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Governance

Independence by design

Credible conformity assessment depends on the structural separation of commercial, assessment, decision and appeals functions.

I. Structural separations

Five boundaries that protect the assessment

AIHRI's governance separates functions that must not influence one another. The boundaries below are structural, not procedural preferences.

  1. Function

    Scheme ownership

    Function

    Certification operations

    Separation rationale: The party that owns a certification scheme does not perform assessment or make certification decisions under that scheme.

  2. Function

    Commercial administration

    Function

    Technical judgement

    Separation rationale: Contract, fee and client-relationship activities are structurally separated from assessment findings and conformity conclusions.

  3. Function

    Assessment

    Function

    Certification decision

    Separation rationale: Personnel who gather and evaluate evidence do not decide whether certification is granted, maintained, reduced, suspended or withdrawn for the same case.

  4. Function

    Certification decision

    Function

    Appeals review

    Separation rationale: Appeals against a certification decision are handled by personnel independent of the original decision and of the assessment team.

  5. Function

    Public communications

    Function

    Confidential certification records

    Separation rationale: This public website is separated from operational systems that hold applicant, assessment and certification information.

Structural separations across AIHRI's governance

II. Impartiality

Identify, record, evaluate, mitigate, monitor

Actual, potential and perceived conflicts of interest are identified, recorded, evaluated, mitigated and monitored across the assessment, decision and appeals functions.

Specific impartiality mechanisms will be published as they are formally established.

Declarations of interest
Personnel and panellists declare relevant interests before engagement and on a continuing basis.
Recusal
Individuals with a conflict for a specific case are excluded from the affected assessment, decision or appeal.
Role segregation
Assessment, decision and appeals responsibilities are held by different personnel for the same case.
Independent oversight
Impartiality is monitored through mechanisms structurally independent of commercial functions.
Competence-based allocation
Cases are allocated to personnel authorised for the relevant scope, not on the basis of commercial relationship.
Prohibition of undue influence
Attempts to influence assessment findings or certification decisions are prohibited and, where identified, recorded and addressed.

III. Consultancy boundary

Assessment is not advice

AIHRI does not provide implementation or certification consultancy to organisations where that work would compromise its impartiality as a conformity assessment body.

AIHRI assesses and verifies. It does not design an organisation's management system, draft its evidence or coach it towards a favourable certification outcome.

IV. Competence and authorisation

Authorised for defined roles and scopes

Personnel involved in assessment, review, decision and appeal functions are authorised for defined roles and scopes on the basis of documented evidence, training, evaluation and monitored performance.

  1. Personnel are authorised for defined roles and scopes on the basis of documented evidence.

  2. Authorisation reflects education, training, assessment experience and evaluated performance.

  3. Qualifications and years of experience alone do not automatically establish competence.

  4. Authorisation is maintained through monitored performance and periodic re-evaluation.

V. Decision integrity

Independent of the assessment team

Certification decisions are made by competent personnel who are independent of the assessment team for the same case. Decisions are based on the complete certification record and the defined requirements of the applicable scheme.

A decision-maker cannot alter assessment findings; the assessment team cannot decide the outcome of its own case.

VI. Complaints and appeals

Independent, confidential, without retaliation

Complaints about AIHRI's conduct and appeals against certification decisions are handled independently of the original case. Detailed procedures, timelines and any fee arrangements will be published when the corresponding AIHRI procedure has been formally approved.

Independent handling
Appeals against certification decisions are handled by personnel independent of the original decision and of the assessment team.
No retaliation
Submission of a complaint or appeal does not result in adverse treatment of the submitter.
Confidentiality
Complaint and appeal information is handled with defined confidentiality controls and disclosed only where necessary.
Separation from the original case
Records, personnel and communications for a complaint or appeal are kept separate from those of the underlying assessment.

VII. Confidentiality and records

Controlled access, traceable records

Information obtained in the course of assessment is protected and used only for the purposes for which it was provided. Retention periods will be published when AIHRI's own approved retention schedule is in place.

Need-to-know access
Access to information is limited to personnel with a defined role in the case or activity.
Secure systems
Operational systems that hold assessment and certification records are separated from the public website and protected by access controls.
Version control
Documented information carries reference and version identifiers to support integrity and traceability.
Record integrity
Records are protected against unauthorised alteration and loss for the period they are retained.
Traceability
Assessment and decision records are structured so that conclusions can be traced to evidence and defined requirements.
Lawful disclosure
Information is disclosed only where required by law or with defined authorisation.

VIII. Non-discrimination and access

Fair and consistent access within scope

Access to AIHRI's certification activities is intended to be fair, consistent and based on scope, competence and defined eligibility. Access does not depend on the size of the applicant organisation, its market position or its commercial relationship with AIHRI.

Where an engagement cannot be accepted, the reason is documented and communicated to the applicant.

IX. Governance structure

Published as each role is confirmed

This register will list AIHRI's governing body, technical management, impartiality mechanism, certification decision function, appeals function and data-protection responsibility as each is formally established.

Readiness note

AIHRI is establishing its governance structure. Roles and holders will be published on this page as each appointment is formally approved. Unconfirmed roles are not shown.

X. Public policies

Controlled documents, published on approval

Approved public policies will be listed with reference, version, approval date, effective date and review date. Draft and internal documents are not published.

Readiness note

Approved public policies will be listed here with their reference, version and dates. Draft and internal documents are not published.

Related

How independence appears in the assessment lifecycle

See how assessment, independent technical review, certification decision and appeals are separated within a single case.

Assessment Model

Contact

Governance enquiries

For enquiries about impartiality, complaints or appeals, use the general contact route until the dedicated procedures are published.

Contact