Governance overview

The CII is the premier professional organisation for those working in the insurance and financial services industry.

It is dedicated to promoting higher standards of competence and integrity through the provision of relevant qualifications for employees at all levels and across all sectors of the industry.

Success in CII qualifications is universally recognised as a sign of commitment and professionalism.

The CII has 90,000 members and has been at the forefront in setting professional standards for the insurance industry for over a century. Its broad portfolio of education and qualification services is continually expanding to meet the changing requirements of companies and individuals across the financial services community.

Consumer Representation

The CII does not currently have a published policy on consumer representation. However, the use of lay-members on its disciplinary and appeal committees indicates its willingness to be ‘inclusive’ in this respect.

Disciplinary and appeal committees

Diversity

The Professional Standards Board recognises that in seeking a more representative selection of people to sit on its governance committee's the CII would gain a number of advantages:

• The ability to draw upon a wider range of skills and experience;
• The likelihood of better quality decision making;
• A greater accountability to the member;
• An increase in member/public confidence in its system of Appointments.
• The PSB has decided to further research best practice in this.

Transparency

The PSB recognises that current best practice in the area of transparency involves:

• The organisation of ‘open’ meetings;
• Setting up more specialised consultation bodies for important interest groups;
• Publishing an annual report which includes information on the role and remit of the body, its plans or strategy; the membership of the board; and where further information can be obtained;
• Making audit reports more widely available;
• Making agendas and minutes available where appropriate;
• Publicising forthcoming meetings and summarising decisions;
• Making publications available as widely as possible, for example by sending them to interested parties and putting them in local public libraries.

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