“NED in the Hot Seat”: Securing a first trustee role
In this edition of our “NED in the Hot Seat” series, we speak with NEDonBoard member Olivier Schlenkhoff-Hus who was recently appointed as a Trustee of Young Citizens, a civic education charity promoting active citizenship among children and young people.
Key takeaways
- Consistency and preparation matter when applying for Trustee and NED roles.
- A clear value proposition strengthens board applications and interviews.
- Trustee roles can provide valuable governance and boardroom experience.
- Thorough research into organisations differentiates strong candidates.
- Professional development programmes can accelerate board readiness.
Q&A
1️⃣ Congratulations on your appointment. What attracted you to the role?
I deliberately chose to pursue a Trustee role before seeking commercial NED appointments because I wanted to contribute my experience in governance, strategic challenge, and financial stewardship in a purpose-led sector beyond my executive career.
I was specifically looking for a Trustee role aligned with democracy, human rights or education, so I was delighted to join Young Citizens.
I’m currently going through onboarding and have already attended a Board meeting as an observer. The organisation has a modern governance model that I’m keen to learn from.
2️⃣ How did you approach your board search?
From the outset I decided to be selective and only apply to roles that genuinely aligned with my values and interests. Since joining NEDonBoard in October 2025, I applied for one Trustee role each month, making seven applications overall. For every application, I prepared thoroughly by reviewing annual reports, strategy documents and governance information. I approached each application and interview as if I was a Trustee preparing for a Board meeting, seeking to understand the organisation’s mission as well as the risks, opportunities, and strategic issues facing the Board.
3️⃣ What results did you achieve?
Out of seven applications:
- Four led to interviews
- Two were unsuccessful
- One resulted in my appointment
- One was declined after accepting the Trustee role
The process showed me the importance of persistence and continuous improvement. Each application gave me the opportunity to refine my CV and value proposition.
4️⃣ How did the NED Accelerator® help you?
The programme helped me clarify my value proposition, move from describing my executive experience to articulating my Board value, and improve both my applications and interview answers. As I progressed through the programme, the quality of my applications improved significantly.
I also found the diversity of expert interviews highly inspiring. Hearing the experiences of Chairs, NEDs and Trustees helped me refine my own approach. In particular, ’ interview resonated strongly with me through his emphasis on pursuing Board roles with a vision and approaching interviews with the same mindset as a Board meeting.
5️⃣ What’s next in your board journey?
My immediate focus is on becoming an effective Trustee and making a meaningful contribution to Young Citizens. At the same time, I see this appointment as an important step in a longer-term board journey. Over the coming years, I aim to build a portfolio of Trustee and Non-Executive Director roles where I can contribute governance oversight and strategic challenge, particularly in organisations navigating technology, innovation, and long-term growth.
Olivier is a Board-level technology leader, Trustee, and Chair of a Subsidiary Board with extensive executive experience in R&D, innovation, and technology-driven growth. He brings disciplined governance, structured judgement, and a critical lens to board discussions on strategy, risk, and sustainable value creation. His career spans climate and high-tech sectors, deep-tech engineering, international operations, and the charity sector.
FAQ
✅ Are Trustee roles a good stepping stone into commercial NED positions?
Yes. Trustee roles provide valuable governance, committee and boardroom experience.
✅ What makes a strong Trustee application?
Preparation, alignment with the organisation’s mission and a clearly articulated value proposition.
✅ How important is persistence in securing a board role?
Very important. Board recruitment is competitive, and most candidates improve through repetition and experience.
If, like Olivier, you are transitioning to a non-executive role and want to upskill to achieve your objectives, explore the NED Accelerator Programme:
To feature in an upcoming edition of the NED in the hot seat series, please email [email protected].
