Article 13.1

A Steering Committee shall be established. Each Member and Strategic Partner shall be represented on the Steering Committee by one delegate of its own choosing (“Delegate”).

Article 13.2

The Steering Committee shall hold the following competences:

  1. Taking any decision (which is not a decision on matters reserved for the Board) that may be necessary for the efficient and effective running of the Organization;
  2. Deciding upon the membership and composition of the Technical Committee;
  3. Deciding upon the creation or dissolution of other ad hoc committees as and when the need for such committees may arise;
  4. Appointing the Leader of ad hoc committees based on capacity, training, skills and/or experience to lead the associated committee;
  5. Revoking the Leader of ad hoc committees as and when the need for such revocation may arise;
  6. Adjudicating on issues about requirements, design, implementation and standards where established procedures are unable to achieve an outcome in line with the objectives of the Organization;
  7. The role of the Data Privacy Manager to be performed by the Vice Chair of this Committee”, i.e.:
    • Respond to queries on the Privacy policy and complaints within 30 days
    • Ensure that security measures to protect personal data are in place and review these periodically
    • Ensure that when there is a breach of personal data, a process is in place to assess and take steps to change/improve
    • Establish the retention period for personal and other data and have a process for review

Article 13.3

In addition, the Steering Committee may make recommendations to the Board concerning:

  1. The admission of any person as a Member of the Organization;
  2. All matters relating to the finances of the Organization.

Article 13.4

The Board may accept or reject any recommendation of the Steering Committee in its absolute discretion.

Article 13.5

The chairperson (“SC Chair”) and vice-Chairperson (“SC Vice-Chair”) of the Steering Committee shall be elected from amongst the Delegates on a simple majority by a vote of the Steering Committee. Each Delegate shall have one vote.

Article 13.6

The SC Chair and SC Vice-Chair shall serve a twelve month term and shall be eligible for re-election at the end of the term. There shall be a limit of four consecutive years on the term that an SC Chair or SC Vice-Chair may serve. An SC-Chair or SC Vice-Chair who ceases to be Delegate shall resign as SC Chair or SC Vice-Chair and a new election, following the rules in ARTICLE 13.5 shall ensue.

Article 13.7

The SC Chair and/or SC Vice-Chair may resign their office(s) prior to the expiry of their term(s) by giving written notice to the Board. However, such SC Chair and/or SC Vice-Chair shall remain in office until their replacement(s) have been appointed. A replacement SC Chair and/or SC Vice-Chair shall be appointed through a new election, following the rules in ARTICLE 13.5.

Article 13.8

A Delegate may represent up to one (1) other Member or Strategic Partner, besides the Member or Strategic Partner which appointed him or her, at a meeting of the Steering Committee. A written proxy, signed by the Member or Strategic Partner giving the proxy, shall be required for that purpose. The represented Member(s) and/or Strategic Partner(s) shall then be considered as present.

Article 13.9

A meeting of the Steering Committee shall be quorate if at least three-quarters of the Members and Strategic Partners are together present. Delegates may be assisted by advisers at meetings of the Steering Committee.

Article 13.10

Except where these Articles of Association require any matter to be decided unanimously, decisions and recommendations of the Steering Committee shall be made by simple majority of those Delegates present. Each Delegate shall have one vote.

Article 13.11

The dismissal or removal from office of an SC Chair or SC Vice-Chair shall be a matter that requires the unanimous decision of all Delegates except the Delegate whom it is sought to dismiss or remove from the office of SC Chair or SC Vice-Chair.

Article 13.12

The dismissal or removal from office of a TC Chair or TC Vice-Chair shall be a matter that requires the unanimous decision of all Delegates except any Delegate linked to the TC Chair or TC Vice-Chair whom it is sought to dismiss or remove from office.

Article 13.13

Associate Partners may attend Steering Committee meetings as observers. WMO representatives may attend Steering Committee meetings as observers to represent the interests of OpenWIS users. Observers may contribute to discussions but have no formal role in making decisions.

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