We are looking for people to join the panel that will help shape the next Museums Association (MA) Conference, which will take place in Belfast on 15-17 November 2027.

We create a panel each year to support the development of our annual event. The role of the panel is to work with our staff to decide the theme of conference and assess session proposals, and suggest speakers and topics that the event should cover.

Our criteria for conference panel members is below. The role is a voluntary one. We pay travel expenses and all panel members get a free place at conference.

As well as people working in museums, we welcome applications from freelancers and consultants; sector support bodies; community partners; and sector-adjacent organisations.

We are looking for Museums Association conference panel members who:

  • are individual members of the MA (except where they do not work in the museum sector) and have not sat on the conference panel before
  • are based in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland
  • share the MA’s values and support its policies, campaigns and aims
  • understand and can commit to supporting the MA’s Decolonising Principles
  • understand the cultural, economic and political context of the nation or region where the conference is being held
  • understand the importance of running an engaging, forward-thinking, and ambitious conference
  • represent a broad range of viewpoints, ideas and perspectives
  • can commit to attending at least five meetings (a mix of online and in person) to plan conference and overseeing conference sessions
  • will promote conference to their networks, colleagues, etc.

The deadline for applications is 2 September 2026, and we will confirm the panel the following month. There will be a short online kick-off meeting for panel members in October.

If you would like an informal chat about the opportunity or have any questions, please contact Simon Stephens, head of publications and events at the MA, via simon@museumsassociation.org.

To apply, please complete the online application form. We ask that you also complete the equality and diversity monitoring form and send it to charlotte.eyles@museumsassociation.org with the subject line: Conference panel members.