The RMD senior faculty role runs across the academic year (Oct–Oct) and carries real responsibilities — ones that take meaningful time to deliver well. I am genuinely grateful to be working alongside people who bring such expertise and commitment to this work.

We all know that life changes, and so does our capacity to give time and energy to commitments like this. That is entirely normal and nothing to feel awkward about.

As we start to look towards the next academic year and changes in our RMD student faculty, I would like us to take an honest look at senior faculty membership. I am asking everyone to reflect on two things: how you have fulfilled the role this year, and whether you are realistically in a position to give it what it needs in the year ahead.

This is not a formality. The role has genuine expectations, and for RMD to function well, we need a team of people who can meet them. If you have found it difficult to contribute at the level the role requires — whether through workload, changing priorities, or other pressures — this is the right moment to say so, and I will absolutely understand.

There are also options in between: working groups will evolve, and there may be a configuration that works better for you going forward. I am happy to talk through what that could look like.

Please let me know your honest reflections — a brief note is fine. I will then follow up individually to agree on a way forward for the coming year.

— Professor Jon Hulme