NOMINATIONS AND APPLICATIONS FOR THE CHAIR OF THE GLOBAL WITNESS BOARD BOARD EXPANSION 2020-2021 INTRODUCTION FROM THE BOARD OUR VISION At Global Witness, our goal is to contribute to and create a more sustainable, just and equal planet. We want climate-critical forests and biodiversity to thrive and fossil fuels to stay in the ground. We want corporations to respect the planet and human rights, governments to protect and listen to their citizens, and the online world to be free from misinformation and hate. For over 25 years, Global Witness has fought to end environmental and human rights abuses and the scourge of corruption driven by political elites and predatory companies. Through our bold and hard-hitting investigations, campaigning and advocacy, we have catalysed change across the world to challenge the systems that enable these harms. Right now our work is needed more than ever. We are facing a crisis: the climate is being destroyed and civic freedoms are deteriorating. The abuse of power is pushing the world to breaking point as big corporations go unchecked in their exploitation of people and the planet, with governments complicit or turning a blind eye. Land and Environmental activists continue to face increased threats and violence for defending their homes and our planet. Protecting the environment is not a crime and we must continue to fight for environmental justice and safeguard human rights. We know can’t do this alone. It is only through actively working with campaigners, civil society groups and others that we are able to take on some of the most powerful players that are propagating corruption, human rights abuses, and environmental destruction. But, none of this is possible without exemplary standards of governance and leadership. Our new Board Chair will be passionate about Global Witness’ vision and purpose and able to bring facilitative and inclusive leadership to the Board and the CEO. We invite nominations of and applications from individuals who want to join a passionate and talented community. There is a real opportunity to work with the Board, the Senior Leadership Team and staff to achieve real and lasting impact.
We look forward to welcoming your nomination or application.
The Global Witness Board OUR CAMPAIGNS
Our forests campaign. We have two teams, one focused on advocacy and one on investigations. They work together to focus on cutting funding to major agribusiness industries driving forest destruction, including beef, soy and palm oil, by making it a reputational calamity or even illegal for banks and investors to finance them. We’ve started to see impact with reports like Money to Burn influencing the public narrative around deforestation and our advocacy shaping the thinking of bodies like the UK government’s climate change body, the Global Resources Initiative. Campaign to protect Land and Environmental Defenders. This team tracks the murder, non-lethal attacks and the criminalisation of defenders and calls for an end to the impunity enjoyed by their attackers. The team are transitioning beyond our well known annual report to a campaign aimed at changing the practices of industries like agribusiness that are most complicit or even instigators of violence. Stop the oil and gas industry escalating the climate crisis by making us dependent on gas. This campaign seeks to expose corporate capture by the gas industry of political processes. It will start in the EU but scoping is already underway in the US. Our ambitions to roll back the gas dependency will begin in Europe and will target particular EU funding vehicles that use taxpayers’ money to prop up gas infrastructure projects. Campaign to strengthen natural resource governance and anti-corruption norms and standards so that they are fit for purpose and lead to accountability for predatory companies. This campaign will build on our history of strengthening natural resource governance and fighting corruption in countries that are rich in natural resources but where people are not getting the benefits of this wealth. This is a new team.
WE THEN ALSO HAVE TWO SMALLER, BUT REALLY VITAL INCUBATOR CAMPAIGNS: Tackling Digital Threats to Democracy. This campaign aims to create a world where social media companies and Big Tech are forced to operate to higher transparency standards, where hate and discrimination are not able to flourish unchecked, and where power cannot be bought through the proliferation of misleading information that can have major democratic consequences. We are launching this campaign with a short menu of policy asks which we see as a fundamental starting point to a total overhaul to the way digital platforms operate. At this point, our primary jurisdictional focus is the EU, followed by the UK. The ensuring corporate accountability for environmental and human rights abuses campaign goal aims to achieve new global standards to stop companies being able to operate in a way that drives environmental and human rights abuses. Global Witness wants all industry sectors from companies that put food on our plates to those that extract dirty fossil fuels to identify, mitigate and publicly report on human rights, environmental and corruption risks linked to their global operations, subsidiaries or value chains. This work is beginning in Europe looking to build on opportunities already created to shift the debate amongst EU policymakers.
