CIH announces major governance overhaul

As part of its governance review, the CIH plans to change the role of its president to an ambassadorial position which focuses on engaging with members. A new elected chair of the governing board will take on the president’s former administrative responsibilities, such as overseeing the strategy of the CIH.

In an attempt to make the organisation more public-facing, a slimmed-down version of the governing board will be open to non-CIH members if the relevant skills cannot be found within the organisation. Only two non-members will be allowed to join. No more than 15 people will sit on the board - currently it has 32. It will consist of a majority of members, rather than just being comprised of members.

The CIH also plans to change its membership structure so that all six grades would be streamlined into two. Student, affiliate, associate and practitioner members become CIH members, while corporate members and fellows become Chartered members.

These are the first major changes to the CIH’s governance for more than 25 years. Its council launched a review in April 2009 and an advisory group, led by vice president Paddy Gray, reported back in February.

Papers were sent to all members this week after an organisation-wide consultation. A vote on the changes will take place at the CIH’s annual general meeting, at the Harrogate conference and exhibition next month.

Dyane Jackson, area housing officer at Nehemiah United Churches Housing Association and practitioner member of the CIH, said she was pleased the new presidential role would focus on spending time with members. ‘Housing changes so much, and it would be useful to have someone who is engaging with us on the implications of this,’ she said.

‘One of my concerns about the changes to the membership is having students listed as the same as qualified members. It might be difficult to distinguish between those who have gone through the studying and earned their membership, and students.’

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