Committee Roles and Responsibilities and Officer descriptions
AOT Committee Roles
Association of Otolaryngologists in Training (AOT)
The Association of Otolaryngologists in Training (AOT) represents the training needs of all ENT trainees within the United Kingdom with the aim to promote excellence and high standards of training at all levels.
The committee members are elected representatives of ENT trainees in the UK and strive to meet the aims of the organisation as set out in the AOT constitution.
Committee members will act as an advocate for the AOT making constructive contributions to the running of the association and in its trainee representation on the councils of organisation in which AOT are invited.
Committee members will have specific individual roles as outlined in the officer description within this document and it is expected that the member will carry out their role to the highest standard ensuring trainees are fully represented.
Following a meeting, officers will present back to the AOT committee a summary of matters arising so that the President and committee are kept up-to-date, and any issues can be acted upon.
Committee members are expected to regularly attend AOT committee meetings and participate in the running of the association.
Whilst completing the responsibilities of the individual roles, members will also actively engage and assist in the running of the wider AOT events and activities during the year.
The annual conference is organised by the treasurer and co-secretaries with the president and webmaster. The wider committee will also actively contribute and support in the organisation and running of the conference.
Descriptions
Full List of Officer Descriptions
For roles that can only be applied for at the 2026 Conference
President
Level: ST6+
Tenure: 1 year
Available for Nominations at AGM 2025: YES
The president role is suited to a senior ST post holder who has prior experience of other AOT roles as you are expected to have a wide understanding of the issues that affect all ENT trainees across the UK when you attend the SAC meetings quarterly.
You will also be invited to attend other meetings and give the opinion of the AOT on matters affecting ENT within the wider political and healthcare setting. Examples include commissioning bodies, HEE and JCST.
Close links and contacts with all deaneries within the UK are essential for the role and allow all members of the AOT to feel comfortable contacting you personally about issues.
The President also has lead control over the forum and is contactable via the AOT email and prompt response to queries is essential to ensure high level of communications regarding training matters.
The President works closely with the SAC chair and ENT UK. Difficult issues that need to be tackled on behalf of the trainees often arise and the President’s response should reflect the views of the AOT.
The President now also represents the trainees at National Selection as part of the Quality Assurance team as approved by GMC.
The President will need to cover, or arrange cover, when the ENT-UK or exam reps are unable to attend their respective meetings as well as keeping an eye on the on-line forum, adverts and communications.
Lastly, the President should act as the link for all officers and work closely with the conference organisers (Treasurer and Secretaries) in putting the conference agenda and AGM timetable together.
For roles that can only be applied for at the 2026 Conference
Vice-President
Level: ST6+
Tenure: 1 year
Available for Nominations at AGM 2026: NO
The vice president is someone who has been elected to the AOT committee in a separate role.
Once the committee is finalised, an internal vote finalises one senior committee member (ST6 or above) as vice president. This should ideally be someone who has experience on the committee in previous years.
The vice president will be responsible for supporting all committee members and will help with conference organisation where required.
They will also be the point of contact if the president is unavailable.
For roles already occupied for 2026-7
Past-President
Level: Immediate past-president
Tenure: 1 year
Available for Nominations at AGM 2026: NO – non-elected role to past president.
The position of immediate past-president is an unelected role and automatically given to the preceding president.
The role of past-president is of an advisory nature in supporting the committee in continue the work of the AOT in the subsequent year.
The role is relinquished at the following AGM and handed over to the next immediate president.
For roles that can only be applied for at the 2026 Conference
Secretary (2 positions available)
Level: ST3+
Tenure: 1 year
Available for Nominations at AGM 2026: YES
There are two aspects to this role:
Firstly, to organise the annual national conference with the treasurer.
The treasurer and secretary should be from the same region so that they can help one another.
Both work very closely with the president and webmaster to plan and deliver on the big day.
The job involves finding a venue, speakers and sponsors.
Secondly, in a more administrative role, the secretary should make sure that minutes are taken at committee meetings and distributed after approval.
The secretary also helps the president in supporting the broader committee; this may involve attending extra meetings and distributing information to regional representatives.
It is the secretary’s role (with the webmaster) to ensure website material is up-to-date.