HOW WE WORK
Global Witness has 95 employees based across three offices in London, Brussels and Washington D.C., as well as in Beijing. You can read more about Global Witness and our impact in the 2019 annual report: Global Witness Annual Report 2019. GLOBAL WITNESS VALUES Courage: We want to contribute to solving the biggest problems in the world today, but we know this will take courage. Kindness: We are collectively committed to creating a world that is kinder and more equal. Inclusion and belonging: We recognise that inclusion and belonging is something we need to actively and embrace together. We know we have a way to go before we are truly inclusive and diverse in the way we work and as a place of work. Collaboration: We need to be more honest and reflect about what we can achieve alone and do more to build fair and equal partnerships internally and externally.
NOMINATIONS AND APPLICATIONS FOR THE CHAIR OF THE GLOBAL WITNESS BOARD 3 OUR COMMITMENTS TO RACIAL JUSTICE As the world opened its eyes to the depth and scale of racial injustice crisis in the US, we also needed to recognise that we – as an organisation – don’t exist outside of the structures that discriminate, hurt and hold back Black people all over the world. As an environmental and social justice organization, we strive for solutions that put people and planet first, and aim to challenge systems that enable corruption, human rights abuses and environmental devastation. But we know that we need to look much harder at ourselves and recognise that we are part of the problematic disconnect between striving for a better world and continuing to operate in a way that does not confront the status quo. You can read more about how we acknowledge our role in racial injustice and our commitments to racial justice here.
OUR GOVERNANCE
Global Witness is a non-governmental, not for profit organisation. It is a company limited by guarantee (registered in England no. 2871809) and was incorporated on 15 November 1993 under a Memorandum of Association that sets out its objects and powers. The company is unable to distribute any of its assets for the benefit of the directors or members. The company has a Board of Directors, including the original co-founders of the organisation, who have no beneficial interest in the company. The Board meets quarterly to set strategy, ensure financial sustainability, and oversee the direction of the organisation. Day to day management is provided by the Leadership Team led by the CEO, Mike Davis. The rest of the leadership team comprises of: the Chief Operating Officer, the Director of Human Resources, the Director of Development, the Directors of Communications, and the Director of Campaigns. Global Witness also has an Advisory Board made up of prominent individuals with experience in areas relevant to Global Witness’ activities. It provides advice and support to the staff and meets three times a year More detail about our governance structure can be found here.
EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT POLICY Non-Executive and Executive Directors of Global Witness should be and be seen to be working to protect our aims and best interests. The nature of our work means that we are particularly concerned with ensuring transparency and strengthening our values, so our board should be highly aware of and sensitive to potential conflicts of interest and to personal engagements that could damage our reputation. Global Witness defines a number of sectors of the economy as ‘conflicted sectors’ whose aims and/or activities are incompatible with our purpose and values. These are tobacco, fossil fuels, logging, timber and paper, mining, nuclear power, agribusiness, the arms trade and involvement with products or services that present significant threats to the security of human rights and environmental defenders. In addition, we apply a ‘red flag’, irrespective of sector, to companies that are breaking international sanctions, demonstrate a pattern of poor governance, have records of tax evasion or aggressive tax avoidance, money laundering or poor financial transparency. Certain portfolios within the financial services sector may also be considered a conflict, particularly where portfolios are heavily invested in the above sectors. Political parties may also be considered to be conflicted if they promote policies or values that are directly opposed to our objectives or values, although involvement with a political party would not automatically be seen as a conflict of interest or as a reputational risk. We encourage potential applicants to read through the full external engagement policy before applying. If you believe that a current or potential relationship may constitute a conflict of interest or a reputational risk we are happy to talk to you about this in more detail.
