The Standing Committee on Governance (SCG) supports the Executive Committee in strengthening the Union’s governance framework and ensuring that IUPsyS operates in accordance with sound governance practice, its Statutes, and relevant legal and regulatory requirements.
The Committee serves in an advisory capacity to the Executive Committee, which remains the Union’s principal governance decision-making authority between Assemblies. Its role is to provide expert guidance on governance matters, strengthen accountability and organisational oversight, and support the Union in responding to evolving governance, ethical and legal requirements.
Chair: Ava D. Thompson, Secretary-General
Members: Ainsleigh Cribb – New Zealand; Remo Job, Italy; Randal Tonks, Canada; Andrew Zamani, Nigeria
Under its Terms of Reference, the Committee assists the Executive Committee to:
- develop and implement the Union’s governance framework;
- monitor and recommend improvements to governance practices, procedures and statutory provisions;
- develop appropriate mechanisms for addressing complaints concerning National Members, Regional Members and Affiliate Members;
- support consultation and adoption processes for governance documents;
- advise on specific governance matters and mechanisms; and
- support the establishment of appropriate review, investigation and hearing processes where required
2025–2026
Following its establishment, the Committee moved rapidly into the development of a strengthened governance framework for the Union. Its priority work centred on creating clear and fair procedures for membership accountability and disciplinary matters, supported by professional governance advice.
Working with a Canadian governance consultant and following consultation with the Executive Committee, former IUPsyS leadership and the wider membership, the Committee developed three major components of the Union’s governance reform framework:
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IUPsyS Code of Conduct– establishing standards of conduct expected of Member Organisations and those acting on their behalf, supporting scientific integrity, international collaboration, ethical conduct and respect for diversity.
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Membership Complaints Process – establishing a structured process for the submission, assessment and resolution of alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct, with provisions for confidentiality, procedural fairness, corrective action and appeal.
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Statutory Membership Reform – clarifying membership categories, rights, responsibilities, good standing and accountability, and establishing the statutory basis for complaints, suspension and termination while preserving the Assembly’s ultimate authority over membership decisions.
These instruments were presented and approved by the 2026 IUPsyS Assembly following consultation with the membership. The governance reform is intended to provide the Union with a more transparent, consistent and legally sound framework for addressing future membership and governance matters, while allowing the system to be refined as it is implemented and tested.