Governance
The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) is a charity, and a company limited by guarantee and is funded by the EU and voluntary contributions from the online industry.
The IWF is governed by a Board of ten consisting of an independent Chair, six independent Trustees, and three industry Trustee. The Board elects two Vice-Chairs, one from the industry Trustees and one from the independent Trustees. The independent Trustee also carries out the role of Senior Independent Director. The Board monitors, reviews and directs the IWF’s remit, strategy, policy, and budget to enable the IWF to achieve its objectives, for more information see the Board Members Handbook which is available at: http://www.iwf.org.uk/accountability/governance/board-handbook All IWF policies are subject to approval by the Board of Trustees.
Member organisations which support the IWF nominate representatives to a Funding Council. Funding Council elects three of its members to represent industry views on the Board. Independent Board members are chosen by an open selection procedure following national advertising. No Trustee may serve more than six years.
Board member appointments are subject to IWF vetting policy and their responsibilities are described in the Board Members' Handbook.
We also became a registered charity in December 2004 to enhance our structure and accountability. In 2007, we engaged in an overhaul of our governance and consultation processes to ensure our Board of Trustees direct strategy in an optimum and timely fashion and that other relevant stakeholder views are fairly represented. All of these processes are ongoing and consistent with maintaining the IWF’s independent status.
IWF governance arrangements are strengthened by a regular cycle of Board meetings and Executive meetings as well as audit and remuneration committees reporting to the main Board. We continue to review and improve our governance and during 2009 we revised our constitutional documents in accordance with the provisions in the Companies and Charities Acts 2006. A major review of all our governance documentation is planned before April 2012.
