Page 48 - Aidlink Annual Report 2020

Directors’ Report
For the Financial Year Ended 31 December 2020 Continued
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE
Aidlink is governed by a Board
of Directors who are responsible for providing leadership, setting strategy and ensuring control. Day to day operations of the organisation are managed by
the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) appointed by the Board. Two
staff members report to the CEO; the Programme Officer with responsibility for partners and programmes and Programme Officer with responsibility for fundraising and communications. Aidlink employs the expertise
of external consultants where required.
COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD
The Board must comprise of between eight and twelve non- executive Directors. During 2020, Aidlink’s Board had 9 serving members, comprised of two women and seven men. Their professional biographies are available on the Aidlink website http://aidlink.ie/ about/governance/. In 2020, the Board met nine times (2019: nine times) with eight of these meetings held virtually with an average attendance of 95% (2019: 78%).
The Directors are committed to maintaining the highest standards of Corporate Governance and believe this is a key element in ensuring the proper operation of Aidlink’s activities. A core element of this policy is to ensure that the company is led by an effective Board and an experienced Chief Executive Officer. The role of
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer are separate, and all Directors are independent of the management of Aidlink.
In 2020 Aidlink developed a new constitution. This was approved by the Charities Regulator in February 2021, and was formally adopted at an Extraordinary General Meeting in April 2021. Aidlink’s Governance Policy will be updated in 2021 in line with the principals of The Charities Governance Code as set out by the Charities Regulatory Authority. Aidlink carries out annual Board and Chief Executive Officer Performance reviews and has a comprehensive process
for reporting management information including monthly management accounts.
BOARD APPOINTMENTS
Directors are recruited through
a combination of both public advertising and internal networking. Candidates for appointment to the Board are prioritised based on the Board’s requirements for expertise from time to time: for example, in the areas of development, finance, fundraising or governance. It is intended that the Board should comprise of a balance of expertise and disciplines. Directors receive induction training upon selection and are subject to a six-month initial trial before formal appointment.
Directors are expected to serve
a minimum term of three years. Under the Articles of Association of Aidlink, each director is required to submit him or herself for
re-election every three years at
the annual general meeting. All Directors may serve a maximum of three, three-year terms.
At least two new Directors are appointed in each rolling three-year period and at least two current Directors step down so as to both maintain continuity and experience and enable the introduction of fresh insights to the Board. If
there are no voluntary retirements from the Board necessary to meet this policy, the Chairman shall nominate the Directors who shall next retire, taking into account the objectives of this policy. Retiring Directors may be invited to become members of Aidlink, subject to approval by the Board.
Aishling Lennon was appointed to the board in January 2020
and following the resignation of Brendan Feehan, in March 2021, Aishling has been appointed company secretary. We wish to express our gratitude to Brendan for his time and commitment to Aidlink and welcome his ongoing support as a member.
COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD
There is a clear division of roles and responsibilities at Aidlink. The Board retains responsibility for strategy, policy and control
of major decisions under a formal schedule of matters reserved
to the Board. The Board delegate authority to the CEO for
the day to day management
of operations.
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