NSAA Ethics Committee and Compliance Procedures
This paper provides details on the National Speakers Association of
Australia's Ethics Committee and Compliance Procedures. These notes
should be read in conjunction with the NSAA Code of Conduct. It is the
personal responsibility of every member of the NSAA to familiarise
themselves with the Code of Conduct, this information and the procedures
for dealing with a breach of the NSAA Code.
1. THE ETHICS COMMITTEE
1.1. Selection of Ethics Committee (Criteria):
The Ethics Committee shall comprise of three speakers one from each
accredited level of ASM, APS and CSP in addition to the current national
vice president and immediate past national president.
The accredited members will be selected by the NSAA National Board.
The criteria for selection of the three accredited members shall include
consideration of the following:
- An academic or demonstrated expertise and understanding in the
application of applied ethics to professional and business situations
- Recognised within the membership as a role model of the principles of
the Code of Conduct
- Has a demonstrated and recognised understanding of the expected
operational criteria involved in professional speaking relationships,
including clients, meeting planners, venue owner/operators, bureaus and
other speakers
In the event that a complaint is brought against a member of the
Committee, then that member shall stand aside for the duration of the
investigation and determination of that complaint, and such vacancy
shall be filled by the next previous past President.
1.3. Guiding Principles of Process
1.3.1. Core Approach:
The ethics complaints process shall ensure as far as practicable, that
the parties to a complaint shall be dealt with fairly and in confidence,
and in accordance with the Process for Dealing with Breaches of the
Code.
1.3.2. Basis for Complaints:
Complaints can only be made regarding breaches of the Code of Conduct of
the National Speakers Association of Australia. The specific clause of
the Code of Conduct must be stated in the complaint. Complaints of a
general and unspecific nature will not be considered.
1.3.3. Convening the Committee:
The committee convenes by notification from the committee Chair that a
complaint has been lodged with the National Secretariat, in accordance
with the standard procedures for lodging a complaint against a member
(or associate) in breach of the Code.
1.3.4. Agreement and Action Process:
In the event that unanimous agreement cannot be reached by the Committee
about a complaint and appropriate disciplinary action, then the
Committee Chair shall report its considerations to the National
President for adjudication.
All recommendations of the committee are enacted on, only after final
approval by the National President.
2. PROCESS AND PROCEDURES
The following provides details of the process and procedures for dealing
with complaints against members for alleged breaches of the National
Speakers Association of Australia's Code of Conduct
2.1. A complaint can be made by any associate or member of the
association, chapter committee, national board or external person or
agency.
2.2. Any complaint must be lodged in writing to the National
Secretariat, and clearly marked "For the Attention of the Ethics
Committee". Verbal complaints will not be considered. Anonymous
complaints will not be considered.
2.3. Complaints must clearly state the clause or clauses of the NSAA
Code of Conduct which it is alleged have been breached.
2.4. The envelope will not be opened by the national secretariat but
will be immediately forwarded to the Chair of the Ethics Committee.
2.5. Upon receipt of the complaint, the chair to the Ethics Committee
will advise the National President of the name of the member about whom
the complaint has been made, the clause of the Code of Conduct which it
is alleged has been breached, but not the substance of the complaint.
The National President will in turn advise the relevant Chapter
President of the same information.
2.6. The Chair of the Ethics Committee will, upon receipt of a complaint
that meets the above criteria/process, will forward a copy of the
complaint to the other members of the Ethics Committee. Note: No contact
is to be made at this stage with the speaker allegedly in breach of the
code by the Chair, any member of the committee, National or Chapter
President.
2.7. The Chair of Ethics Committee will contact the complainant and
ascertain whether an attempt has been made to resolve the issue prior to
the complaint being formally lodged.
2.8. If the complainant wishes to proceed with the complaint then the
Chair of the committee will call the speaker allegedly in breach of the
code, by phone, and advise of the complaint, and send a copy of the
complaint to that member and ask for a written response within two weeks
of the date of the letter. Note: The name of the complainant will not be
revealed in this letter.
2.9. In the interests of natural justice, prior to a response being
received, the Chair of the Committee will make no contact with any
person except the National President and relevant Chapter President, in
relation to the complaint or the people involved.
2.10. When a response to the complaint has been received, a copy will be
sent to the other members of the Ethics Committee. No other person shall
at this stage have access to any written material relating to the
complaint and the matter will remain confidential.
2.11. Within two weeks or as soon as practicable, the Committee shall
meet in person or by teleconference to discuss the complaint and
response if received. At this meeting, the committee may delegate to one
or more of its members the task of making direct inquires with either of
the parties or other people in order to ascertain the accuracy and
credibility of claims made by either of the parties to the complaint.
2.12. Within one month or as soon as practicable thereafter but not
later than, the Ethics Committee will again meet to consider possible
courses of action.
2.13. If the committee is satisfied that a decision can be made at this
point then it will forward its recommendation to the National President
for ratification. Once ratified, the committee will, via the National
Secretariat, forward the recommendation to the member and offer him/her
the opportunity to accept the decision or meet with the Committee and
where appropriate, the complainant.
2.14. The National Secretary will also advise the complainant of the
decision and course of action recommended.
Note: Courses of Action recommended by the committee may include (but
are not limited to) the following:
- Mediation between the complainant and the member in alleged breach of
the Code
- An official "warning" with appropriate recommendations of actions to
remedy the breach
written summary of the complaint, in objective terms and without
identification of any party by name or chapter, either direct or
implied, for publication in chapter newsletters.
2.16. Chapters will publish the summary referred to in paragraph 15
without editing of any kind in their next newsletter to raise awareness
among the members of the nature of ethics complaints and the process of
dealing with them.
2.17. The recommendations of the Ethics Committee, once ratified by the
National President, shall be final and no appeal permitted otherwise
than would be available in accordance with applicable law.
This process is subject to change by the National Board and cannot be
varied in any way by the Ethics Committee or any other person or group
without the approval of the National Board.
If a change is made by the National Board during the currency of a
complaint, then no member involved in that complaint process can be
penalised or in any way suffer detriment as a result of that change
which would not otherwise have occurred.
Changes should not apply retrospectively.
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