Administrator participate in Council in their designated roles.

Getting involved

NACA members are encouraged to become involved in the work of the Association. Serving on Council provides an opportunity to contribute to the direction of NACA, support the air quality profession and help develop activities that benefit the wider clean air community.

Members can become involved by:

• standing for election to Council;

• serving on a NACA branch or specialist chapter;

• contributing to a Council portfolio or working group;

• supporting conferences, training and technical activities; or

• proposing new initiatives that advance NACA's objectives.

Calls for Council nominations are circulated to members ahead of the AGM.

Becoming a NACA Council member

Ordinary members of the NACA Council are elected from among NACA Individual and Honorary Members, as well as accredited delegates of other NACA membership categories.

The process is:

1. Nominations are called for ahead of the Annual General Meeting (email naca@naca.org.za)

2. A candidate may be nominated by a NACA member and the nomination must be seconded by another NACA member.

3. The nominee must confirm that they accept the nomination.

4. Where there are more nominees than available positions, an election is held.

5. Elected ordinary Council members serve a two-year term and may stand for re-election. Half of the ordinary Council members retire each year, providing continuity while allowing new members to join Council.

There are also other routes onto Council. Branch and Chapter Chairs serve on Council by virtue of their elected leadership roles, while Council may co-opt up to three additional NACA members where particular expertise or representation is required. Co-opted members serve until the following AGM and do not have a Council vote.

The President and Vice-President are not elected directly by the wider membership. They are elected by Council from among the ordinary Council members and must have served on Council for at least nine months before taking up either position.