APPENDIX TO ITEM 27
FIG Task Force on the Future Governance and
Management of FIG
Chair: Dr Tom Kennie, Vice President, FIG
Supplementary Report to the General Assembly
Friday 26th May, 2000
1. Introduction
This short supplementary report summarises the comments from
the Plenary Session which was held during the first session of the General
Assembly on Monday 22nd May (section 2). This is followed in section
3 with some modifies proposals which will be used as a basis for progressing
forward the work of the Task Force. These should be read in conjunction with the
original Task Force report.
It is perhaps obvious, but nevertheless worth emphasising,
that it is almost inevitable that when changes of this magnitude are being
implemented that it is not possible to fully satisfy the wishes of all parties.
Progress is a series of compromises along the route to an optimum state. It is
important for FIG to move forward towards a more democratic form of governance.
It is hoped that the modifications which are proposed can form the basis on
which the Task Force can draft new statutes for final ratification in Korea in
2001.
Section 4 outlines some revised terms of reference for the
work of the Task Force over the next 2 years together with the names of the Task
Force members.
2. Issues
The discussions during the first session led to a number of
issues being raised by members of the General Assembly. In summary these
included the following issues:
2.1 Terminology
- Whether the term ‘Council’ should replace that of Bureau, or whether the
term ‘Management Board’ should be used?
Comment: The term we use is important in a number
of respects. Among others these include first, a need to indicate the process
by which those involved became involved, and second, to represent the role
to be played by the body: On balance it is felt that the term Council most
closely represents both aspects. Whilst Management Board also has many merits it
is felt that, for the present, it may over-emphasise the business nature of the
role without giving sufficient emphasis to the democratic election processes
more directly associated with Council. It is judged that in the first instance
(and subject to change in the future) that we should begin to use the term
Council. This issue should, however, be reviewed in the light of experience.
2.2 Election of President
- Whether the person elected as President should have previously held a post
within FIG prior to being nominated? Whether the President should initially
spend a period as President-Elect? Should the period as President be
restricted to one period of 4 years? And whether in any case it is helpful
to nominate one of the Vice Presidents as an ‘alternate’ for the
President?
Comments: The need to ensure that the FIG attracts
the best qualified candidates is clearly important. It is also important that a
balance is achieved in relation to the experience of the candidates who come
forward for election, in terms of general experience of FIG affairs,
geographical distribution and disciplinary background.
To provide a degree of reassurance to the General Assembly it
is felt that the concept of a Nominations Review Group has many merits.
It is therefore recommended that such a group be established. Its terms of
reference will be developed more fully but it will essentially set ‘guidelines’
for nominations, ensure that nominees provided sufficient information to enable
the GA to vote on the basis of comprehensive data and also manage the process of
presenting candidates to the GA. The group will be appointed by, and act under,
the guidance of the General Assembly and will normally be chaired by the
Immediate Past President/a Council Member. It is felt that the consequence of
creating such a body will be to ensure a representative and suitably experienced
set of nominees will emerge. It is felt that this mechanism can avoid the need
to specify in the statutes the basis of the previous experience of the
candidates.
In view of the fast pace of change affecting all
professionals and the demands placed on the office of President that the GA
recognises the value of limiting the period of office of the President to a
single term of 4 years. In this regard, the concept of a President-Elect also
has many advantages. It is felt, however, that the time commitment of such a
role may be a disincentive to some candidates. On balance it is felt that the
President should therefore be elected and take up the role after a short
transitional period between the election and the beginning of the following
calendar year.
It is felt helpful to have a person nominally positioned as
‘alternate’ who can take the role of President should this be necessary. It
is not felt necessary to specify this within the statutes. Similarly to provide
flexibility for the future, it would be helpful to avoid writing into the
statutes any prescriptive link between the elections and the quadrennial
Congresses (to accommodate ant future changes which may evolve).
2.3 Regional Representation
- Whether elections for Vice Presidents should be on regional basis and if
not (as recommended) further work is required to clarify the geographic
areas of responsibility for Vice Presidents? Whether a similar process based
on a Nominations Review Group should apply for VP nominations?
Comments: The Task Force did not recommend, and
continues to be of the view, that it does not wish to recommend elections from
distinct geographic areas. It continues to be of the view that the GA should
take into account the linguistic and geographic diversity of candidates coming
forward for election, so as to try and ensure an appropriate balance is
maintained.
It is also felt that it would be inadvisable to be
restrictive and define in the statutes the areas of geographic responsibility
which form part of the portfolio of responsibilities of VPs after their
election. In practice, the areas would be negotiated between the VPs in the
period following the elections.
It is felt that it would be helpful to have the Nominations
Review Group manage the processing of nominations for positions as Vice
President.
2.4 Election of ACCO representative on the Council
- Whether it is desirable to have an elected ACCO nominee on the Council?
