Open AquaponicsBETA
Back to Community

Community Governance

The Board

A small group helping the community's decisions work in the real world.

Why This Role Exists

To operate in the real world, this project needs a small number of people to act as legal representatives. These people form the board.

The board does not exist to control the project. It exists to make sure the community's decisions can actually happen outside the app. That includes:

  • handling legal responsibilities
  • managing banking
  • carrying out decisions agreed by the community

Initial Setup

To get things started, Neil Whichelow will act as one of the initial board members.

To keep things stable and reliable, at least two additional board members are needed. This ensures:

  • responsibilities can be shared
  • decisions can still be actioned if someone is unavailable
  • the project can continue through unexpected situations

The goal is a small, dependable group that supports the structure while remaining fully accountable to the community.

How the Project Is Governed

This is a community-led platform.

  • All members have equal voting rights
  • Decisions are made through the app
  • The direction comes from the community

The board simply makes sure those decisions can be carried out in the real world.

What Board Members Do

Board members help the system function outside the platform. This includes:

  • managing the organisation's bank account
  • signing documents where needed
  • ensuring funds are used in line with community decisions
  • supporting the legal operation of the organisation

They act as stewards of the structure — not owners of the project.

What Board Members Do NOT Do

Board members do not:

  • have more voting power than other members
  • control the direction of the project
  • override community decisions (except where required by law or safety)
👉

All members — including board members — have equal votes.

Responsibility (Plain English)

Board members take on some real-world responsibility. This means:

  • acting in the best interests of the project
  • following the law
  • handling funds carefully and honestly

You don't need to be an expert — just someone who acts responsibly and in good faith.

Financial Responsibility

  • The organisation holds financial responsibility
  • Board members may only be personally responsible in cases of negligence or misconduct
  • Members and participants are not personally liable

Openness

All financial activity will be:

  • recorded
  • shared regularly
  • visible to the community

Board members are fully accountable to everyone involved.

Who This Role Is For

This may suit you if you:

  • believe in open, collaborative development
  • are comfortable taking on a small amount of legal responsibility
  • act with integrity and transparency
  • want to help support the structure behind the project

Time Commitment

This is not a full-time role. It involves occasional actions such as:

  • approving transactions
  • signing documents
  • supporting operational needs

A Final Note

This isn't about status. It's about helping something real exist.

The aim is simple: to create a structure that allows a community-led vision to operate fairly, openly, and reliably in the real world.

Expression of Interest

If this feels right for you, you can register your interest below. You may be contacted as the structure develops.