Declaration of Interests Policy

An "interest" is most often a form of financial connection or sense of loyalty. For example, a member may run their own company, or their child may study at an academic institution, or their partner may be a member of another professional body with overlapping interests.

Different types of interest include:

• Financial - for example, having shares in a company or offering consultancy services
• Professional - for example, working for a university that runs accredited or competitor courses
• Personal - for example, having a partner in a related organisation

Any of these interests need declaring.

If you don't have any interests

You still need to fill in the form to tell us that. The start of the form allows you to indicate which sorts of interests you have and you then fill in more detail only for those categories. If none of the categories apply to you, then it's quick to confirm that as your declaration.

A conflict of interest arises when someone's own interests might lead them to make a decision that is not in the best interest of the society. For example, influencing a funding decision in a way that benefits their business activities, or being on a committee that makes an award to the university where their child is studying, or steering policy to the benefit of another organisation even when that's not the best thing for the society.

Identifying and managing a conflict of interests

The Chair of the committee or group will review the interests declared on the form, this is why your declaration of interests must be kept up to date. Members should also declare anything at the beginning of the meeting if they think they may have made an oversight. If there may be a conflict, the group will discuss this without the member present.

The conflicted member may not have to withdraw from activities entirely, for example, the group may decide to still involve them in discussion but not include them in a vote.

Members are responsible for declaring their interests and keeping their record up to date. Members are not responsible for identifying where conflicts of interest might arise or for trying to manage them, it is for the committee or group to decide how to mitigate risks.

If you don't keep your interests up to date

The Code of Conduct for Members Undertaking activities on behalf of the Society underlines the importance of declaring interests and failure to comply could be considered under the Member Conduct Rules. It's really important to the Society that our decision-making is free from inappropriate influence and is seen to be so.