Comments: Much has been said over the past years
about the vital role played by the Commissions in the work of the Federation. In
recognition of the importance of this role it is felt that a direct link with
the work of the Council has many merits.
It should be remembered that the position is essentially a
co-opted position and is subject (as all co-opted positions are) to change. It
is felt that, particularly over the next 3 years or so, as the structure of the
Commissions is reviewed that it would be valuable to involve the Commissions
more directly in shaping the overall strategy of the Federation.
It is considered unnecessary to specify in the statutes the
precise number of ex-officio members on the Council.
2.5 Relationship between FIG and Member Associations
responsible for Congress/Working Week
- Whether some future work is required to clarify the nature of the
relationship and the balance of responsibilities between FIG and the country
selected to host the Congress?
Comments: Yes it is recognised that it is becoming
necessary to more explicitly define the balance of responsibilities between both
parties. This should be developed as part of the next phase of the work of the
Task Force.
3. Proposals for the General Assembly
On the basis of the points of clarification outlined above,
the Task Force recommends to the GA that new statutes be drafted for the General
Assembly in Korea. These statutes will be distributed in the 3rd
quarter of 2000 and also posted on the web-site.
The statutes will be drafted to incorporate the initial
recommendations as summarised in the original paper supplemented by the key
modifications outlined in this paper. The details of the voting procedures will
follow. In summary the package of recommendations will include:
3.1 that the term Bureau be replaced by the term Council
3.2 that the roles of Secretary General and Treasurer be
replaced by the term Vice President
3.3 that the Council shall consist of a President and 5 Vice
Presidents
3.3.1 (a) that a Nominations Review Group (NRG) be
established in order to manage the process of bringing forward to the GA all
of the candidates being considered for all elected positions and for ensuring
that a ‘balanced’ distribution of candidates is created. The NRG will act
under a set of internal rules established by the General Assembly.
3.3.1 (b) that the period of office for all posts will be 4
years
3.3.1 (c) that no individual may sit for more than 2
consecutive periods on the Council and the period of office of the President
shall be limited to one period of four years
3.3.1 (d) to ensure continuity the elections will take
place on a phased basis with elections every 2 years
3.4 that the Council shall have the ability to co-opt a
number of ex-officio members to assist with the work of the Council. These
co-opted positions will normally include the Director of the FIG office, a
representative of the ACCO and the Congress Director for the next Congress.
3.5 that bids for hosting the Congress shall be open to one,
or more Member Associations.
4. Task Force – Review of Commission, Task Force and
Permanent Institution Structure 2000- 2002: Terms of reference and Membership
The work of the original Task Force is, subject to the final
drafting of the statutes, nearing completion. The existing Task Force members (I
hope!) continue to assist with and contribute to the development of the draft
statutes.
In parallel an additional group will start work on the more
specific issue of reviewing the existing structure of the Commissions. The draft
terms of reference and proposed membership of the Task Force is outlined below.
4.1 Terms of Reference
In the light of:
- The changes which have been occurring in the practice of surveying
- The strategic priorities of the FIG
- The need to integrate and coordinate the various work groups contributing
to the work of the FIG (i.e. the Commissions, Task Forces and Permanent
Institutions)
- The existing and future work plans of the Technical/Professional
Commissions of the FIG
- The need for the FIG to assure itself of ongoing financial support, and
- The new statutes relating to the Governance and Management of the FIG,
To consider and make recommendations for any changes to:
(a) Structural Issues
- The current structure of the Commissions, Task Forces and Permanent
Institutions
- The process of identifying and electing members to progress the
Technical/Professional work of the FIG
- The existing structure and links between the Council strategy and the Task
Forces, the Technical/Professional Commissions and the Permanent
Institutions, and
- Enhance the linkages between the elected posts in the management structure
and the technical work of the FIG.
(b) Working Weeks and Congresses
To also consider and make recommendations for any changes to:
- The balance of responsibilities and the financial arrangements associated
with the decision to award a Working Week/Congress to one, or more MA.
4.2 Proposed Membership
-
Dr Tom Kennie (UK) – Vice President, Chair
-
Andreas Drees (Germany) – Incoming Secretary
General/Vice President
-
Matt Higgins (Australia) – Vice Chair, Commission 5 and
representative of ACCO
-
Gabriele Dasse (Germany) – Chair of Task Force on
Under-represented Groups in Surveying
-
Stig Enemark (Denmark) – Chair of Task Force on Mutual
Recognition of Qualifications and Past Chair, Commission 2
-
Christian Andreasen (USA) – Secretary General
-
Michel Mayoud (France) – Chair, Commission 6
5 Conclusions
The General Assembly is invited to note this report and to
indicate its support for the direction outlined in section 3 and to endorse the
terms of reference and membership for the new Task Force as outlined in section
4.
Dr Tom Kennie
Chair, Task Force on the Future Governance and Management of FIG
Prague
25 May 2000
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