Global Stewardship Board (GSB)

Role: The Global Stewardship Board (GSB) is the strategic oversight body of GCRI, tasked with steering the organization towards achieving its mission of leading innovation in risk management, security, privacy, and sustainability. The GSB ensures that all organizational activities are aligned with GCRI’s overarching goals and values.

Purpose: The GSB’s primary purpose is to provide strategic guidance and oversight for GCRI’s operations. This includes making critical decisions on policies, strategies, and priorities to ensure that GCRI's efforts in research, development, and policy formulation are effectively coordinated and support the organization's mission.

Representation Process

  1. Nomination and Screening:

    • Candidates for the GSB are nominated based on their expertise, experience, and contributions to their respective fields.

    • The Central Bureau (CB) conducts a preliminary screening process to evaluate these nominations against set criteria, ensuring candidates meet GCRI’s high standards.

  2. Balanced Representation:

    • GSB oversees RSBs. The RSBs employs a quota system to ensure balanced representation from each county, Committees and Councils it represents.

    • For instance, if RSB Africa represents 54 countries, the aim is to have at least one representative from each country across the five boards, distributed to ensure expertise and sector coverage.

  3. Election and Appointment:

    • After nominations, a transparent election or appointment process is conducted where existing board members and stakeholders finalize the membership. This ensures that all appointments are made fairly and with consensus.

  4. RSB Integration:

    • Once elected, members from each Leadership Board participate in the larger RSB. From the total pool of 100 members, a core group of 20 is strategically elected to ensure a broad range of expertise and representation.

    • This core group called Strategic Leadership Board (STLB) and includes chairs from each of the five boards (engineering, industry, academic, legacy, strategic).

    • Strategic Leadership Board (STLB) is led by chair whos automatically become member of GSB representing one of GCRI's RSBs.

  5. Role of Chairs:

    • Chairs ar national and regional levels lead their specific board, committees and councils and represents their members in the overarching RSB structure.

    • Chairs play a crucial role in strategic decision-making and integrating board activities with the wider goals of the RSB.

    • RSB chairs are integral and key strategic members of GSB ensuring inclusive and democratic representation of all NWGs under their jurisdictions.

Hierarchical Structure

  • Highest Authority: The GSB operates at the highest level of GCRI’s governance structure, directly below the General Assembly (GA) with oversight of BoT, to which it is accountable.

  • Coordination: It works in close coordination with other boards and committees to ensure strategic alignment across the organization.

Sessions and Meetings

  1. Regular Sessions:

    • The GSB meets regularly, at least quarterly, to discuss strategic matters, review progress, and make necessary decisions.

    • These meetings include key activities such as budget approvals, financial oversight, and strategic planning to ensure alignment with GCRI's long-term goals.

  2. Annual Strategic Review:

    • A comprehensive session is held annually to evaluate GCRI’s strategic direction, review achievements, and set priorities for the coming year.

  3. Special Sessions:

    • Convened as needed to address urgent strategic issues or opportunities that arise outside the regular meeting schedule.

Policy Draft Procedure

  1. Initiation:

    • Policy drafts may originate from various sources within GCRI, including the Central Bureau (CB), Specialized Leadership Board (SLB), Regional Stewardship Boards (RSBs), or National Working Groups (NWGs).

  2. Review and Revision:

    • The GSB reviews policy drafts, suggesting revisions and improvements to ensure they align with GCRI’s strategic goals and values.

    • This stage involves a thorough evaluation to identify potential improvements and ensure comprehensive alignment with the organization’s mission.

  3. Approval:

    • Once refined, policies are either approved by the GSB or forwarded to the BoT or GA for final approval, depending on the nature of the policy.

Relationships

  1. Coordination with the SLB:

    • The GSB works closely with the SLB and Technical Councils (TCs) to ensure that technical and research activities are strategically aligned with GCRI’s overall goals.

    • This involves regular reviews of reports and recommendations to inform GSB decision-making.

  2. Support to the CEO and Central Bureau:

    • The GSB provides strategic guidance and support to the CEO and the Central Bureau, facilitating the execution of GCRI’s operational plans.

    • It ensures that the operational activities align with GCRI’s strategic goals and mission.

  3. Engagement with RSBs and NWGs:

    • The GSB takes into account insights and feedback from RSBs and NWGs, ensuring global perspectives are incorporated into strategic decisions.

    • This engagement ensures that local insights and needs are reflected in global strategies and policies.

  4. Interaction with the General Assembly:

    • The GSB reports to the GA, presenting strategic plans, policy decisions, and progress reports for review and ratification.

    • It ensures that all major decisions have the support of the broader membership, maintaining alignment with GCRI's mission.

Responsibilities and Functions

  1. Approving Strategic Plans and Major Initiatives:

    • The GSB approves GCRI’s strategic plan and major initiatives, setting the direction for its work.

    • It ensures that all initiatives align with GCRI’s mission and long-term goals.

  2. Overseeing Global Standards and Normative Frameworks:

    • The GSB oversees the development and implementation of global standards and normative frameworks, ensuring consistency and adherence to best practices.

    • This ensures that GCRI's work is aligned with international standards and contributes to global sustainability efforts.

  3. Endorsing Partnerships and Collaborations:

    • The GSB endorses partnerships and collaborations with other organizations and entities, fostering synergistic relationships that enhance GCRI’s impact.

    • This includes strategic alliances with key stakeholders, academia, and industry partners.

  4. Approving Budgets and Financial Decisions:

    • The GSB approves budgets and major financial decisions, ensuring that GCRI’s resources are allocated effectively and transparently.

    • Regular financial reviews and audits are conducted to maintain fiscal responsibility and integrity.

  5. Appointing and Reviewing Key Executives:

    • The GSB appoints, oversees, and reviews the performance of the CEO and other key executive roles, ensuring strong leadership and accountability.

    • It ensures that executive leadership aligns with GCRI’s strategic goals and values.

Decision-Making Process

  1. Consensus-Driven Approach:

    • Decision-making within the GSB is based on a consensus-driven approach, with members working collaboratively to arrive at decisions that further GCRI’s objectives.

    • This approach ensures that all perspectives are considered, fostering unity and shared commitment to decisions.

  2. Voting Procedures:

    • Votes are typically cast when consensus cannot be reached, with each member having equal voting rights.

    • In cases where voting is required, a majority vote is needed to pass decisions, ensuring democratic and inclusive decision-making.

Planetary Nexus Governance

  1. Holistic Governance Approach:

    • The GSB integrates environmental, social, and economic considerations into all decision-making processes, reflecting the principles of Planetary Nexus Governance.

    • This holistic approach prioritizes long-term sustainability and resilience, addressing global risks comprehensively.

  2. Collaborative Innovation:

    • The GSB encourages cross-sector and interdisciplinary collaboration to drive innovative solutions.

    • It fosters a culture of continuous improvement and adaptability, promoting initiatives that leverage collective expertise to address complex global challenges effectively.

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