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Terms of reference

In accordance with the CIA Bylaws, APOB has the following authority and responsibilities:

  • Approve APOB’s terms of reference jointly with the CIA Board (governing body of the CIA).
  • Appoint members to APOB, including the chair and the vice-chair, in accordance with the CIA Bylaws and the APOB Skills Matrix, which is approved by the CIA Board and APOB. (A maximum of three members of APOB are appointed by the CIA Board, also in accordance with the Skills Matrix.)
  • In addition to the boards established by the CIA in its Bylaws (Section 13.2), APOB and the CIA Board may jointly establish one or more boards that shall be under the oversight of APOB and that shall have such powers as may be necessary or convenient for the purposes for which they are appointed. (All boards overseen by APOB shall be further referenced in this document as “boards.”)
  • Appoint not less than six members or more than 15 members, including the chair and the vice-chair, to each of the boards it oversees, in accordance with the CIA Bylaws and the terms of reference of the board. At least a two-thirds majority of members of each board must be voting members of the CIA who are compliant with the CIA Qualification Standard – Requirements for Continuing Professional Development (CPD), including the chair and vice-chair. APOB may also appoint one of its members (within the maximum of 15 members) to serve on each of the boards as a full member. No CIA Director may be appointed to the boards.
  • Appoint at least 15 Fellows of the CIA who are compliant with the CIA Qualification Standard – Requirements for Continuing Professional Development (CPD), including the chair and the vice-chair, to the Tribunal Panel, in accordance with the CIA Bylaws.
  • Oversee the activities of each of the boards by:
    • approving their terms of reference and any amendments to them not in conflict with the CIA Bylaws;
    • monitoring and evaluating their performance, the fulfilment of their responsibilities, the accomplishment of their work program and the adequacy and use of available resources; and
    • ensuring that the boards have developed and approved statements of operating procedures and due process policies (where appropriate) that are appropriate and responsive to the public interest.
  • Provide input to the boards on their strategic direction and priorities, where appropriate. By providing APOB’s views on the preliminary agenda planning decisions of the boards, APOB actively assists the boards in determining their priorities and strategies in their work programs with due regard for domestic needs and international developments. APOB evaluates whether the boards have considered the needs of all categories of stakeholders appropriately in determining their priorities and strategies.
  • Inform the boards of the views of APOB and, where appropriate, of the views of other individuals or groups with an interest in the relevant activities of the boards.
  • Ensure that the boards hold their duty to the public above the needs of the profession and its members and that their activities are appropriate and conducted in accordance with acceptable due process procedures that adequately address real and perceived conflicts of interest. In this regard, APOB undertakes, where appropriate, an annual review of each board’s performance relative to its long-term strategic plan and annual operating plan.
  • Observe the activities of the CIA Board and its councils and bring to the attention of the CIA Board any concerns APOB may have with regard to an issue or decision which APOB believes may not hold the duty to the public above the needs of the profession and its members.
  • Protect the independence of the ASB with regard to its standard-setting process and be satisfied that the ASB has maintained its independence in carrying out its responsibilities.
  • Ensure that an appropriate process is established and maintained that will enable members of the CIA to request the review of a standard of practice adopted by the ASB.
  • Appoint a disciplinary appeal tribunal in accordance with CIA Bylaw 5.5.5, when needed, and oversee the publication of disciplinary or appeal tribunal decisions and reports, in accordance with Section 6 of the Policy on the CIA Disciplinary Process.
  • Review, as needed, the appeal of a member who disagrees with the PCMB’s assessment of the member’s non-compliance with the CIA Qualification Standard – Requirements for Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
  • Review, as needed, the appeal of an applicant to the CIA who is denied enrolment in the CIA based on the PCMB’s assessment of the applicant’s disclosed criminal conviction, in accordance with the CIA Policy on Disclosure of Criminal Convictions.
  • Report to the public on the discharge of its responsibilities and disseminate to the public, as appropriate, information about its activities and those of the boards. In this regard, APOB reports annually to the public on its own activities and ensures that the boards also report annually, through APOB, to the CIA Board on their activities.
  • Evaluate whether APOB and the boards have the financial and human resources necessary to support their work.
  • Advise the boards on any matters as requested by their respective chairs.
  • Create a nominating committee to recommend nominees to fill vacancies in all positions on APOB and its boards, as well as such other committees or task forces as it deems necessary in carrying out its responsibilities. All actions taken by a committee or task force appointed by APOB shall be subject to review and approval by APOB. The APOB Chair is an ex-officio participant on all APOB committees.
  • Develop and adopt a statement setting out the principal operating procedures it follows in fulfilling its responsibilities. APOB reviews its principal operating procedures at least once every five years to ensure that they continue to meet the needs of APOB and support its purpose.

APOB reviews its terms of reference at least once every five years to ensure that they continue to support the CIA Board and allow the APOB to appropriately serve the public interest it represents. The CIA Board may also review APOB’s terms of reference periodically and recommend changes.

Read the full Terms of Reference