Council and committee elections

Committee elections

The 2026 vacant Council positions are unopposed and will be filled by the following:

Research and Higher Education Committee

1. Committee member (unopposed): Professor Fiona McConnell.

Fiona McConnell is Professor of Political Geography at the University of Oxford and her research lies at the intersection of political, legal and historical geographies.

She has published books and articles on how marginalised communities claim political legitimacy and changing spatial practices of diplomacy and mediation. She has secured funding from ESRC, Leverhulme Trust, British Academy and AHRC. Fiona was Associate Editor at Political Geography (2016–2020) and awarded a Philip Leverhulme Prize for geography (2019).

Fiona was Director of Graduate Studies for Oxford’s five Geography MSc courses (2021–2024) and is helping draft Oxford’s Athena Swan silver renewal application. Her impact work has been recognised by a RGS-IBG Back award (2022) and includes producing geopolitics teaching resources for schools (with RGS-IBG Schools) and developing trainings for stateless diplomats.

She was a co-author of the ‘Geographers and legal impact’ report (RGS-IBG, 2022) and has been a Political Geography Research Group committee member.

2. Chair of Conference for 2027 (unopposed): Professor Richard Harris.

Richard Harris is Professor of Quantitative Social Geography at the University of Bristol, a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences and the Royal Geographical Society, and Director of the ESRC South West Doctoral Training Partnership.

His research and teaching address socio-spatial inequalities, urban change and the geographies of education. Winner of the RGS-IBG Taylor & Francis Award and member of the 2021 REF sub-panel, he is committed to ensuring the Annual Conference reflects the breadth and diversity of the discipline.

Richard Harris has longstanding engagement with the RGS-IBG: as former Chair of the Quantitative Methods Research Group, presenter and session organiser at the Annual Conference, contributor to the Data Skills project and A-level advisory work, and co-editor of a forthcoming volume in the RGS-IBG book series.

With wide leadership experience — including directing a doctoral training partnership spanning eight universities — he brings an inclusive and pluralistic vision of geography to the role.

Professional Practice Committee

3. Committee member (unopposed): Dr Richard Jeffries

I am a Chartered Geographer who is passionate about applying geomorphological science to real world environmental challenges while supporting the professional community. With over 20 years’ experience across government, consultancy and academia, my work centres on protecting and restoring rivers, estuaries and coasts.

As Team Leader in the Environment Agency’s national geomorphology team, I champion the role of geomorphology in sustainable environmental management by shaping policy, creating tools that strengthen the science, and supporting the professional growth of around 40 geomorphologists. I support those working toward Chartered Geographer status, and develop and mentor early career colleagues.

Beyond the Environment Agency, I served six years as a Trustee of the British Society for Geomorphology, where I founded its applied geomorphology committee. I bring wider experience as a school governor and charity trustee. My aim is to build an impactful, skilled community of applied scientists who use geography to benefit the environment and society.

Education Committee

4. Committee member (unopposed): Peter Price.

Following a 30-year career teaching Geography (22 as HoD) in three schools, I feel that I have the expertise, skills and knowledge to contribute to the Society’s work as a member of the Education Committee.

I have always taken a keen interest in the broader aspects of geographical education, as a teacher, Head of Department, member of the Geographical Association, FRGS and Chartered Geographer. My ongoing interests (pursued since semi-retiring in 2024) are assessment, initial teacher training and outdoor education.

Expeditions and Fieldwork Committee

5. Committee member (unopposed): Cory Jones.

Cory Jones FRGS is an expedition guide, environmental educator and wilderness safety trainer. He holds an MSc in Environmental Management and spent a decade with the Field Studies Council, including managing Malham Tarn Field Centre in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Cory has led expeditions and guided wildlife trips worldwide, including Antarctica and the Arctic. His field experience includes research projects in tropical forests, long-distance Arctic canoe expeditions and sea-kayak journeys in remote coastal environments.

Cory brings experience in expedition leadership, field research and risk management. He has undertaken major journeys including crossing the Patagonian Ice Cap and a 1,000-mile Arctic canoe expedition.

He is an International Mountain Leader, canoe and sea-kayak guide, and an expedition ship guide and zodiac driver in Antarctica. Cory specialises in expedition safety, teaching wilderness first aid and mental health first aid.

He has also presented research on climate change impacts in Arctic river systems at RGS conferences.