IFSWF Santiago Principles

Advisory Committee

At the 2017 IFSWF annual general meeting, the membership, on the recommendation of the Board, voted to establish an Advisory Committee with a mandate to provide transparent non-binding advice and support to the IFSWF Secretariat and Board on matters including those currently managed by IFSWF Subcommittees and dissolve the Subcommittees and the Communication Advisory Group.

Full details of the Advisory Committee are available on the Board's decision paper.

Advisory Committee Terms of Reference

Section 7.5 of the IFSWF Member Agreement requires each resolution establishing a member committee to specify “the purpose and scope of the committee, the responsibilities of the committee leaders and the members of the committee, and any other terms of reference for the committee. [The Committee’s] terms of reference will be reviewed by Members at their annual general meeting at least every two years.”

Purpose:

The Advisory Committee provides transparent, non-binding, advice and support to the Secretariat and Board. The Advisory Committee reports to the Board via the CEO of the Secretariat.

Scope and member responsibilities:

Members of the Advisory Committee shall provide advice and support on topics including,
but not limited to:

  • All matters relating to IFSWF events, including annual meetings (i.e., themes,content, location, and participation);
  • Strategic planning matters;
  • Research and engagement;
  • Member on-boarding;
  • Education;
  • Academic relationships;
  • Peer assistance, training and workshops; and
  • Promoting IFSWF and the Santiago Principles.

The IFSWF Secretariat will be obliged to seek the advice of the Advisory Committee on the above issues.

Committee lead and responsibilities:

The CEO of IFSWF shall serve as coordinator of the Advisory Committee and have the responsibility of reporting to the Board at a regular interval on the activities and performance of the Advisory Committee, and to the full Membership on these matters at each Annual General Meeting.

Meeting protocols:

The Advisory Committee will meet bi-annually, with the Secretariat coordinating agendas and logistics.

Meetings can occur in person (at the London Secretariat), and/or remotely (i.e., via phone or teleconference), at members discretion.

A formal, in person, annual Advisory Committee meeting (making up one of the bi-annual meetings) will occur in conjunction with the IFSWF AGM.

As necessary, Advisory Committee matters will also be raised by email or other electronic means. Where required, a recommendation will be approved by a simple majority of respondents, with a relevant pre-specified deadline of at least seven calendar days.

Actions and Reporting:

Advisory Committee agendas will be made available to all IFSWF members ahead of the Advisory Committee meetings (subject to any confidentiality issues deemed necessary by the Secretariat or Board).

All members are able to provide input to the Secretariat and/or Advisory Committee as to the agenda – should they wish specific views to be represented.

The Advisory Committee reports to the Board. The IFSWF Secretariat will maintain a complete record of matters raised, decisions reached, and outcomes pursued and achieved.

This record will be made available to the Board at its quarterly meetings and to the IFSWF membership at the Annual Meeting.

A biennial review of the performance of the Advisory Committee will be sought by the Board from the Advisory Committee, covering topics of coverage, effectiveness, and participation.

Advisory Committee Structure

The structure of the Advisory Committee will remain at the Board’s discretion. The Board’s desire is that the Advisory Committee is engaged and representative of a broad geography.

To best achieve this initially, the Advisory Committee shall be made up of 9 members plus the CEO of IFSWF as administrator (10 people in total).

The Board will call for volunteers from all members. Only one volunteer can come from each member Fund. The Board will form the Advisory Committee from the volunteer list.

If the number of volunteers is greater than 9, the Board will make the final decision on the size and composition of the initial Advisory Committee. The Board’s discretion will take into account the need for a geographic dispersion of Advisory Committee membership (e.g., the Americas; Europe and Africa; East Asia and Oceania; and the Middle East and Central Asia).

Initially, member tenures will differ to balance continuity and inclusion on an ongoing basis

Each inaugural Advisory Committee member will be allocated a two- or three-year term by the Board. Regardless of the initial term, each member shall be eligible to volunteer for a second two-year term. At each Annual Meeting, vacancies on the Advisory Committee will be filled by calling for volunteers.

All member lead representatives should receive an invitation to express their organisation's willingness to join the Advisory Committee. Those wishing to put their organisation forward for a seat should notify Duncan Bonfield of their interest by 10 October 2017.

Using the above protocol, the IFSWF Board will finalise the initial Advisory Committee membership by 31 October 2017 and inform all members.

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