Currently, six of the ten board members are elected by the membership. Three "Independent" directors are appointed by the Board or an Appointments panel. The other board member is the Chief Executive.
I feel that there is already too high a proportion of the board who potentially have very little knowledge or experience of the sport.
The proposed change would increase that proportion.
The position of Chair is a high profile and important one. I think it is essential that the Chair is a committed and experienced orienteer. The Chair should also be someone who has been elected by the membership and consequently the membership will then have the power to decide not to re-elect the person if he/she is not performing adequately.
Of course it is prudent for British Orienteering to try to find a replacement for Judith Holt, given that the Vice-Chair is stepping down from the Board. But I'm not convinced that the "open recruitment process" was targeted in the best way. For example, I don't recall seeing any notices placed in CompassSport magazine.
Quoting from another thread:
The biggest challenge is to make us all feel part of British Orienteering again.