AccuntAbility AA1000 Interim Standards Bard Rle, Structure and Operatin April 2011
The Interim Standards Bard Rle Gvernance f the AA1000 Series f Standards needs t respect the flagship AA1000 principles f Inclusivity, Materiality and Respnsiveness. The primary rle f the Interim Standards Bard is t represent public stakehlders and assist AccuntAbility in its rle as Steward and Custdian f the AA1000 Series f Standards. The Interim Standards Bard has three primary respnsibilities: 1. Sign ff and versee the publicatin f the revised AA1000 Stakehlder Engagement Standard 2. Establish stakehlder wrking grups t develp recmmendatins n: Strategy Infrastructure and Gvernance Certificatin and Licensing Public Advcacy and Adptin Technical Public Stakehlder Research Other issues at the discretin f the Interim Standards Bard 3. Advance the AA1000 Standards agenda and increase its impact glbally
Structure & Operatin The structure and peratin f any multi-stakehlder grup must achieve three key gals: legitimacy, strategy and perfrmance. T this end, the Interim Standards Bard is structured and perates as fllws: Legitimacy The Interim Standards Bard will be cmpsed f individuals representing a crsssectin f cnstituencies, including business, regulatrs, academia, NGO's and plicymakers; Each f these stakehlder grups will be represented by senir, high-calibre peple, acting in an individual capacity; Within reasn, the verall Interim Standards Bard will reflect a cmmitment t diversity and glbal impact; Interim Standards Bard members will be engaged in a nn-executive capacity; The Interim Standards Bard will be cmprised f seven peple at full cmplement six independent members plus AccuntAbility s Directr f Standards. AccuntAbility as Steward and Custdian will respnd t the Interim Standards Bard requests fr infrmatin and supprt the design f meeting agendas and recrd meeting minutes; Interim Standards Bard members will be selected by a 6-member Nminatin Cmmittee, cmprised f fur independent stakehlder members and tw members f AccuntAbility s Management Team. As part f the selectin prcess, the Nminatin Cmmittee will appint a Chair frm amng the six independent members f the Interim Standards Bard. Members f the Interim Standards Bard will nt be remunerated, althugh travel and ldging expenses in the discharge f their duties may be met by the Steward. Members will be requested t declare any cnflict(s) f interests and t refrain frm vting where such a cnflict has been established by the Interim Standards Bard; 3
T ensure independence, n member serving n the Interim Standards Bard shall be i) n a retainer arrangement t the Steward and Custdian, r ii) a full-time r part-time emplyee f the Steward and Custdian with the exceptin f the Directr f Standards; When acting as an ambassadr f the AA1000 Standards, members are able t speak with the media, gvernment, and ther stakehlders abut AA1000, althugh they shuld nt speak n behalf f the Interim Standards Bard r the Steward and Custdian unless authrized t d s. Strategy The Interim Standards Bard s rle is t represent stakehlders f the AA1000 Series f Standards and assist AccuntAbility in its rle as Steward and Custdian f the AA1000 Standards. The AA1000 Standards will have an independent technical gvernance structure reprting t the Interim Standards Bard. The Interim Standards Bard will ultimately be replaced by a Permanent Standards Bard. The Interim Standards Bard will be an independent bdy but accuntable t all stakehlders f the AA1000 Standards Series. The Interim Standards Bard recgnizes the legal respnsibilities f the Steward and Custdian. The respnsibility f the Interim Standards Bard will be discharged by: Advice: Prviding strategic guidance t the Steward and Custdian n increasing the impact f the AA1000 Standards and standards-research agenda; Supprt: Facilitating netwrks r activities that enhance the fcus, scale and impact f the AA1000 Standards; Challenge: Reviewing the Steward and Custdian s prgress in executing the AA1000 Standards strategy and missin; Represent: Acting as an ambassadr fr the AA1000 Standards where apprpriate. 4
Perfrmance Members will meet in persn r via cnference call at least fur times a year. Meetings will be held, typically, in Lndn; A subset f Interim Standards Bard members (i.e. Wrking Grup Chairs) may cnvene telephne cnferences as apprpriate; Members may als be requested t jin telephne cnferences if advice r input is urgently required. Hwever, this is nt expected t be a regular ccurrence; Members will serve n the Interim Standards Bard fr a term f ne year and, depending upn the need t maintain an effective balance and fr cntinuity, may serve n the Permanent Standards Bard; The Interim Standards Bard will perate with sufficient advance ntice, rbust chairing, clear agendas, gd dcumentatin, and a cmmitment t effective and efficient utput; Written materials regarding agenda items will be prepared and distributed ahead f the meeting, within the fllwing timelines: An agenda t be made public t all stakehlders will be circulated tw weeks prir t the meeting date Assciated meeting papers will be circulated fr Interim Standards Bard cmments and will be made public t all stakehlders at least ne week prir t the meeting date Minutes f each meeting will be distributed t all Interim Standards Bard members fr apprval and made public t all stakehlders within ne week The rle f the Chair Specific duties f the Chair include, but are nt limited t: Wrking with the Stakehlders f the AA1000 Standards Series t ensure timely and effective preparatin ahead f the Interim Standards Bard meetings; Facilitating and chairing the meetings, ensuring effective participatin by all; Ensuring the review and apprval f the draft minutes f the Interim Standards Bard meetings prir t distributin t stakehlders; Engaging Interim Standards Bard members cncerning develpments linked t the AA1000 Standards Series, as necessary, between meetings. 5