Blog: What is it really like to be a GCC Council Associate?

Two years ago, Dan and Sumaya joined their first Council meeting. They were registrants, not board members, and neither had done anything like it before. 

As the GCC's first Council Associates, they have spent the time since attending Council meetings, reading the papers and seeing how decisions are made. It is a side of regulation that most registrants rarely see, so we asked them what it has been like. 

Seeing the GCC from the inside 

Before the programme, Dan and Sumaya knew the GCC the way most registrants do: as their regulator, a fairly distant organisation that you mostly hear about when something has gone wrong. 

Being part of Council changed that. Discussions cover finance, organisational performance, education, governance, standards and public protection, and both were struck by how much work goes on behind the scenes. They came away with a clearer picture of why decisions are made and where the GCC's responsibilities begin and end. It has also changed the conversations they have with colleagues in the profession. 

Finding their feet 

Neither would say the first meeting was easy. There were papers to read, new terminology to pick up and a room full of people who had been doing this for years. Dan remembers there being a lot to take in at the start. 

But associates are not expected to arrive as governance experts. The point is to learn how a board works by being part of one, and that is what happened. Over time, both became more comfortable asking questions and contributing to discussions, until the boardroom felt like somewhere they were meant to be. 

The people around the table 

Council brings together people who work across regulation, governance, law, finance and public service, and a lot of the learning comes from seeing how they approach a decision. The GCC is also a small, friendly team, so associates get to know staff as well as Council members, and there is always someone happy to help with a question. 

Dan and Sumaya also had each other. They started at the same time, and both say it made a real difference. When you are the newest person in the room, it helps to have someone to ask, "Did you understand that bit?" They compared notes and worked things out together, which made the experience less intimidating and less lonely. 

Feeling they belonged 

Sumaya spoke about something many people feel when entering a senior professional space: not being sure whether you will belong there. Meeting GCC staff beforehand helped, as did seeing more diversity within the organisation than she had expected. It made the environment feel warmer and more accessible. 

That matters to us. There is no particular type of registrant who belongs at the Council table. Council makes better decisions when the people around it bring different backgrounds, life experiences, skills and perspectives, and nobody needs to have sat on a board before or to know the language of governance already. Curiosity, a willingness to learn and an interest in how the profession is regulated are a very good place to start. 

What they are taking away 

For both, the biggest thing is confidence: in a boardroom, in asking questions, and in understanding how an organisation like the GCC is run. It is experience that can be hard to get any other way, particularly for anyone who might one day be interested in a committee, board or non-executive role. 

They have also helped shape what comes next. One idea to come out of their two years is that future associates could get involved in more than meetings, whether by contributing to a small project, attending an event, supporting a committee or helping the GCC talk to the profession about its work. 

Both would recommend the programme to other registrants. It is the kind of experience that can change how you see the GCC, and your own career. 

Applications for the next cohort are open 

We will be welcoming two new Council Associates from 4 January 2027. The role runs for two years, with a commitment of around six days each year and remuneration of £300 per day worked. Previous board or committee experience is not required. 

Applications are open until 5pm on 30 October 2026. Find out more about the programme, eligibility and how to apply.