NATFHE's democratic structure puts members in the driving seat, setting their union's policies and priorities, and deciding the tactics NATFHE uses to achieve them.

Members belong to branches. These are generally workplace-based. Some members, for example freelances, may be assigned to general branches. Retired members may have regional branches. Student members have student groups.

National Conference in May 2004 debated proposals brought forward by the NEC to give branches a direct voice in the business of Conference, and approved a consultation exercise to test the views of branches and regions, to inform the discussion of more concrete proposals at Conference 2005.

Branch officers are a source of information and advice. The branch is the place in which members can raise their concerns and ideas. Branches are encouraged to keep in touch with all their members through newsletters, meetings, and email. An increasing number have their own web sites.

The union has 13 regions: Anglia; East Midlands; London; Northern; Northern Ireland; North West; South East; South West; Southern; Wales; Western; West Midlands; and Yorkshire & Humberside. Each has a Regional Council, to which branches send representatives. These elect delegates to the National Conference and to the Further Education and Higher Education Sector Conferences (all normally held once a year), and to the FE, HE and equal opportunities advisory councils. You can find information about NATFHE's National Conference and FE/HE Sector Conferences, due to be held on Saturday 27-Monday 39 May 2006 in Blackpool here.

The National Executive Council is elected by individual members (information on elections is set out here ). The NEC conducts the union's general business between national conferences. It is made up of the president, vice-president, and treasurer, ex president, FE and HE regional seats, two black representatives, one lesbian and gay men representative, one disabled representative and the general secretary. At least 25% of the NEC must be women.

NATFHE's senior official is the General Secretary, Paul Mackney. He was first elected to the post in 1999, and relected unopposed in 2002 (you can download his 2002 election address/biographical details from this website as a Word document).

For more details of our organisation see NATFHE's Rule Book (PDF file download).