Advisory Board, Terms of Reference

The Scottish Council on Global Affairs Advisory Board: Terms of Reference

1. The Scottish Council on Global Affairs (the Council) shall establish an Advisory Board to assist it in meeting its objectives of:

• facilitating multi-disciplinary research on global affairs to inform public policy
• promoting informed discourse and debate on international affairs within Scotland
• forging partnerships with civil society and research institutions in the UK, Europe and beyond to amplify the global reach of Scottish expertise.

2. Members of the Advisory Board shall be appointed by the Governing Board. In appointing members, the Governing Board aims to ensure that the Advisory Board reflects the breadth of activities of the SCGA, its character as a pan-Scottish network with a broad range of stakeholders, and its embeddedness in an international network of think tanks.  It will also ensure that the Advisory Board, as a whole, reflects a diversity of backgrounds and views.  At its first meeting after the Commencement Date of the Council the Governing Board shall confirm the appointment of the first Co-Chairs of the Advisory Board and of other initial members of the Advisory Board on the recommendation of the Management Committee.

3. Further members of the Advisory Board shall subsequently be nominated by the co-Chairs after consultation with the existing members of the Advisory Board and the Management Committee, taking account of the considerations set out in section 2 above. In nominating candidates, the balance of expertise and other forms of diversity on the AB should be maintained. Nominations shall be considered for approval by the Governing Board at the first meeting after they are made.

4.  The Governing Board shall establish a procedure for considering and deciding on the succession when the term of office of a Chair or Co-Chair ends.   

5. Members of the Advisory Board, including the Chair or Co-Chairs, shall normally serve for a term of 4 years, renewable once for a further 2 years only. Any extension of a member’s term of office beyond the initial term of 4 years shall be approved by the Governing Board.

6. The Governing Board shall determine the lower and upper size of the Advisory Board from time to time. The Advisory Board shall not be quorate unless a Chair or Co-Chair and three other members are present.

7. Members of the Advisory Board shall serve in a personal capacity. In their roles on the Board they shall be bound by the policies of the Council, including those on confidentiality and intellectual property.  They shall receive no remuneration, but shall be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Board.  

8. Secretariat support for the Advisory Board shall be provided by the Council’s Management and Administration Team.

9. The Advisory Board shall normally meet at least twice a year in order to:

• scrutinize and offer advice on the Council’s draft Strategic Plan before its approval by the Governing Board
• review the previous year’s programmes
• offer other advice or support to the Council to assist it in meeting its objectives
• The Advisory Board shall prepare a report for the Governing Board setting out its views and advice, after each Advisory Board meeting and at least annually.

10. The Chair or Co-Chairs of the Board shall receive copies of papers submitted from the Management Committee to the Governing Board.

11. The Executive Director and Co-Directors shall normally attend and report to meetings of the Advisory Board. Other members of the Governing Board and the Management Committee may attend with the agreement of the Chair or Co-Chairs.
    
12. The agenda for meetings of the Advisory Board shall be set by the Chair or Co-Chairs after consultation with the Executive Director. The Board shall normally proceed by consensus. It may adopt its own working methods and rules of procedure, and set up ad hoc sub-committees or working groups if required.