Code of Conduct

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR AIEA MEMBERS

The Australasian Interim Executive Association (AIEA) has a responsibility to set rules and standards to direct the behaviour of its members in professional matters. It is expected that these rules and professional standards will be higher than those established by the general law and that they will be enforced through disciplinary action which can result in expulsion from membership.

Members are expected to exercise their own judgement (which should be made in such a way as to be reasonably justified) to meet the requirements of the code and seek advice if in doubt.

AIEA CODE OF CONDUCT

This Code of Conduct sets out the professional standards required by AIEA as a condition of membership. It applies to all members, irrespective of their membership grade, the role they fulfil, or the jurisdiction where they are employed or discharge their contractual obligations. The Code governs the conduct of the individual, not the nature of the business or ethics of any client or employer.

1. Public Interest

You shall:

• have due regard for public health, privacy, security and wellbeing of others and the environment.
• have due regard for the legitimate rights of third parties. Legitimate rights of third parties include protecting their personal identity and also respect for copyright, patents and other intellectual property.The term “Third Parties” includes any person or organisation that might be affected by your activities as an Interim Executive, irrespective of whether they are directly aware or involved in those activities.
• conduct your professional activities without discrimination on the grounds of sex, sexual orientation, marital status, nationality, colour, race, ethnic origin, religion, age or disability, or of any other condition or requirement

2. Professional Competence and Integrity

You shall:

• only undertake to do work or provide a service that is within your professional competence.
• NOTclaim any level of competence that you do not possess.
• develop your professional knowledge, skills and competence on a continuing basis, maintaining awareness of technological developments, procedures, and standards that are relevant to your field.
• ensure that you have the knowledge and understanding of legislation and that you comply with such legislation, in carrying out your professional responsibilities.
• respect and value alternative viewpoints and, seek, accept and offer honest criticisms of work.
• avoid injuring others, their property, reputation, or employment by false or malicious or negligent action or inaction.
• reject and will not make any offer of bribery or unethical inducement.

3. Duty to Your Client (or Employer)

You shall:

• carry out your professional responsibilities with due care and diligence in accordance with the client’s requirements whilst exercising your professional judgement at all times.
• seek to avoid any situation that may give rise to a conflict of interest between you and your client.
• accept professional responsibility for your work and for the work of colleagues who are defined in a given context as working under your supervision.
• NOTmisrepresent or withhold information on the performance of products, systems or services (unless lawfully bound by a duty of confidentiality not to disclose such information), or take advantage of the lack of relevant knowledge or inexperience of others.

Exercising of your professional judgement:

• Where there is conflict between full and committed compliance with the Relevant Authority’s instructions and the independent and considered exercise of your professional judgement, you will indicate the likely risks and consequences.
• If any conflict is likely to occur or be seen by a third party as likely to occur you will make full and immediate disclosure to your Relevant Authority.
• If for any reason you are unable to complete any assigned tasks in accordance with their requirements (e.g. on time or within budget) you will advise the Relevant Authority as soon as practicable.

4. Duty to the Association

You shall:

• accept your personal duty to uphold the reputation of AIEA and not take any action which could bring the association into disrepute.
• seek to improve professional standards through participation in their development, use and enforcement.
• uphold the reputation and good standing of AIEA.
• act with integrity and respect in your professional relationships with all members of AIEA and with members of other professions with whom you work in a professional capacity.
• notify AIEA if convicted of a criminal offence or upon becoming bankrupt or disqualified as a Company Director and in each case give details of the relevant jurisdiction.
• encourage and support fellow members in their professional development.

As a member of AIEA you have a responsibility to:

• share knowledge and understanding of Interim Management and support its inclusion of every sector of business and society.
• encourage and support fellow members in their professional development.

In circumstances where a member is also a member of another professional body the clauses of any other applicable code of conduct cannot be employed to diminish or negate the clauses of the AIEA Code of Conduct.

You will not make any statement on behalf of AIEA or purport to represent AIEA through any public medium, including digital social media, unless authorised to do so by AIEA.

If you are in a leadership position and especially if you hold an executive position you are expected to:

• encourage and facilitate colleagues to develop as professionals.
• seek to ensure that no one is penalised for raising areas of concern or conflicts of interest.
• encourage colleagues to follow this code of conduct.

5. Professional Competence and Integrity

All members are required to undertake professional development activities as a condition of membership. Continuing professional development activities should broaden your knowledge of business processes and maintain your competence in your area of specialisation.

You should seek out and observe good practice exemplified by rules, standards, conventions or protocols that are relevant in your area of specialisation.

You should only claim current competence where you can demonstrate you have the required expertise e.g. through recognised competencies, qualifications or experience.

Breaches of the Code of Conduct

If a member of AIEA should know of, or become aware of, any breach of this Code of Conduct by another member they are under an obligation to notify AIEA.

Breaches of the Code of Conduct may also be brought to the attention of AIEA by others who are not members of AIEA.

Any breach of the Code of Conduct brought to the attention of AIEA, or of which AIEA becomes aware, will be considered under the Association’s Disciplinary procedures.

Where AIEA receives information that a member has been convicted of a criminal offence the member, when asked, will provide a Statement of Disclosure providing evidence of their criminal record (if any) within 28 days. Note that not all convictions are seen as relevant to membership in AIEA and each case will be considered individually.

CPD POLICY & GUILDLINES

IEA Continuing Professional Development

The Institute requires each member of the AIEA to attain 25 'Continuing Professional Development' (CPD) points annually. 

A new member will gain acceptance as a professional member of the AIEA by demonstrating that he/she:  

• Can display expertise in one or more of the IEA accredited positions (CEO, FC, BDM, etc.)  
• Is prepared to accept interim assignments 
• Can maintain the requisite annual 25 points (Continuing Professional Development) 

The member is then responsible for maintaining CPD records and, by renewing the annual membership, attests that the 25 CPD points have been attained over the previous twelve months.  

Ongoing CPD activity will be credited at the rate of one point for each hour of accredited CPD activity. This accredited activity will include:  

• Attending IEA functions 
• Attending conferences, seminars and training courses that are directly relevant to the Members professional development 
• Providing pro-bono services through the AIEA scheme 
• Reading of books, newsletters, white papers, etc. that are directly relevant to the Members professional development 
• Obtaining additional formal qualifications over the course of the year  

The CPD requirement will be subject to random audit. A membership that does not meet the CPD requirement will be suspended or cancelled, at the Membership Committee’s judgement.