AUGB Governing Council

The Governing Council is elected annually by delegates to the Annual General Meeting. The Council comprises a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 20 members, plus the President of the Association, who is a member of the Council ex officio.

Any member is eligible for election to the Governing Council. Council members become statutory Directors of the Association and are registered as Directors at Companies House. The positions are unpaid, but travelling expenses are reimbursed.

Council members do not represent a particular branch or interest, but as Directors, are required to act in the best interests of the Association as a whole. As well as their statutory responsibilities, they are accountable to the membership for:

• Ensuring that AUGB acts in accordance with its Memorandum and Articles of Association and in accordance with its Constitution

• Providing leadership within a framework of effective working practices and controls which promote the development of AUGB while assessing and managing risk

• Serving the interests of its members and other stakeholders, including staff, suppliers, other Ukrainian organisations and the wider Ukrainian community in accordance with the Mission, Vision and values of AUGB

• Driving forward the strategy of AUGB to ensure its continued development for the benefit of  its members and the wider Ukrainian community

• Monitoring the progress of AUGB and its executive management in implementing its strategies, plans and policies

• Ensuring AUGB is run with integrity, complies with all legal and regulatory requirements and conducts its business in accordance with the highest ethical standards.

Meetings of the full Council take place once a quarter. All members of the Council are also members of one or more policy committees, which focus on the main strategic areas for development. The seven members of the Executive Committee meet monthly in between Council meetings and, as well as maintaining an overview of AUGB activities overall, act as the Editorial Board for AUGB’s newspaper 'Ukrayinska Dumka'.

Governing Council (elected 9 July 2011)

President of the Association and Chairman of the Council

Zenko Lastowiecki
Chair of Executive Committee
Past Chair of AUGB Bradford branch and other community organisations in Bradford. An Economics graduate and member of the Institute of Purchasing and Supply. Head of Procurement for Npower and a member of the RWE Npower senior management team.  Elected as AUGB President for the fifth time in 2011.

Executive Committee members

Deputy Chair
Iryna Terlecky
Actively involved in community organisations in London, including Ukrainian Saturday School and Ukrainian Youth Association. Member of the National Committee of the Organisation of Ukrainian Women. Career experience in the senior Civil Service and various Government bodies. Now an independent consultant specialising in railway strategic, commercial and franchising issues.

Fedir Kurlak
Chief Executive of AUGB Ltd
Joined AUGB Head Office in 1985 as External Affairs Officer, liaising with media on issues as wide-ranging as Ukrainian political prisoners, the Chornobyl disaster and the implications of perestroika. Appointed General Secretary and Company Secretary in 1989. Contact: fedir.kurlak@augb.co.uk

Bohdan Ratych
Founder and former Chair of Manchester University Ukrainian Society. Long-standing member of community organisations in Manchester, with a particular interest in external affairs and cultural issues. A chemistry graduate.

Petro Rewko
Secretary of AUGB Ashton branch and member of other community organisations. Teacher and choreographer of Ukrainian Folk Dance ensemble in Ashton. Qualified Civil Engineer. Currently a Director of a specialist engineering and land surveying consultancy.

Petro Kormylo
Secretary of the Ukraine-Scotland Foundation. A former head teacher and school inspector. Currently an educational advisor on curriculum to the government in Scotland.

Marian Kosmirak
Former Chair of Coventry branch of AUGB and member of other community organisations, including the National Committee of the Ukrainian Youth Association. A long career as a teacher.

Yevhen Kurlak
Former Chair of Nottingham branch of AUGB and club and member of other community organisations. Media technical specialist in lighting, sound and camera. Currently a local news cameraman.

Martyn Senyk
Member of community organisations in Bradford.  A successful businessman, owning and running several businesses, including a medium-sized industrial and commercial construction company, employing 60 people, designing and building industrial, commercial, educational, sporting and retail projects throughout the UK  for private and public sector clients.

Bohdan Stowban
New member of the General Council elected in 2011.  This section will be undated shortly.