For roles that can only be applied for at the 2026 Conference
Treasurer
Level: ST3 +
Tenure: 1 year
Available for Nominations at AGM 2026: YES
This is a busy role – which is crucial to maintaining AOT.
You should expect to work an average of 3-4hours per week across the year on this role.
The role consists of managing the AOT accounts, plus also maintaining a regular income into the account via advertising through the forum.
This involves negotiating advertising costs, distributing adverts on the forum and invoicing companies.
The treasurer along with the secretaries is responsible for organising the annual conference in its entirety, from organising the venue, negotiating costs for the event, organising sponsors, marketing the event and managing ticket sales.
The treasurer is also expected to give a financial report at the AGM held at the conference.
After the conference it is imperative that the outgoing treasurer hands over all details to the new incoming treasurer.
This is a one yearly appointment and candidates should apply as part of a team from a region, along with secretary roles, in a bid to host the next annual conference.
For roles that are available for online application 2026-7
AOT Education Lead
Level: ST3 +
Tenure: 1 year
Available for Nominations at AGM 2026: YES
The Lead is expected to oversee the educational content produced and maintained by AOT, including the yearly AOT ENT ESSentials Course and the YouTube webinar channel.
They will be responsible for maintaining contact with national and local teaching organisations that contribute teaching webinars to the AOT YouTube channel.
The Lead may be approached by such organisations for permission to start uploading onto the channel.
The Lead will be responsible for maintaining the integrity, upload policy and overall direction of the channel.
He/she will co-ordinate and work with other members of the subcommittee as part of this.
The role is also in charge of leading the AOT education sub-committee.
The sub-committee may be covered by existing AOT committee members and includes roles such as (but not limited to): Video Editor and Video Annotation.
For roles already occupied for 2026-7
AOT Podcast Leads (2 positions available)
Level: ST3 +
Tenure: 1 year
Available for Nominations at AGM 2026: NO
The podcast leads are expected to oversee AOT’s flagship educational podcast – ‘The AOT Pod’, now launched on multiple streaming platforms.
The podcast aims to map out the FRCS curriculum through a series of 20-30 minute episodes.
The podcast leads will be in charge of producing further episodes.
This will involve liaising with other committee members and consultants working on individual episodes, writing and editing scripts as well as recording, editing and uploading episodes, unless funding is obtained to do so professionally.
Previous experience with editing software such as audacity is therefore desirable.
The AOT Pod leads will be required to liaise with ENT UK (who have provided funding) and may also bemapproached by external organisations wishing to collaborate on podcast episodes.
For roles already occupied for 2026-7
ASiT Representative
Level: ST3+
Tenure: 1-2 years
Available for Nominations at AGM 2026: NO
The AOT ASiT rep is the key representative for ENT trainees to the Association of Surgeons in Training Council.
ASiT is a representative organisation for trainees in all surgical specialties and has representative positions in dealing with the royal colleges and the JCST.
As the AOT rep you will be expected to attend ASiT council meetings.
There are about 6 of these a year and they are almost always at the Royal College of Surgeons of England on a Friday evening.
Travel expenses (including hotel if required) are paid for.
The Council meetings will allow the rep to relay what issues are currently affecting ENT trainees and to relay more general issues back to the AOT.
There are fantastic opportunities in terms of being involved in other ASiT activities and the AOT rep would be expected to take an organisational role in the ASiT ENT course.
Full or near full attendance at council meetings means that the rep will be able to attend the ASiT conference expenses paid too.
Open for ST post holders only.
For roles that are available for online application 2026-7
British Society of Facial Plastics Surgery (BSFPS) Representative
Level: ST5+
Tenure: 1-2 years
Available for Nominations at AGM 2026: YES
This position creates a link between BSFPS and AOT and as a subspecialist organisation is better suited to senior trainees.
The main role is to work with the BSFPS juniors in planning of the junior programs.
You will communicate matters of interest to trainees on to the council.
You will need to attend bi-annual committee meetings at the RSM.
This is a 2-year term.
For roles that are available for online application 2026-7
ENT UK Representative
Level: ST4+
Tenure: 1 year
Available for Nominations at AGM 2026: YES
The AOT – ENT UK representative is invited to attend the ENTUK committee meetings as the trainee representative (please note to attend these meetings, it is a requirement to be an ENTUK member).
