Proposals on an improved governance structure for IEMA were passed after a members voted in favour at the 2014 annual general meeting last month.
Dr Diana Montgomery, chair of the IEMA board, presented the new articles of association for the Institute at the meeting on 17 September. She told members that the revised articles are to “to ensure that the governance structure is better able to support the deliverability of Vision 2020 and provide greater added value and accountability for our members”.
During the past year, the board, together with the council and professional standards committee, has reviewed the feedback from members on IEMA’s governance structure, as part of the 2013 consultation on Vision 2020.
This revealed that existing articles could potentially inhibit the Institute’s ability to achieve its 2020 objectives. As a result, the board and council proposed to update the articles of association, ensuring that the governance structure is better able to support the deliverability of Vision 2020 and to provide greater added value and accountability for members.
The revised articles include updated terms of reference for the board, council, professional standards and nominations committees, the finance sub-committee and the regional steering groups. Essentially the changes mean that members are better represented across each of IEMA’s committees, and that the representative council will now provide strategic advice and foresight relevant to the environment and sustainability profession. Its purpose will be to provide a key strategic advisory role, allowing the board to focus on achieving IEMA’s strategic objectives.
The new articles will allow the Institute to progress and react at the right pace to changing member needs. They reflect current best practice, fit the ambition of IEMA, and grant the board fiduciary responsibility for the organisation. Overall, the articles allow each governance group to use and deploy their expertise in the most impactful and positive way.
The successful adoption of the new articles of association follows some other changes to how IEMA is working to build better connections and maximise opportunities for members to be appropriately represented.
For example, IEMA chief executive Tim Balcon is now the chair of the committee of regional steering group chairs, providing improved links between the Institute’s governance groups, its headquarters and its members. The articles also guarantee that the chairs of the council and the professional standards committee both have a seat on the board.
As well as approving the new articles, the AGM approved the Institute’s 2013 accounts and directors’ report, and the appointment of new auditors.
Members can find out more about the new articles of association and terms of reference at iema.net/about-governance
