WSPA Governance

WSPA is a global animal welfare organisation with a vision of a world where animal welfare matters and animal cruelty has ended.

WSPA’s International office is based in London, registered as a charity and a company in the UK and works with affiliated WSPA offices around the world. WSPA offices are linked together through collaboration agreements ensuring that the organisation works in a unified and consistent way in support of a strategy developed by staff from across the global organisation.
 
WSPA International is governed by a Board of up to 13 trustees from a wide variety of backgrounds. The Board has statutory duties under the UK Companies and Charities Acts of 2006 for the general management and control of WSPA. With the exception of certain powers which the Board reserves for itself, the Board delegates the day to day management of WSPA to the Chief Executive.
 
The management and governance structure of WSPA is enshrined in its constitution:

Download WSPA’s constitution here.

WSPA’s International Board

WSPA’s International Board is comprised of up to 13 trustees. Current Board members are as follows:

Ms Hanja Maij-Weggen (President)
Mr Dominique Bellemare (Deputy President)
Dr Bjarne Clausen
Dr Chinny Krishna
Mr Carter Luke
Mrs Marcelle Meredith
Dr Andrew Rowan
Dr Dennis Turner
Ms Sonja Van Tichelen
Mrs Cecilia Vega Leon
Mr Mark Watts
Dr Hugh Wirth

The Board’s work is supported by the following sub-committees:

Standing Committee

The Board’s Standing Committee is constituted to discharge the functions of the Board between the Board’s regular meetings. Other than under exceptional circumstances, the Committee has no power to vary WSPA’s Strategy or any corporate policy approved by the full Board, but otherwise the Committee has the authority of the Board.

Finance & Audit Committee

The Finance and Audit Committee oversees on behalf of the Board, all financial aspects of the charity, and reports back to the Board as appropriate. The Committee guides and advises the Board on the approval of budgets, accounts and financial statements and relevant financial policies. In addition, the Committee advises the Board on the financial implications of the WSPA’s strategic plans and it’s ongoing financial viability and keeps under review the performance of charity investments.

Nominations & Governance Committee

The Nominations and Governance Committee identifies candidates for appointment and or reappointment to the Board and reviews the performance of individual trustees and the Board as a whole on a regular basis. In addition, the Committee keeps the governance of WSPA under review and recommends enhancements to ensure the systems in place are suitably robust, reflect best practice in the sector and elsewhere, and most effectively support the needs of the organisation now and in the future. 

Human Resources & Remuneration Committee

The Human Resources and Remuneration Committee is constituted to review the CEO’s remuneration and to keep under review WSPA’s policies on HR and pay to ensure they are consistent with the Board’s requirements, current legislation and best practice.


For further information on WSPA’s governance please contact Stephencorri@wspa-international.org