Structure, Governance and Management

Structure  InstMC Organisation (14.62 kB)

The Board of Trustees is the governing body of the Institute and comprises the elected Officers of the Institute and the Immediate Past President, whose appointments are all ex officio, and representatives elected by/from Council; their terms on the Board being subject to triennial review. Membership of the Board is published in the Annual Report.. The Trustees meet at least three times a year to conduct the affairs and business of the Institute. Their powers and duties are laid down in the Royal Charter and Bye-laws  Royal Charter (Revised 2009) (152.77 kB). A principal concern in their deliberations is the institute’s discharge of its obligation and commitments to serving the public benefit.

The induction of Trustees and maintenance of their subsequent competence comprises the regular dissemination of information covering corporate governance, charity law and the Institute’s policies and procedures. All Trustees are subject to the Institute’s Code of Conduct and their membership of the Board is further subject to explicit provisions in the Bye-laws concerning their fitness and propriety to serve.

Although they remain accountable for their decisions and actions, the Trustees have the authority to delegate responsibilities. The Board therefore operates through Council and a hierarchy of Boards and Committees, some of which have their own sub-committees and panels.

Council

Council is the members’ elected body to foster and promote their interests in the Institute. Its primary role is to advise the Trustees on Institute activities and operations and to represent the members’ views in these matters. A particular responsibility, laid down in the Bye-laws is to monitor the governance of the Institute. Through its dialogue with the Board, Council therefore makes an important contribution to the running of the Institute.

Elections to Council are held annually on a national basis and regionally, via the Local Sections, triennially. The term of service on Council for all elected members is three years with members serving and retiring on a staggered basis so that there is continuity. There is provision for Council to co-opt members with expertise in specific areas relevant to its concerns.

The Institute’s Officers and the Immediate Past President are ex-officio members of Council but do not have voting rights. This is to safeguard the autonomy of Council particularly in respect of its responsibility to monitor of the Institute’s governance.

Learned Society Board (LSB)

LSB has overall responsibility for the direction and management of the Institute’s publications, related communication services, events and liaison with kindred international organisations, notably IMEKO and IFAC (via UKACC). Specialist Technical Panels contribute to much of this and report to the Board.

Local Sections Activities Board (LSAB)

LSAB is the forum for the Institute’s Local Sections to discuss matters of common interest to the Sections in their local activities and to agree common positions on matters scheduled for discussion by the Council.

Accreditation Committee

The Accreditation Committee plans and oversees the accreditation of degree and diploma programmes predominantly, but not exclusively, in the UK. A significant element of its work is the ongoing interaction and sharing of accreditation processes and practices with similar committees of other UK engineering institutions.

Professional Registration Committee

The Professional Registration Committee is responsible for the election of individuals to various grades of Institute membership and for the subsequent registration of appropriately qualified members with the UK’s Engineering and Science Councils. Implicit in this is the need for it to ensure that the criteria and processes for determining individuals’ acceptability are current and fit for purpose. It is also responsible for the accreditation of employers’ development and training programmes.

Prizes and Awards Committee (P&A)

P&A makes recommendations to Council on the distribution of Institute medals, prizes and awards.

Officers of the Institute

The Officers of the Institute are the President, (up to six) Vice Presidents, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer. Currently, the President is appointed by the Trustees, normally in consultation with Council. Vice-Presidents are appointed from within the membership of Council by the Trustees. Terms of office are for three years. The Officers’ appointments are reported to and confirmed at the Institute’s Annual General Meetings.

Staff

The Chief Executive Officer and Secretary, supported by a small team, is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Institute’s affairs and for the implementation of policies agreed by the Trustees.

The Institute currently has ISO 9001 certification of its management system.