An international Supervisory Board, comprising representatives of national publishers associations and media companies’ top management, steers WAN-IFRA’s work and strategic orientations.

The Supervisory Board is supported by the Executive Board, Advisory Boards and Regional Committees representing the various member communities of the organisation. The Advisory Boards are consultative bodies that define the priorities of the association’s work. The Executive Board, a smaller group of Supervisory Board members, mentors the senior management.

Terms of Reference of WAN-IFRA’s Boards can be found under Statutes, Governance Guidelines and Codes of Conduct.

Governance framework

WAN-IFRA’s governance structure supports management in the face of constant change in the media environment and facilitates communication between management, the board, and the membership. The framework highlights three pillars that are the core of WAN-IFRA’s work: Press Freedom and Journalism, Media Sustainability, and Media Innovation.

WAN-IFRA’s governance structure includes an Executive Board of up to eleven members who work with senior management to aid the organisation’s success. The Executive Board reports to the Supervisory Board. Its essential role is to approve the association’s strategy and budget, elect the Executive Board, and represent the association to the membership and the membership with the association.

Supervisory Board

The Supervisory Board has a community engagement role with decision-making power.  It takes responsibility for the strategic planning of our programmes and the association’s patronage. It embodies the values and missions of WAN-IFRA.  It drives its programmes and activities. That power is distributed among all constituencies and communities represented by our Advisory Boards, Regional Committees and Association representatives on the Supervisory Board.  It is designed to help the organisation to focus on the activities that contribute most to WAN-IFRA’s overall objectives.

The role of the Supervisory Board is to:

• Focus on fundraising and membership acquisition.
• Convey to WAN-IFRA the interests of news publishers and what support they expect from WAN-IFRA.
• Support and promote WAN-IFRA’s activities in its three operating pillars: press freedom and journalism, media sustainability, and media innovation.

Its key mandate is:

• Approve the Strategy and Budget.
• Approve the accounts before ratification at GAM
• Elect the Executive Board
• Admit new National Association in membership. Approve membership fees for national member associations. Decide on membership fees before ratification at GAM.
• Decide on the Golden Pen of Freedom.

Executive Board

The Executive Board has an oversight and stewardship role.

It advises and guides the management and has expertise in finance and management. It helps senior management make decisions and run the organisation and its operations. It is designed to help the organisation focus on the activities that contribute most to its overall objectives as defined by the Supervisory Board, use its resources effectively, and ensure that WAN-IFRA is managed in the best interests of its stakeholders.

The role of the Executive Board is to:

• Mentor senior management and provide guidance, resources, advice, and introductions to ensure the organisation’s success.
• Be available for senior management as needed.
• Ensure that the Supervisory Board is aware of any significant development.
• Represent the interests of all stakeholders in WAN-IFRA.

Its key mandate is:

• Direct and supervise the association and represent it concerning third parties. Decides on important strategic & operational issues.
• Receive mandate from the Supervisory Board and report all activities and decisions to the Supervisory Board.
• Decide on location for Congress.
• Appoint the Nominating Committee and other ad hoc committees

➽ Read more: Role and Selection Criteria for Non-Executive and Executive Board Members

➽ Read more: Statutes, Governance Guidelines and Codes of Conduct

Organigram