Governing Council
Provides institutional direction, fiduciary oversight, risk governance and accountability for the Association as a whole.
Governance and accountability
Authority exercised with independence and control
The Association’s governance framework separates oversight, standard-setting, assessment, certification decisions, professional affairs and commercial administration.
Governance architecture
Defined bodies and delegated responsibilities
Each body operates within approved terms of reference and remains accountable for the proper exercise of its authority.
Standards Board
Oversees the standards portfolio, development procedures, technical committees, approval and maintenance.
Certification Board
Protects the integrity, consistency and impartiality of certification and mark-licensing programmes.
Professional Affairs Committee
Oversees membership, professional conduct, competence and continuing development frameworks.
Impartiality and Appeals Panel
Provides independent scrutiny of conflicts, complaints, appeals and threats to impartiality.
Secretariat
Administers authorised programmes, records, communications and services within delegated controls.
Decision safeguards
Controls proportionate to consequence
- Declarations and documented resolution of actual, potential and perceived conflicts of interest.
- Separation between assessment activity and the final certification decision on the same matter.
- Independent approval for designated high-consequence decisions and material security changes.
- Controlled records of authority, evidence considered, reasoning, outcome and effective date.
- Independent complaint and appeal routes with exclusion of persons involved in the original decision.
- Periodic review of governance performance, delegated authority and emerging risk.
Institutional conduct
Standards of behaviour apply throughout the Association
Council members, committee participants, assessors, decision-makers, staff, contractors and representatives are required to act within their authority, protect confidential information, declare relevant interests and preserve the integrity of official work.
No office, title or relationship with the Association may be used to imply approval, endorsement or representation beyond the expressly authorised scope.
Governance detail
Review committees and institutional policies
Further information sets out committee responsibilities, decision safeguards and the principal policies governing participation.