The union’s national executive council (NEC) is elected by members to speak on their behalf.
NEC members are elected by all members of UNISON via a postal vote. Members elect candidates to represent their region and their service group. There are also additional seats for Black members, young members and disabled members.
As with all other UNISON elections, the union’s principles of “proportionality and fair representation” means that some seats are reserved for women and low-paid members, so that the make-up of the NEC fairly represents the wider union.
Elections take place every two years, with members receiving a ballot paper with a prepaid envelope to return it to an independent scrutineer (an independent person who checks the ballot is fair and counts the votes).
Results are usually announced around one month after the voting deadline.
Current membership
National Executive Council 2019-2021
Eastern
Sarah Crowe
Darren Barber
Polly Smith
East Midlands
Nicole Berrisford
Elizabeth Potter
Chris Tansley
Greater London
Eddie Brand
Helen Davies
Joann Stacey-Marren
Liz Wheatley
Northern
Josie Bird
Helen Firman
Edwin Jeffries
Northern Ireland
Gillian Foley
Alastair Long
Margaret McKee
Scotland
Maggie Cook
Jim McFarlane
Kate Ramsden
Davena Rankin
Stephen Smellie
South East
Jacqui Berry
Abi Holdsworth
Dan Sartin
Water Environment & Transport
John Jones
Cymru/Wales
Mark Fisher
Angela Roberts
Sian Stockham
West Midlands
Lesley Clark
Caroline Johnson
Steve Jones
Carol Sewell
Yorkshire & Humberside
Linda Crowther
Greta Holmes
Lois Rose Tavernor
Tony Wright
Service Group Seats
Community
John Gray
Denise Thomas
Health
James Anthony
Claire Dixon
Pat Heron
Gordon McKay
Higher Education
Sandy Nicoll
Kath Owen
Police & Justice
Chris Hanrahan
Maureen Le Marinel
National Seats
Black Members
April Ashley
Manjula Kumari
Abiola Kusoro
Hugo Pierre
Disabled Members
Paula Carlyle
Angela Hamilton
Young Members
Kendal Bromley-Bewes
Nicola Moran
Energy
Tracey Wainwright
North West
Luisete Batista
Evelyn Doyle
Steve North
Karen Reissmann
Tony Wilson
Local Government
Jane Doolan
Andrea Egan
Paul Holmes
Diana Leach
South West
Michelle Goodman
Mike Hines
Bernadette Yea
