Having elected Trustees and committee officers is how LHFC ensures it is always accountable to its members. If you are interested in standing for an elected position, or you want to find out more about who is standing, you can do so below.
2025 Management Committee Candidates
The Management Committee Candidates are as follows:
Chair Candidates
Mads Ratnavale
Above all else, I firmly believe in LHFC and that we can take meaningful action to ensure the longevity of the club to continue fencing together as long as possible. In order to achieve this, I believe there are two areas that will need further development in the coming year. Firstly, I believe the club needs consistent secondary forms of funding. We are privileged to have access to a large property in Central London, and hiring out the hall has the potential to generate further revenue. While motions to increase club funding have been brought to this AGM, I firmly believe we can go further to bolster our club’s proposition. Secondly, I believe the club needs to revisit its culture. We are a charity run by its members, and I believe in fostering a club culture that encourages its members to get involved in any way possible. I know personally the transformative power of being involved in a club like this, and I want to encourage LHFC members to feel that, too. This club means so much to so many of us. While I’m recovering from top surgery, when I can’t fence, I want to contribute as much as I can because of all it’s done for me. I hope that can be as the club’s next chair.
Owen Hahn
I’ve been chair the previous year and feel like I’ve got a lot done. There is also still a lot left I would like to do. This last year LHFC went through some of the biggest changes it’s been through in its entire life. We were able to move into the new venue and stabilize. This next year will be a year of growth and change for the club and I would like to stay on and help the club however I can.
Secretary Candidates
Kerri Tamplin
I have been a member of LHFC for the last 7 years. I have also previously been the Secretary for 3 years and co-chair for a year. Communications and organisation are vital to the continuing success of the club. These are skills I have a proven history of for the club and would be aiming to continue these. There is a lot of change happening in the club and it is vital that we spread this information around. I would like to establish the previously suggested quarterly update on what is occuring across the club and within the meetings. I’m also want to bring on board a wider variety of people to the committee as a whole to provide fresh voices and capacity for us to continue to grow.
Treasurer Candidates
Gareth Humphries
Fantastic work has been done to shore up the financial position of the club, and improve systems and processes as we have adjusted to permanent premises, with an expanded balance sheet. Moving forward, there is more work to be done to ensure club finances in the medium to long term, whilst creating headroom to improve the venue, replace equipment, and ensure our armoury is self sufficient. To achieve the above, firstly, I will push to change the structure for insurance to allow us to maintain more instructors, whilst granting existing instructors more flexibility. Secondly, I will seek to float prices for beginner sessions, to bring in more money for the club whilst keeping costs for members’ regular sessions down. Thirdly, I will work to bring in regular memberships (including classes), to stabilise cash-flows, providing predictability for both members and the club. Additionally, I will look to have different price points for members vs non-members for club events such as tournaments, whilst ensuring members have priority. I shall aim to balance club stability and accessible costs, whilst creating financial space for improvements where possible. I hope I have your vote.
2025 Trustee Candidates
The 2025 Trustee Candidates are as follows:
Lauren Distler
I’m running for trustee because I want to be able to give back to the community that has become so important to me. My day job is guiding charitable organisations in defining their objectives and mapping out the pathways to achieve those objectives, as well as helping them to learn from what is and isn’t working well to adapt their strategy. Granted, most of my work thus far has focused on the prevention of armed conflict rather than the pursuit of it…but I think similar principles will apply. I also have experience with charity governance and fundraising. As a trustee, I would use these skills to support the committee in both their day-to-day management of LHFC and in pursuing the long-term sustainability of the club.
Daniel Clay
LHFC has a noble tradition of having a Dan on the board of Trustees. With Dan Weir stepping down, I am putting myself forward so that this proud chain shall not be severed and the tradition can continue for another year. I am reasonably trustworthy, and can both read and write.
Stand for Election
If you want to stand for an elected position, please click the button below to submit your details.
About the Elected Positions
LHFC has several different elected positions. The Trustees delegate their responsibilities to three elected Management Committee officers, who in turn, can appoint more people to the Management Committee to help them run the club.
Trustees
LHFC must always have at least 3 Trustees, and each year, at least one Trustee resigns and is replaced. meaning they sit for three year terms. LHFC can have up to 12 Trustees.
Trustees are the club’s legal guardians and ultimate decision-makers. They are responsible for ensuring the club is meeting its charitable objectives and other legal requirements. Trustees delegate their responsibilities to the Management Committee and do not have to get involved in the day to day running of the club, but they are ultimately responsible for everything we do. LHFC has limited liability, so Trustees are not personally responsible for the Club’s debts.
Ideally the Trustees should have diverse backgrounds so they can represent the breadth of the club.
Chair
The Chair is responsible for the day to day management and running of the club. They chair committee meetings, decide the agenda and when decisions are put to a vote, as well as resolving any disagreements between committee members. They are also often the club’s public face.
Secretary
The Secretary is responsible for the club’s record keeping and administration. They arrange meetings, ensure minutes are taken, and hold the membership book. They are also responsible for managing any contracts the club enters into, such as for leases or software. They typically delegate a lot of their responsibilities to other committee members.
Treasurer
The Treasurer is the club’s financial officer. They are responsible for liaising with our accountants, keeping our books and paying our bills. They advise the committee on the club’s finances – how much money we have, how much we can afford to spend, and what revenue we need to generate. They are also the main signatory on the club’s bank account. They are typically supported by a small team.
Management Committee Elections Process
Candidates should nominate themselves by making their candidacy known to the LHFC Electoral Commission via the above form. They can do so up to Tuesday 19th August. Their details will then be added to LHFC’s website along with their supporting statement, which should be no more than 200 words.
At the AGM candidates will be invited to speak for no more than 2 minutes about why they want to be elected. There will then be 2 minutes for questions from the audience.
Voting will be by anonymous electronic ballot, taking place during the AGM. Arrangements will be made for members not able to attend to vote remotely or by proxy.
10th August – Registration for Proxy & Online voting opens. Nominations for Election positions open.
17th August – Deadline to register for Proxy & Online voting
18th August – Proxy voting via writing to the Election Commission opens
21st August – Deadline for nominations for Election positions.
Trustee Elections Process
Candidates should nominate themselves by making their candidacy known to the LHFC Electoral Commission via the above form. They can do so up to Tuesday 19th August. Their details will then be added to LHFC’s website.
Election takes place at the AGM by a show of hands, with Trustees requiring a simple majority to be appointed. In the event that more Trustees stand than there are positions available (12), then the AGM can agree a procedure for a contested election.
If you want to volunteer for LHFC but are not looking to stand for an elected position, you an do so by filling out this form, or visit this page to find out more.