Council architecture
The councils of The Global Risks Forum (GRF) are how institutions, leaders and experts take part in Nexus Consortiums through GRF. They are programme bodies, not the statutory organs of the association, which govern GRF under its articles of association. Each council corresponds to one of the three national participation pillars, so a council seat, an institutional membership and a working-group assignment are never confused. This page sets out that architecture, the distinction between councils and statutory organs, and the levels at which councils are designed to operate.
- 01In briefThe short answer
- 02Two kinds of bodyCouncils are not statutory organs
- 03Design choicesChoices every council constitution must make
- 04NestingHow national, regional and global levels relate
- 05Three pillarsEach council belongs to one Nexus structure
- 06LevelsNational first, then regional and global
- 07RulesRules that apply to every council
GRF · Institution · service level R0
The short answer.
The GRF council architecture is the model by which institutions, leaders and experts take part in Nexus Consortiums: each council matches one national participation pillar, starts nationally before regional and global levels, and follows rules common to every council. Councils are programme bodies, not the statutory organs of the association.
Jurisdictions in Oceania and the Pacific.
The jurisdictions that hold authority over this question: countries, their first-level divisions and capitals, shown for Oceania and the Pacific as an example geography for this subject.
Councils are not statutory organs.
| Statutory organs | Councils | |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Articles of association and Swiss law | GRF's programme instruments and published procedures |
| Governs | The association's own affairs | Contribution, recommendation and records within a published scope |
| Members | As set by the articles | Institutions, selected leaders or experts, depending on the council |
| Authority over GRF | Yes, within the statutes | None; councils do not replace or sit above statutory governance |
Choices every council constitution must make.
| Choice | Options | GRF default |
|---|---|---|
| Composition | By constituency, by expertise, by region | Constituency for institutions, expertise for working groups |
| Selection | Election, nomination with review, appointment | Nomination with published criteria and review |
| Term | Fixed, rolling, open-ended | Fixed terms with limits on renewal |
| Decision rule | Consensus, qualified majority, chair's summary | Consensus on the record, dissent recorded |
| Transparency | Closed, minutes published, open sessions | Approved minutes published |
How national, regional and global levels relate.
The levels are nested by subsidiarity: questions are taken at the lowest level that can answer them. A regional council takes up a question only when it crosses borders, and a global body only when regional experience needs comparison. No upper level can override a national council on a national question.
Each council belongs to one Nexus structure.
| On this site | Nexus structure | Who is the member | What it does not confer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Constituency councils | National Nexus Consortium (NNC) | The institution, through authorised representatives | A Leadership Council seat, public authority or influence over a technical conclusion |
| Leadership Council and national leadership councils | National Leadership Council (NLC) | The selected individual, in a personal capacity | Office, employment, a board seat or restricted data |
| Working groups | National Working Groups (NWG) | Experts, practitioners, students and volunteers, by competence | A professional licence or employment |
| Financial institutions and regulators | A cross-cutting NNC pathway, led with GRA | The institution | Underwriting, lending, capital or privileged regulator access |
National first, then regional and global.
Where councils begin
National leadership councils and constituency councils serve national programmes, which keep agenda authority. See National leadership.
In formation
Regional leadership roles are in formation; scope is published only once adopted. See Regional leadership.
In formation
The global leadership role is in formation; its constitution is published only once adopted. See Global leadership role.
Rules that apply to every council.
- Purpose, selection procedure and limits are published before applications open.
- Selection comes before any contribution; payment never buys a seat.
- Members declare interests and recuse on conflict.
- Agendas, approved minutes and commitments are published as participants agree, with dissent recorded; see Council work and transparency.
Earlier council labels used on GRF sites are retired. The terms on this page are the ones in use. GRA's industry councils are described on GRA industry councils.
Terms used on this page.
Each term as this page uses it. Where a standard-setting body defines the term, the wording follows that body.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Council | In the Forum's architecture, a body of leaders convened under written rules to deliberate on governance questions; membership confers no authority over findings and no power to decide for any institution. |
| Constituency | A group of institutions or people with a shared stake, such as governments, research, industry, media or Indigenous communities, represented in a council so that its perspective is heard. |
| Multi-level governance | Shared decision-making across local, regional, national and international levels of government. |
Where this page's references lead.
The bodies and documents this page is read against. Status and editions change; each link goes to the issuing body.
Questions and answers.
Can a council instruct GRF's statutory organs?
Can one institution sit on several constituency councils?
Are councils paid positions?
Which councils are operating?
Around GRF.
Start with an enquiry.
The current service level is R0: information and enquiries. An enquiry receives a reference and names the next step; applications, payments, compute allocations and registrations open only when their team, terms and review capacity exist.