Fellow expert has time to reach surface (5)
I believe the answer is:
facet
'surface' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'fellow expert has time' is the wordplay.
'fellow' becomes 'f' (abbreviation - of a society etc.).
'expert' becomes 'ace' (ace is a kind of expert**).
'has' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'time' becomes 't'.
'f'+'ace'+'t'='FACET'
'to reach' is the link.
(Other definitions for facet that I've seen before include "view" , "Small flat surface of cut gemstone" , "Gem's cut side" , "Side or surface, diamond or building" , "Characteristic" .)