[HistMap-List] Imago Mundi new Chair/ application by November 1

[Török Zsolt Győző]

Chair of Imago Mundi Ltd 

Job Description and Person Specification

Context
The Directors of Imago Mundi Ltd seek a new Chair in succession to Mr Tony 
Campbell who, after a long and distinguished period of service, has announced 
that he wishes to retire.
Imago Mundi Ltd is a limited company, registered with Companies House (UK), 
and also a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and 
Wales. It exists to promote the study of maps and map history as an 
international discipline by:
1.	The publication of Imago Mundi, the only international journal 
published in English that covers the full chronological and spatial range of 
map making and map use. Its articles are peer reviewed to a high standard.  
2.	Sponsorship of the biennial International Conferences on the History 
of Cartography.

The post of Chair of Imago Mundi is not remunerated but international travel 
expenses are reimbursed and he/she will be supported by an Honorary 
Secretary. (The role of Treasurer is currently performed by Mr Campbell but 
it is intended that his successor will participate in the appointment of a 
new Honorary Treasurer). 
The Chair is by definition a Director of the Company and a member of the 
Board of Directors. Working with the other Directors on the Board of Imago 
Mundi Ltd (listed at the end of this document), and the office holders, the 
Chair will provide leadership in the areas of responsibility identified above 
and expanded on below.
The Chair of Imago Mundi Ltd occupies arguably the key pro bono position in 
the international field of the history of cartography.

Specific duties of the Chair
	As Chair, the successful candidate will become a Director of Imago 
Mundi Ltd. 
	Convenes and chairs the Annual Meeting of Imago Mundi Ltd as well as 
a meeting of the Board held at the biennial International Conference on the 
History of Cartography, ensuring that meetings are conducted in an inclusive, 
collegial manner, supportive of all points of view. 
	Leads discussion for recommending and filling Board vacancies, 
whether by renewal of terms of serving Directors or by invitation to 
potential new Directors.
	Leads discussion for recommending and filling the posts of Honorary 
Secretary, Treasurer and Editor of Imago Mundi, in the event that posts fall 
vacant.
	Liaises with, has oversight of, advises and provides support to the 
Editor of Imago Mundi. While editorial matters are the preserve of the 
Editor, who reports annually to the Board, the Chair keeps abreast of matters 
pertaining to the journal.
	Consults regularly with the Editor of Imago Mundi and, in liaison 
with the other Officers, recommends levels of honoraria to be paid to the 
Editor and other members of the editorial team.
	Signs and is responsible for contracts with publishers (currently 
Taylor and Francis); and deals with publishers over business issues.
	Takes responsibility for working with Directors to establish an 
equitable rotation of judges for the biennial Imago Mundi Prize.
	Acts as co-ordinator of Imago Mundi Ltd’s sponsorship of the 
International Conferences on the History of Cartography. The Chair, assisted 
by the Hon. Secretary, oversees the selection process for the host of the 
ICHC. The Chair acts as the contact point for the conference organisers, and 
works with the Board to determine which Directors should serve on the paper 
selection panels for each conference. He/she normally attends the conference 
(with expenses reimbursed).
	The Chair of Imago Mundi Ltd is a de facto international ambassador 
for map history and is expected to liaise with persons such as the Chair of 
the International Society for the History of the Map, the President of the 
International Cartographic Association History of Cartography Commission, the 
Chair of the International Map Collectors Society, the Director of the 
History of Cartography Project, and other international organizations related 
to the history of maps and mapping. 
	Imago Mundi Ltd has an established structure for philanthropic fund 
raising: a Development Board chaired by Director Mr Peter Barber and an 
American Friends of Imago Mundi (formally incorporated as a not-for-profit 
organization in the state of Illinois). The Chair of Imago Mundi Ltd is 
expected to engage with this work as appropriate.
	The Chair oversees and, together with the Hon. Secretary and Hon. 
Treasurer, is responsible for, interactions with Companies House and the 
Charity Commission for England and Wales, such as the annual filing of 
accounts.
	The Board of Directors has indicated that it would welcome a 
strategic review of the company/charity following appointment of a new Chair, 
encompassing (but not limited to) the structure, activities and financial 
position of the organisation, ways of working, the roles of existing 
postholders (including the Chair), and the establishment of additional 
officers.
  
Person specification
	A demonstrable personal interest in the history of maps and map-
making in any period or area; 
	An awareness of the current trends and intellectual parameters in the 
history of maps in general, particularly as these connect with other 
disciplines; 
	Evidence of good communication skills, both in writing and orally to 
academic and lay audiences.
	Excellent leadership skills with an ability to chair meetings in an 
open and collegiate manner, encouraging a range of views and being skilled at 
drawing out a consensus.
	The post is available equally to a person from an academic, a 
library/archive, a publishing, or a business background with a strong 
interest in the history of maps.

Terms of Appointment
	As noted, the post is not remunerated but expenses will be 
reimbursed;
	The Directors would like to appoint a person who will commit to a 
three-year term of office, renewable for a second three-year term.
•	The post is available at a date by mutual agreement between the 
current Chair and the new appointment.

Appointment process
The Board of Directors has established a small search committee to help it 
make this appointment. Its members are Professor Roger Kain, School of 
Advanced Study (chair); Professor Alfred Hiatt, Queen Mary, University of 
London; Dr Carme Montaner, Institut Cartogràfic de Catalunya; Dr Mary 
Pedley, 
University of Michigan; Dr Katie Parker, Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps 
and IMCOS (external member).
The Search Committee's role is to advertise the post; receive expressions of 
interest; engage in dialogue as necessary with potential candidates; and 
recommend a name or names to the Board.

In light of the above, the Search Committee invites expressions of interest 
by emailed letter, addressing points in the job description and person 
specification above, and supplying a brief CV and the names of two persons 
who the Search Committee might ask for a confidential opinion. The above 
should be addressed to Professor Hiatt at a.hiatt at qmul.ac.uk and should reach 
him by November 1 at the latest.

If you would like to discuss the position informally and in confidence, 
please email roger.kain at sas.ac.uk

The Board of Directors is committed to principles of equality, diversity and 
inclusion in all it does. It welcomes expressions of interest from persons in 
groups currently under-represented on the Board.

The appointment will be made by the Imago Mundi Board of Directors. 

The Directors of Imago Mundi Ltd are:
Tony Campbell (Chair and former Map Librarian, British Library); Alfred Hiatt 
(Hon. Secretary; Queen Mary, University of London); James Akerman (Newberry 
Library, Chicago); Peter Barber (former Map Librarian, British Library); Imre 
Demhardt (University of Texas at Arlington); Matthew Edney (University of 
Southern Maine); Chris Fleet (National Library of Scotland); Tom Harper 
(British Library); Markus Heinz (Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin); Catherine 
Hofmann (Bibliotheque nationale de France); Roger Kain (School of Advanced 
Study, University of London); Peter Van der Krogt (University of Amsterdam); 
Nick Millea (Bodleian Library, Oxford); Carme Montaner (Institut Cartografic 
de Catalunya); Anthony Payne (Independent Scholar); Mary Pedley (University 
of Michigan); Alexey Postnikov (Russian Academy of Sciences); Zsolt Török 
(Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest); Sarah Tyacke (former Chief Executive, 
The National Archives)


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