On behalf of the British Fencing Board, the Chair of the Board formally invites members to an in-person Extraordinary General Meeting, which will be held at 9.30am on 25th March 2026 at the ODI offices, 4 Millbank, London, SW1P 3JA. Members should register attendance by 9.30am on 23rd March 2026. Online Q&As will be held over the coming weeks to allow members to discuss the proposals with the Board.
Dear Member,
On behalf of the British Fencing Board, I invite you to an Extraordinary General Meeting of British Fencing Association Limited to be held at 9.30am on Wednesday 25th March 2026 at the ODI offices, 4 Millbank, London, SW1P 3JA.
The purpose of this Extraordinary General Meeting is to invite the membership to vote on amendments to the BF’s Memorandum and Articles of Association.
The amendments are being presented by the Directors to ensure that the British Fencing Board consists of a diverse set of directors with the collective professional skillset required to support the executive team to deliver against the strategy whilst continuing to deliver the services of a National Governing Body to the sport, its members and its funding bodies.
In the last four years the gender diversity of the Board has fallen from 50% (2022) to 33% (2025). The number of Board members with an ethnically diverse background is 8%, the lowest it has been for ten years. The Board is short of vital skills in professional areas such as HR and fundraising, and lacks enough directors with the expected experience to fulfil director duties in areas such as performance – particularly Paralympic performance – and sport integrity matters.
A skilled, high performing, diverse board is not only an expectation of our members but it is also a requirement of our funding bodies if we are to secure continued investment. Much of the work that is done by British Fencing in supporting social impact, participation, talent pathway and performance programme (Wheelchair) is funded almost entirely by public funding. In the 2026-27 financial year, British Fencing is expected to access over £2.2m of public funding which makes up over 60% of its income.
Additionally, feedback from members suggests that there are highly skilled members willing to contribute to the sport of fencing by serving as a Director, but many are put off by the process of standing for election.
In light of the above, the Board is recommending that four of the current eight elected director positions should be filled instead through an appointment process.
The Directors consider it important to retain a member-led approach and propose all appointed directors would have the same membership requirement as currently exist for elected directors. In addition, all appointed directors would require approval at the AGM following their appointment.
The current articles allow for three independent, one appointed and eight elected directors. The elected directors must be members, the appointed director does not have to be.
The proposed changes will:
The formal notice of the Meeting and details of the resolutions to be proposed will also be set out here. If you wish to attend the EGM please complete the registration form here by 9.30am on 23rd March 2026.
If you would like to vote on the resolution but cannot attend the meeting, you can appoint another person as your proxy to exercise all or any of your rights to attend, vote and speak at the Meeting but you must complete the proxy form (attached to the registration form here).
You may also send your apologies using the same form.
Your Directors consider that the resolution in the notice of the Meeting is in the best interests of the Company and its Members as a whole.
Dr Sara Pantuliano CMG
Chair, British Fencing
Note 1: If you wish to attend the EGM in person please complete the registration form here by 9.30am on 23rd March 2026. The list of in person attendees will be provided to the front desk and you will be required to check-in on arrival. Please do not turn up unannounced as you will not be granted access to the building.
Note 2: Board members will be hosting Q&A sessions for members that wish to ask the Board questions about the proposed changes. These will be held on Monday 9th March 6pm, Friday 13th March 1pm, Tuesday 17th March 6pm – Sign up for these sessions here.
Don’t miss the latest news. Subscribe to our weekly summary email, The Fencing Digest, featuring the previous week’s latest news and announcements. Sign up here.
