Governance
A structure designed so that the people who set standards are independent of the people who fund them.
Separate oversight from standard-setting
Mature standard setters keep two things apart: the body that oversees and funds the organization, and the body that writes the standards. AIGSB follows the same model.
Trustees appoint the Standards Board and protect its independence, but they do not decide technical questions. The Standards Board decides, in public, after due process. Advisory and working bodies bring breadth and depth.
This structure is proposed in the founding charter and will be ratified by the founding Board.
Roles and responsibilities
| Body | Size and terms | Responsibilities |
|---|---|---|
| Board of Trustees | 7 to 11 Trustees; three-year staggered terms; two terms maximum | Oversees the organization, approves budgets, appoints and reappoints Standards Board members, safeguards independence, approves the due process handbook. Trustees do not vote on the content of standards. |
| Standards Board | 7 members; three-year terms; a majority must be practicing or recently practicing CISOs, CROs, CIOs or chief audit executives | Sets the technical agenda, approves exposure drafts, deliberates in public meetings and issues standards. A standard requires the votes of at least five of seven members. |
| Advisory Council | Up to 30 members from industry, audit, insurance, law, academia and the public sector | Advises on agenda priorities, practicality and cost of proposed standards. Vendors may serve here, with disclosure. |
| Technical Working Groups | One per AIGS domain; open to members | Research, draft text, field-test requirements with member organizations and summarize comment letters for the Board. |
| Secretariat | Staff and volunteers | Membership administration, meetings, publication, records of due process. Funded through membership and disclosed sponsorship. |
Independence tests
Standards Board members may not be employed by, or hold a material financial interest in, a vendor whose products are designed to satisfy AIGS standards.
Open meetings
Standards Board deliberations on technical matters are held in public, with agendas published in advance and minutes published after.
Funding limits
From the third year, no single sponsor may provide more than one quarter of annual funding. All sponsors are listed publicly.