There are monthly ENTUK council meetings throughout the year which are both face to face and virtual throughout the country.
The role requires you to act as a liaison between AOT and ENTUK.
This involves ensuring and reviewing AOT views on aspects overseen by ENTUK from education, policy, events and grants.
For roles that are available for online application 2026-7
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officer
Level: ST3+
Tenure: 1 year
Available for Nominations at AGM 2026: YES
The WENTS & EDI Representative will be a key member of the WENTS UK committee and a point of contact between AOT and other ENT groups.
They will actively gather feedback on EDI issues and focus on promoting women in ENT training by creating leadership opportunities and ensuring equitable pathways to consultancy.
The role will work to address barriers to female consultants and support initiatives to level up female representation in senior roles.
In collaboration with the LTFT Rep, the EDI Rep will advocate for flexible working and support policies to address the unequal caregiving burdens often faced by women, fostering a more inclusive and balanced training environment.
The WENTS & EDI Rep will be committed to building and promoting an inclusive culture of equality, diversity, and respect among members and the wider ENT community.
For roles that are available for online application 2026-7
FRCS Exam Representative
Level: ST7+ with FRCS completed
Tenure: 1 year
Available for Nominations at AGM 2025: YES
This post is open to any trainee who has sat and passed the FRCS.
You sit as the trainee representative on the JCIE ENT Exam Board meetings to review and shape the FRCS exam.
The meetings are held twice a year (August and February) mostly via virtual sessions but occasionally in person and the rep will gain valuable insight into the methods behind the exam setting.
The Board takes trainee feedback and concerns seriously and the representative must send notes ahead of each meeting so they can be reviewed.
The representative is expected to bring feedback from the previous exam sittings and raise any trainee concerns with regards to standards, EDI and accessibility of the exam.
There may be new tasks added to this role during recovery from the pandemic and the implementation of the new curriculum as well as working with the AOT podcast lead to develop the educational resources available for members sitting the exam.
For roles that are available for online application 2026-7
ISCP and e-Logbook Rep
Level: ST3+
Tenure: 1 year
Available for Nominations at AGM 2026: YES
This role involves liaising with the e-Logbook and ISCP teams and recommending ways in which the otolaryngology portion of eLogbook.org or iscp.ac.uk can be improved.
We are encouraged to engage in develop, test and provide feedback to the e-logbook and ISCP committees.
Open for ST post holders only.
For roles that are available for online application 2026-7
Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh Rep
Level: ST3+
Tenure: 1 year
Available for Nominations at AGM 2026: YES
This position involves attending subspecialty board meetings at the Royal College in Edinburgh 2-3 times per year.
The meetings are usually either virtual or hybrid.
The role will be to give a trainees perspective regarding topics on the agenda and feedback via the AOT trainees forum.
The committee are very keen to involve trainees and are receptive to any suggestions.
This post will give good insight into the workings of the college and enable trainees to contribute to future developments within ENT.
The post would be ideally suited to a member or fellow of the RCSEd, however, is open to other senior ST post holders.
For roles already occupied for 2026-7
RSM Rhinology & Laryngology (and BRS)
Level: ST6+
Tenure: 2 years
Available for Nominations at AGM 2026: NO
This position is for two years and involves feeding back on council meetings for the Laryngology & Rhinology Section.
Meetings take place five times a year (first Friday of November, December, February, March, May) starting between 8am and 9am at the Royal Society of Medicine.
During the meeting you have an allocated slot to raise any AOT related issues and are generally encouraged to contribute to discussions on trainee related matters.
Over the past two years we have tried to increase trainee membership to the RSM and have been successful in reducing the overall cost of membership and clarifying reimbursement arrangements.
There is still potential for further improvements in making membership more appealing to trainees and this task should be considered as part of the overall role.
Open for ST post holders only.
For roles that are available for online application 2026-7
Otology (RSM, BSO & BSOJ)
Level: ST6+
Tenure: 2 years
Available for Nominations at AGM 2027: YES
This is a 2-year tenure open for ST post holders only.
The position involves positions on 3 different committees/councils in addition to AOT.
The representative can work synergistically with the RSM rhinology and laryngology representative.
This position requires a lot of time and organisation but provides a lot of opportunities.
RSM Otology as Trainee Representative
This role involves advertising and promotion of RSM events.
This includes the 5 RSM Otology (and laryngology and rhinology) meetings per academic year, submission of abstracts to the Matthew Yung paper prize and organising the temporal bone competition which takes place annually.
There are several council meetings over the year on the days of the RSM meetings.
The representative is encouraged to organise events that encourage trainee attendance to the RSM.
In 2023 a lunch time trainee session was organised.
The RSM trainee representatives have also attended 7the RSM careers fair.
BSO Council as Trainee Representative
This role involves attending council meetings also on the days of the RSM meetings.
The trainee representative acts as AOT’s representation on the BSO council and leads trainee matters along with the BSOJ Chair.
Between 2022-2024, the representative was asked to give a talk at the BSO annual meeting.
BSOJ as RSM/BSO/AOT representative
This position makes you a key committee member in BSOJ working closely with their chair to liaise between the BSO council and BSOJ.
The meetings take place every month.
You will participate in organising events and resources for the team.
For roles that are available for online application 2026-7
Social Media Rep
Level: CT/ST1+
Tenure: 1 year
Available for Nominations at AGM 2026: YES
The role of the social media rep is crucial to the success of our organisation’s events especially with regards to marketing and publicity.
The role of the social media rep is to represent AOT on any social media networks including Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
The officer needs to share events and update the social media pages as well as the online calendar with latest AOT news or events.
They must work with the webmaster, Education lead and event organisers to share information on public platforms.
Promote free trainee-led events and support other trainee-led organisations.
All ENT UK events also must be shared.
Advertising fees apply to sponsored and paid events which will need authoring by committee prior to posting on our media.
The social media rep also works together with the education leads to design graphic art/thumbnails/videos for the AOT POD.
This is a one-year appointment open to ST and CT post holders and suitable for those savvy with graphic design, managing multiple social media accounts and maintaining a good online presence.
For roles that are available for online application 2026-7
Webmaster
Level: CT/ST1 +
Tenure: 1 year
Available for Nominations at AGM 2026: YES
The role includes:
- Maintaining and developing the website, aotent.org.
- Managing the domain registration, web hosting and Member’s Area.
- Any website updates, event updates, appearance changes are made by the webmaster.
A basic understanding and experience with HTML, website-building and WordPress is highly desirable but not essential.
A basic understanding of CSS is desirable.
Willingness to learn and proficiency at problem-solving is essential.
This role is open to Core Trainees as well as ST doctors.
For roles that are available for online application 2026-7
YCOHNS Representative
Level: ST8+
Tenure: 1 year
Available for Nominations at AGM 2026: YES
The Young Consultant Otolaryngologists Head and Neck Surgeons (YCOHNS) are a national group of ENT surgeons including consultants appointed for less than 5 years and post FRCS specialist trainees within 12 months of CCT.
The AOT YCOHNS rep acts as a crucial link between both organisations and is invited to the YCOHNS annual meeting, AGM, and dinner.
For roles that are available for online application 2026-7
Global Health Grant Representative
Level: ST3+
Tenure: 1 year
Available for Nominations at AGM 2026: YES
The Global Health Grant Representative leads AOT’s Global Health Grants, supporting trainees to access overseas ENT global health and medical education opportunities.
The role oversees the annual grant cycle, including maintaining the application process and guidance, communicating opportunities and key dates to members, and liaising with project leads to confirm availability and practical details (dates, supervision, trainee role, requirements).
They work with the AOT committee to coordinate a fair and transparent selection process using predefined scoring criteria, and ensure successful candidates complete post-award outputs (e.g. short reports for the AOT website and potential publication).
The Representative also explores and develops new projects and partnerships for future rounds, and attends monthly ENT UK Global Health Committee meetings to strengthen collaboration and help identify future opportunities.
For roles that are available for online application 2026-7
LTFT Representative
Level: ST3+
Tenure: 1 year
Available for Nominations at AGM 2026: YES
The Less Than Full Time Rep is an advocate for trainees and assists in providing information and resources.
This includes parental leave and return to work.
The role is not limited to parental information and should also provide support for working LTFT for other reasons.
The LTFT rep will work closely with our committee to address issues that arise amongst our members and make sure their views are heard at different training committee meetings.
They will also ensure our dedicated LTFT space in the members area is updated with relevant resources.
There is a growing AOT LTFT community on a dedicated messenger group, for members to raise issues with the rep and to share events and information.
They will promote awareness of LTFT and flexible working options within ENT.
For example AOT recently co-hosted a Flexible working webinar with ENT-UK.
This being a relatively new role there is lots of scope for innovation to enhance the working lives of those who train LTFT.
For roles already occupied for 2026-7
MRCS IQA/ICBSE Representative
Level: ST3+
Tenure: 2 years
Available for Nominations at AGM 2026: YES
The Intercollegiate Committee for Basic Surgical Examinations (ICBSE) is responsible for the continued development, quality assurance and standards of the Intercollegiate MRCS and the DO–HNS examinations.
The AOT ICBSE rep will attend meetings that are held 3-4 times year.
These are currently held in person and virtually, rotating through one of the four colleges (London, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dublin).
Travel expense are covered by ICBSE.
Within ICBSE there is also the DOHNS subgroup committees held throughout the year, the majority of which are shorter virtual meetings which the AOT rep will also attend.
AOT ICBSE rep is also invited to the Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) sub-committee held three times a year.
In addition to this, a current review process of the MRCS examinations is being undertaken by the colleges of which trainee representation is required on a monthly basis.
The ICBSE Rep will be expected to attend these meetings to provide a trainee voice to any proposed changes to the MRCS exam.
The post is open to any ST3+ and the role of AOT rep is to represent the views and concerns of the ENT trainees.
This role requires a motivated trainee who can afford the time and enthusiasm to ensure that the ENT and surgical trainee voice is heard and adumbrated clearly within meetings.
The opportunity to travel to the Royal colleges across the UK is a huge advantage.
The rep will also be expected to relay any statements released by ICBSE or IQA to the AOT membership for discussion.
For roles that are available for online application 2026-7
Core Trainees (CT/SFO UK) Representative
Level: CT only
Tenure: 1 year
Available for Nominations at AGM 2026: YES
The CT/SFO UK rep involves representing your CT peers on a national level in all ENT-related matters.
You will have a responsibility to inform other CTs about relevant courses, meetings and conferences to help prepare them for ST3 application, particularly ST3 interview preparation courses.
Other communications include application dates and deadlines as well as any changes to the ST3 application.
All communications go through a dedicated WhatsApp messenger group.
Trainee concerns will need to be relayed on to the AOT president.
Recently, we have expanded the role to include liaising closely with foundation schools and with the Student and Foundation Doctors in Otolaryngology (SFO-UK) group within ENT UK.
For newly created AOT committee roles
Foundation Doctor and Medical Student Representative
Level: Foundation Doctor or Medical Student
Tenure: 1 year
Available for Nominations at AGM 2026: YES
The Foundation Doctor and Medical Student Representative acts as the main liaison for pre-specialty trainees with an interest in ENT, ensuring that the views of foundation doctors and medical students are represented within AOT.
The role supports engagement between AOT and Student and Foundation Doctors in Otolaryngology within ENT UK and reflects the existing focus on foundation and student involvement in national ENT training pathways.
Key responsibilities include promoting ENT as a career, signposting introductory educational opportunities, publicising relevant conferences, courses and application resources, and cross-promoting events between AOT and Student and Foundation Doctors in Otolaryngology networks.
The representative will also act as a communication link between AOT and early-career groups, relaying concerns, ideas and opportunities in both directions to strengthen the transition into specialty training.
For newly created AOT committee roles
Head and Neck Society Representative
Level: ST4+
Tenure: 1-2 years
Available for Nominations at AGM 2026: YES
This position provides a formal link between AOT and the Head and Neck Society, ensuring that trainee views are represented in discussions relevant to head and neck training, education and service development.
ENT UK has a dedicated Head and Neck Society structure, and this role creates a clear trainee liaison within that framework.
The representative is expected to attend relevant society meetings, provide the trainee perspective on matters such as education, research and standards, and feed back issues of relevance to the wider AOT committee.
The role is particularly suited to trainees with an interest in head and neck surgery, oncology or multidisciplinary working and offers an opportunity to strengthen collaboration between AOT and the Head and Neck Society.