NOMINATIONS AND APPLICATIONS FOR THE CHAIR OF THE GLOBAL WITNESS BOARD 4 CHAIR OF THE GLOBAL WITNESS BOARD
GOVERNANCE - Ensure that the Board fulfils its duties and responsibilities for the effective governance of the organisation - Ensure that the Board is able to regularly review major risks and associated opportunities, and satisfy itself that systems are in place to take advantage of opportunities, and manage and mitigate the risks - Ensure that the Board fulfils its duties to ensure sound financial health of the organisation with systems in place to ensure financial accountability - Support Global Witness’ commitment to a diverse board by regularly refreshing and incorporating the right balance of skills, knowledge and experience needed to govern and lead the organisation effectively - Facilitate change and address any potential conflict with external stakeholders - Plan and chair all Board meetings effectively and efficiently - Assist the CEO and Board Expansion Committee in recruiting new board members
STRATEGIC OVERSIGHT - Trusted advisor to the CEO as s/he develops and implements the organisation’s strategic plan - Lead the board in approving annual budget, audit reports, and material business decisions; being informed of, and meeting all, legal and fiduciary responsibilities
EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS - Chair Board meetings effectively and efficiently, bringing impartiality and objectivity to the decision making process - Foster, maintain and ensure that constructive relationships exist with and between Board members - Monitor that decisions taken at meetings are implemented.
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CEO AND THE WIDER LEADERSHIP TEAM - Establish and build a positive, effective and constructive working relationship with the CEO, ensuring s/he is held to account for achieving agreed strategic objectives - Support the CEO, whilst respecting the boundaries which exist between the two roles - Ensure regular contact with the CEO, develop and maintain an open and supportive relationship within which each can speak openly about concerns, worries and challenges - Conduct an annual appraisal and remuneration review for the CEO in consultation with the wider Board.
PERSON SPECIFICATION - Demonstrates a visible passion and commitment to the organisation and the impact it aspires to achieve in the world - Tactful and diplomatic, with the ability to listen and engage effectively - Displays impartiality and objectivity - Brings networks that can be utilised for the benefit of the organisation - Ability to lead, foster and promote a collaborative and inclusive team environment - Experience of operating at a senior strategic leadership level within an organisation - Significant experience of chairing meetings and events - Broad knowledge and understanding of the sector and current issues affecting it - Good understanding of governance issues or the willingness to build an understanding of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities. - Embodies and models Global Witness values - A commitment to racial justice and diversity and inclusion - Understanding of power and privilege in the workplace and on Boards - Broad knowledge and understanding of the sector and current issues affecting it - Ability to commit time to conduct the role well, including travel and attending events out of office hours
NOMINATIONS AND APPLICATIONS FOR THE CHAIR OF THE GLOBAL WITNESS BOARD 5 TIME COMMITMENT The time commitment for the Chair is the equivalent to at least two days per month. The Board meets four times a year, usually in April, July, October and December. Global Witness does not pay Non-Executive Directors to serve on the Board. Travel costs and reasonable expenses will be reimbursed. Global Witness’ next Board meeting is on 4 May 2021.
THE PROCESS
We are taking two approaches to appoint a Chair: NOMINATION If you know someone who we should consider you should nominate them by: 1. Sending their name and a paragraph about why you are nominating them to [email protected] 2. The Board Expansion Committee will then share the candidate application pack and the external engagement policy with them to establish if they are willing to accept the nomination. If so, we will invite them to submit a letter and their CV explaining their interest.
Application: 1. Read our external engagement policy 2. Please also send a max 2 page cover letter outlining why you are interested in this position and what you would bring to this role, along with a short CV (maximum 2 pages) to [email protected]
All nominations and applications should be received by 5pm (GMT) on 24 December 2020.
TIMELINES 30 November 2020 – nominations and application process opens 24 December 2020 – closing date for nominations or applications Week commencing 18 January and 25 January 2021 – Interviews
If you would like an informal discussion about the role please email [email protected] and we can arrange a time for a call with a member of the Board Expansion Committee.