Additional information for the roles of
Chair and Vice-Chair of the World Board
The Chair and Vice-Chair(s) are elected by the World Board from amongst their members after the World Board election has taken place at World Conference.
The role of the Chair is to lead the World Board in ensuring that it fulfils its role in the governance of WAGGGS, and to work in partnership with the Chief Executive and senior staff to help them achieve the Mission, Objects and Strategic Plans of WAGGGS. The Chair provides leadership to the Board and ensures that Board members fulfil their duties and responsibilities for the proper governance of the charity, including on matters of policy and strategy, ensuring that decisions are impartial and objective. The Vice Chair(s) acts for the Chair when the Chair is not available and undertakes tasks and assignments at the request of the Chair.
Along with the Vice-Chair(s), the Chair ensures the proper and efficient conduct of Board meetings by:
- participating in the planning of, and setting of the agenda for, World Board meetings.
- chairing Board meetings effectively, balancing the need for full debate on key questions with the expeditious conclusion of business to reach clear and agreed decisions as timely as possible.
- ensuring that the Chief Executive and their staff provide the Board with relevant, timely and accurate information to allow the Board to discharge its responsibilities. This should include alerting the Board to major risks, informing the Board of current and future key issues, including significant trends, and informing the Board about internal and external changes which may impact on the charity.
- ensuring that Board decisions are made in the best, long-term interests of the charity and that the Board takes collective ownership of these decisions.
- ensuring that decisions taken at meetings of the Board are implemented within discussed and agreed timeframes.
- ensuring that the Board receives professional advice when it is needed.
The Chair works closely with, and supports, the Chief Executive ensuring that the Board focuses on its governance role and does not slip incrementally, or otherwise, into the operational management role. On behalf of the Board the Chair supervises the Chief Executive and ensures that the Chief Executive’s performance is reviewed regularly and that the Chief Executive is clear about the key performance indicators by which they will be held accountable. The Chair ensures that the Chief Executive has the opportunity for professional development and has appropriate external professional support.
The Chair reviews the performance of individual members of the Board each year and ensures Personal Development Plans are in place for each individual to support their development. The Chair actively engages with the other members of the Board to support and encourage positive engagement and to effectively manage poor performance or conflict.
The Chair is an ex-officio member of each Regional Committee and of all Standing Committees of the Board (as laid down in the Terms of Reference for each Committee approved by the Board).
In addition to the listed requirements for World Board members, the Chair and Vice-Chairs should also have skills, knowledge or experience in the following areas:
- Operational planning and execution of action plans
- Consensus building and organisational development
- Critical and strategic thinking
- Risk identification and management
- Change management
- Financial oversight
- Previous experience of acting as a Chair/Board member/Trustee of an organisation, within or outside WAGGGS, at a national, regional or international level.
- The ability to facilitate partnerships and collaboration, and the ability to delegate
- Strong leadership skills and experience, including effective chairing of meetings
- Strong volunteer management experience, including a solid understanding of how to lead and motivate volunteers.
- Confident and effective communication skills with a range of audiences
The Chair and Vice-Chairs should have a high level of integrity and professionalism, as well as enthusiasm, energy and time to commit to this role and a strong drive for success.