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Governance Review

A framework for change - Governance structures and ways of working for the IET.

September 2008

Over the past 12 months, the Board of Trustees has reviewed all aspects of the IET’s governance arrangements.  It has decided to simplify the structure of the main boards, improve the ways of working of these boards, and to emphasise the importance of delivery of the IET’s products and services globally by distinguishing between the strategy, policy and delivery functions.  The changes are also intended to reinforce the benefits of joint staff-member working to make best use of the resources available to meet the IET’s objectives.

The Board is convinced that success is brought about by boards and committees operating as integrated member-staff teams, ensuring coherence and consistency of functions, transparency of decisions, effectiveness of activities, and accountability for outcomes.

It has been agreed to:

• Merge the Technical and Professional Services and Publications Boards into a single Knowledge Management Board;
• Merge the membership activities of the Membership and Regions Board with the Qualifications Board to form a Membership and Professional Development Board;
• Form a Global Operations Board drawing from the regions function of the Membership and Regions Board.  Reporting to this Board will be five regional boards covering the IET’s principal areas of interest namely:
  • Americas;
  • Asia/Pacific;
  • Europe, Middle East and Africa;
  • Great Britain and Ireland;
  • South Asia.

• Increase the number of young professionals on boards and committees and evolve the Younger members board into a much broader Young Professionals Forum.

The Board of Trustees has approved the Terms of Reference and composition of the new boards and work on the detail has begun for the transition to the new structure and new ways of working during the next session (2008-09).  The transition plan is based on the principle of ‘make before break’ and changes will be implemented only once all the risks, issues and opportunities have been fully addressed. 

Implementation will be a challenge for both members and staff, but the Board of Trustees believes this change will enable the IET to operate in a more agile and effective manner, meet the needs of members, engineers and technologists, and the wider public, globally, and to engage younger members (young professionals) at the heart of the work of the IET.  The changes will also provide greater opportunities for more members to become active in more areas, thereby adding to the capability and capacity of the IET. 

More information on the transition will emerge as the detailed plans develop over the coming months, and as the current boards and committees take responsibility for their own transition.

Kind regards