With our centennial AGM a matter of weeks away, the IFE looks forward to welcoming members once again at this poignant time. As members will be aware, we have proposed changes to update and modernise an important governing document, one that reflects our commitment to progress and adapt to modern legal compliance.
Proposed amendments to the Articles of Association
Alongside the invitation to our Annual General Meeting, taking place on October 17th at the Institution of Engineering and Technology in London, includes a notice of proposed special resolution aimed at amending and replacing our existing Articles of Association. This document has been a cornerstone of our governance since the IFE’s inception in 1918. The proposed changes, we believe, set us on a path that is not just in tune with our historic legacy, but is also geared towards driving the evolving needs of an institution as a modern professional body in the year 2023 and into the future, underpinned by modern governance practices.
The Board of Trustee Directors emphasise that the proposed changes are the result of careful consideration over time. With input and guidance from the governance review project board, the structure and process of which has received third-party assurance from a governance specialist, and includes input from a variety of stakeholders, including International General Assembly Leaders, current and former trustees, and chairs.
The proposed alterations have been amended in line with this input together with specialist legal advice, and has also been scrutinised and approved by the Engineering Council’s Privy Council and Governance Panel, as a suitable governing document for a modern Professional Engineering Institution (PEI).
These changes are the result of careful due diligence and centred around the Scottish Governance Code for the Third Sector, reflecting our usual commitment to high standards of governance and transparency.
A global cohort
As a global organisation, home to a diverse membership spanning various regions and technical backgrounds, the Institution upholds democratic values. We understand that travelling to attend the AGM in person is not always possible, hence why members are able to vote via email using the voting form.
The proposed changes to the Articles include important provisions that will legally allow the Institution to hold a virtual AGM in the future. This will ensure that the Institution will further enable members to participate wherever they are in the world, for the first time in the Institution's history.
We understand that change is around us constantly at the moment; however, we want to reassure our members that the full Board of Trustees recommends that you exercise your right to vote to approve these changes to ensure the Institution is well positioned to drive positive change within the fire profession.