Bill Lanyon

Member Association: Volt France

Gender: Male

What strategy would you implement to recruit and retain highly specialised volunteers for the functional teams, for example in communications, policy, or data, over a full Board term? 

Trying to grow the FR Communications team, I learnt that any strategy that onboards, but fails to retain volunteers is painfully time consuming & morale sapping.
1. Data Volunteers
Recruitment: LinkedIn data science communities and EU policy research groups.
Retention: Offer micro-projects with clear deliverables, agile touchpoints and visible impact; mentor with online bi-monthly sessions to maintain engagement.
2. Policy Volunteers (ask Simon Dahy & Charles Nonne)
Recruitment: Partner with universities and think tanks offering Volt’s access to our MEPs.
Retention: Visible ownership of policy portfolios; teams to strategise with our MEPs.
3. Communications Volunteers
Recruitment: Journalism & political science schools with Volt members and European communities with lines like “Help shape Volt’s European voice in more than 30 countries.”
Retention: Editorial and social media jobs with named visibility; supported by prioritised workflow, weekly standups & online surgeries.
Shared Retention Tactics:
Community: Monthly workshops & funded yearly weekend team retreats.
Incentives: Skill-building with Volt, public & social recognition.
Flexibility: Central project tracking; collaboration skills & scheduling our diverse availabilities.

Non-executive Board members must both support and challenge the executives. Describe a situation where you would publicly back the Co-Presidents, and one where you would publicly dissent. What guides your choice?

Publicly backing the Co-Presidents
I would publicly support the Co-Presidents when their actions align with Volt Europa’s core values, federalism, progressive change and pan-European collaboration. For example, if they championed a bold policy proposal (e.g., fighting disinformation) that requires coordination with the Volt policy process and cross-border coalition-building, i would amplify their message by content sharing across Volt country teams and by delivering external communications. Public unity strengthens Volt’s credibility and unites members behind our shared goals.
Publicly Dissenting
Pragmatism, humanity and Volt integrity and transparency all count for me here. I would push back if the Co-Presidents pursued a strategy misaligned with Volt’s mission, such as prioritising short-term gains over systemic EU reform, or ignoring ethical concerns. For instance, if they proposed a policy watered down to suit just one national chapter, I would speak out publicly to explain why our original agreed vision should be preserved. Public dissent is essential to hold leadership accountable and protect Volt’s transparent and federal integrity.
Guiding Principle
I think that my behaviour here hinges on alignment with Volt’s vision and ethical and integrity standards. If the executive advance Volt’s goals with transparency and inclusivity, I stand with them. If not, I hope to challenge them constructively, hoping to help keep Volt a movement of principled progress.

What would you do if you believed the Board was making a decision that conflicted with Volt Europa's core values?

If I thought that the Board was making a decision conflicting with Volt Europa’s core values, I would try to follow a three-step approach:
Immediate Internal Escalation
First, I would raise my concerns privately with the Co-Presidents and relevant board members, using face-to-face discussion to try to articulate to them why the decision held risks for Volt’s mission. For example, if the Board proposed a policy  diluted EU-wide standards, I’d highlight the potential long-term damage to Volt’s credibility.
Transparency & Constructive Challenge
If the issue persisted, I would escalate publicly only after exhausting our internal channels. I would try to frame my dissent as evidence-based and values-driven, while including real alternatives to help realign the issue with our vision.
Resolution & Compromise
I would try to identify the middle ground, build coalitions and mediate the conflict. I might propose a working group to refine the policy to help ensure that the outcome reflected both the Board’s priorities and Volt’s principles.
Guiding Principle: I would attempt to prioritise Volt’s integrity and mission over a misaligned short-term goal by focusing on frank and constructive human collaboration.