This week I am pleased to let you know that, following advice from the Returning Officer and deliberations at the recent Board Meeting, I am now finalising the Branch Committee Positions for 2012/2013. I hope to be able to inform you all of those appointments early next week.
It was certainly pleasing to see so many members willing to nominate to serve on the Branch Committees. These Branch Committees are fundamental to the effectiveness and success of the Institute, so the holders of Committee positions are important Officers of the Institute.
Given that they are such important positions, it is probably worth reflecting on the ‘Conflict of Interest’ provisions in the SIA By-Laws. These By-Laws are in place to protect the business interests of the Institute and the interests of the Institute’s members.
The By- Laws define a conflict of interest as:
“…a circumstance in which a member of the Institute, in fulfilling a function of their position within the Institute, has competing professional or personal interests sufficient to potentially appear to influence the objective exercise of his or her official duties with the Institute.”
The By-Laws go on to state:
“It is recognised that competing interests can make it difficult to fulfil duties impartially. Even if there is no evidence of improper actions, a conflict of interest can create an appearance of impropriety that can undermine confidence in the ability of that person to act properly in his/her position”
(See SIA Ltd By-Laws Clause 5.4 for more detail)
These provisions are similar to those of most companies and associations, and are there to ensure the good governance of the organisation on behalf of the members.
All Institute Officers, whether Board Members or Branch Committee Members, are bound by these provisions.