Following the British Mountaineering Council's AGM last week, the voting results have been announced. The meeting was held online with a separate members' drop-in Q&A session on Zoom following the main session. Dominic Oughton was voted in as the new BMC President.

Dominic was elected with 95% of the vote and ran unchallenged. He has been a BMC member for the past 30 years - including 15 years as a BMC volunteer - and is currently a trustee of Climbers Against Cancer. 

He is also a UKC user and started a forum thread to introduce himself and share his supporting statement for the role.

Following his election, Dominic said: 

"I was introduced to climbing forty years ago by my now-wife, and it transformed my life. As a long-time BMC volunteer, including nine years as Trustee of the Access and Conservation Trust, and past President of The Rucksack Club, I've seen firsthand what we can achieve together.  

"My journey through various roles has equipped me with a deep understanding of our community's grassroots and strategic needs, I look forward to advocating for all members, fostering transparency, and building partnerships to protect and secure access to our much-loved natural spaces." 

Outgoing BMC President Andy Syme served as the organisation's President since 2021.

The BMC commented:

"The BMC would like to offer thanks to Andy for the support he has provided over the three years of his presidency and before that as his role on National Council. Andy also sat on several Organisational Review Groups and led on the creation of the Ice Climbing sub-committee. His term coincided with a number of challenges for the organisation, including the Covid-19 pandemic and cost of living crisis, and recent financial pressures, we thank him for his unwavering support during his tenure."

Following the end of his term, Andy said:

"It has been a real privilege to serve as the members' champion. When I was a small boy putting the Everest SW Face poster on my wall, or when I went on a Plas y Brenin course for my first alpine season in 1983, I could never have imagined it being possible to have the honour of serving as President of the BMC." 

CEO Paul Ratcliffe added:

"I would like to thank Andy for his years of service to the organisation and all that he has done to shape the future of climbing, hill walking and mountaineering opportunities in Britain and internationally. His passion and support during my initial months in the CEO role and whilst serving as a volunteer on CCPG have been invaluable.  

"I am excited to work with Dominic in building a better culture and working on an event engagement strategy whilst also fostering his passion for climbing. I believe he will be a helpful galvanizer and a critical friend, bridging the gap between myself, the council, and the board to help strengthen the leadership spine of the BMC." 

Stay tuned for a UKC interview with Dominic. 

BMC AGM Resolution Voting Outcomes

To approve the minutes of the previous AGM held on Saturday 17 June 2023 - CARRIED 

To receive the annual report and accounts for the year end 31 December 2023 - CARRIED

To approve the re-appointment of Hurst Accountants Limited as the auditors of the company - CARRIED

To elect Dominic Oughton as President and a director of the BMC with a term to take effect from 13 June 2024 - ELECTED

To elect Agustin Guardiola as Nationally Elected Councillor for Mountaineering with to term to take effect from 13 June 2024 - ELECTED

To Elect Steve Clark as Nationally Elected Councillor for Rock Climbing with a term to take effect from 13 June 2024 - ELECTED

To approve an amendment to article 1.1 so that it reads 'Account Date 5 April' - CARRIED

To approve an amendment to article 2.2 so that it reads 'The offices of the company will be situated in England and/or Wales' - CARRIED WITH AMENDMENT

To approve the addition of an object to the BMC articles: 'Encourage, promote and develop young people to become competent, safe, responsible and respectful Mountaineers, and enable active involvement in all BMC activities, interests and affairs' - WITHDRAWN

To approve the amendments to article 11 detailed in the supplementary document here - CARRIED WITH AMENDMENT

To approve an amendment to article 16.1.1 so that it reads: 'is aged 16 years or over at the date of the meeting; and' - CARRIED 

To approve Trevor Smith continuing as a Council-Nominated Director for a three-year term that began on 7 October 2023 - ELECTED

To approve Andy Say continuing as a Council-Nominated Director for a three-year term that began on 23 October 2023 - ELECTED

Click here to view the BMC AGM 2024 voting summary

Click here to view the AGM Agenda.

Find more information and documentation relating to the AGM here.

Read and/or watch our recent UKC interview with BMC CEO Paul Ratcliffe: