This is composed of nationally elected members: officers, plus eight women and eight men; together with delegates from the branches.

Professor Richard Pring was the association's president from 2008 until he retired from that position in June 2017.

The following month, it was announced that the association's new president was to be Professor Selina Todd of Oxford University.

Selina Todd was succeeded in 2022 by Professor Diane Reay of Cambridge University.

Following the retirement of John Bolt as General Secretary, James Whiting was elected as his successor at the AGM held in June 2019.