1. Purpose

The IFLA Governance Health Check Working Group (Working Group) has been established to provide advice to the IFLA Governing Board (GB) in relation to the implementation of the IFLA Governance Review.

The Health Check of the IFLA Governance Structure is a key priority of the Governing Board 2023-2025. The Governance Review was completed in 2021, and a commitment was made by the IFLA Governing Board 2019-2021 that a review would be undertaken after several years of implementation. It is also good practice to periodically review governance arrangements.

This Health Check is undertaken within the Governing Board’s responsibility for the management of the Federation (Article 14.1); which includes regularly reviewing its operation and management of the Federation to ensure that it is achieving its intended role and remit (Rule 14)

2. Background

IFLA’s governance review was a major step in the delivery of IFLA’s Strategy and wider Development Roadmap. It addressed the operation of, and relations between, bodies which bring together IFLA volunteers to carry out work and take decisions. These bodies – our General Assembly, Governing Board, professional and regional structures and advisory committees – together with IFLA Headquarters, are central to making IFLA what it is.

Following 18 months of discussions within IFLA’s Governing Board and extensive consultation with Members and volunteers, IFLA’s current Statutes and Rules of Procedure were agreed at the extraordinary General Assembly of 12 February 2021. The changes to the Statutes and Rules of Procedure were a key milestone in enabling the implementation of the new governance structure. The new Statutes and Rules of Procedure, which underpin these governance structures, were effective from the day following the August 2021 General Assembly.

The Objectives of the Governance Review, as informed by the membership, was

  • more transparency, efficiency and collaboration
  • stronger regional representation
  • greater financial and organisational sustainability
  • more varied opportunities for participation, esp. for new leaders
  • better support for volunteers

The Governance structure influenced changes within the following components of the governance structure:

  • Governing Board reduced in membership with a higher share of directly elected members, a directly elected Treasurer and great focus on risk management
  • Professional structures, incorporating the renaming of the Professional Committee to Professional Council, a new divisional structure, and new possibilities to create Working Groups and Networks
  • A new Regional Council with 6 Regional Division committees
  • Advisory Committees will work to advise and report to the Governing Board, and liaise with other committees and groups across IFLA.

Any changes to governance that require the Statutes to be amended must be approved by a General Assembly. All other changes to governance may be approved by the Governing Board.

3. Scope

The Working Group is requested to undertake a Health check of the implementation of the structure that was implemented from August 2021 and provide recommendations to the Governing Board for discussion at its February 2026 meeting.

In undertaking the Health Check, the Working Group should develop a methodology that includes:

  1. Consultation with current elected members of the governance structure (2023-2025), elected members from 2021-2023 governance structure and 2025-2027 Governing Board.
  2. Opportunity for the broader IFLA community (members and volunteers) to contribute

The Review should:

  1. Consider the commitments made in the IFLA Governance: an overview (March 2021) report and provide advice on the status of the implementation
  2. In relation to the Governance structure, consider and assess:
  3. What has been achieved
  4. what has been successful
  5. what gaps there are in the implementation
  6. suggestions for further improvements
  7. Consider if the current Governance Structure, including any changes made in recent years, is achieving the objectives of the Governance Review
  8. Make recommendations on changes and additions to the Governance structure which would support good governance and a strong governance structure to progress IFLA objectives.

4. Membership

Position Role
Vicki McDonald   Chair Representing the Governing Board 2023-2025  
Kirsten Boelt Member Representing the Governing Board 2023-2025
Athena Salaba    Member Representing the Professional Council 2023-2025  
Saif Al Jabri    Member Representing the Regional Council 2023-2025
Jonathan Hernandez Perez  Member Representing the Advisory Committees 2023-2025
Martyn Wade Parliamentarian  
Team member of IFLA HQ  Secretariat

Recognising that 2025 is an IFLA election year, the Working Group membership will be maintained during the term of the Working Group.  Following the outcome of the 2025-2027 elections, the Governing Board 2023-2025 may determine if a member of the incoming Governing Board 2025-2027 should be invited to join the Working Group.

5. Roles and responsibilities

5.1 Role of Chair

  • Effectively chair meetings and ensure adherence to the Terms of reference
  • Promote robust discussion to ensure objectives are satisfactorily addressed
  • Provide regular updates to the Governing Board on the progress of the Working Group’s activities

5.2 Role of Members (including Chair)

  • Attend meetings and actively participate in the work of the Working Group
  • Act with respect, trust, confidentiality and trust within the Working Group, between and among Working Group members, recognising the need to protect personal and privileged information.

5.3 Secretariat

  • Preparation of agenda
  • Scheduling meetings
  • Preparation and maintenance of decision and action registers

6. Operations

6.1 Principles

To ensure a successful meeting, the following principles should be followed:

  • members should be committed to the successful delivery of the Health check by attending each meeting
  • All meeting materials should be read and understood by members in advance of the meeting to enable the Working Group to focus on informed discussion
  • The Chair should manage the effective operation of the Working Group and its participants in line with the above, keeps the meeting to schedule and ensures the meeting outcomes are achieved

6.2 Meeting procedures

  • All meetings will be undertaken via MS Teams or Zoom
  • Meetings will be scheduled to ensure that no member is required to participate between midnight and 07:00
  • Meetings are held every fortnight, or as required.

6.3 Agenda and papers

To ensure meetings are run consistently and efficiently, the following guidelines apply:

  • An agenda will be issued at least 3 days in advance of a meeting
  • Required documentation will be issued with the agenda
  • Decision and action registers will be distributed within 2 days of a meeting

6.4 Quorum

A quorum will be the Chair and the majority of Working Group members