About us
Governance & Assurance
We are committed to ensuring the highest standards of transparency and accountability and competent management over public funds programmed through our member organisations and partners.
Start Network is a company and charity registered in England and Wales with company registration number 09286835 and charity registration number 1159483.
Governance & Assurance > Governance bodies | Management & Administration | Due diligence & vetting | Impact | Risk & Accountability
Governance bodies
The Start Network is governed by its Board of Trustees, which takes its steer from the membership, represented by the Assembly. The Board is responsible for implementing the agreed strategy as well as all other governance matters, such as cost-effectiveness and efficiency, brand protection, and oversight of the Sub-Committees and the Start Network CEO and CFOO.
Read Start Network's Strategy 2021-2023
Assembly
Start Network’s Assembly is made up of representatives from each member. It sets the network’s strategic direction and acts as a sounding board that informs the network’s evolution. Its primary role is an advisory one, but the Assembly retains three important governance responsibilities:
- approving new members to the network
- approving the election of new Trustees to the Board
- overseeing the Board’s performance.
Board
Chair: Sanjayan Srikanthan
Oversees the sub-committees and team performance; provides strategic steer; approves the annual business plan and budget; considers new programmes and services. The Board takes its steer from and is accountable to the membership.
We believe that decisions about the Network should be transparent, so we publish summary Board minutes here.
Mohammed Nadeem
Compliance Specialist (independent)
Anwer Iqbal
CFO, HANDS (Health And Nutrition Development Society)
Sanjayan Srikanthan
Chair of the Board
CEO, Shelterbox
Benjamin Laniado
CEO, CADENA
Noreen Gumbo
Vice-Chair of the Board
Head of Humanitarian Programmes, Trocaire
Binny Prabhakar
Independent
Muhammad Amad
Executive Director of Initiative for Development and Empowerment Axis (IDEA)
Oenone Chadburn
Head of Humanitarian & Resilience Team, Tearfund
Glyn Isherwood
Treasurer
CFO, BBC
Sub-committees
There are six sub-committees to the Board with delegated decision-making authorities.
FINANCE & AUDIT COMMITTEE
Chair: Anwer Iqbal (interim)
Advises the Board and Start team on financial operations, audit and risk management. The responsibilities of the Committee include having oversight on all financial matters, including the annual accounts, budgeting and financial management, as well as identifying and understanding all financial risks to the Start Network.
HANDS and three independents
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
Chair: Muhammad Amad (IDEA)
Oversees the evolution of the network and its membership, guided by the principle of localisation. This includes recommending the appointment of new members, overseeing the development of the hubs' operational model, and maintaining and reviewing the Membership Policy, including annual membership contributions and fee structures.
IDEA, Tearfund, Concern (Worldwide) and two independents
NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE
Chair: Noreen Gumbo
Responsible for appointing individuals to the Board and ensuring a good balance of skills are held by the Trustees. Responsibilities include recommending the skills and experience that should be sought in the nomination and election of Trustees, as well as leading the election process when there are vacancies that need to be filled.
1 independent
REMUNERATION COMMITTEE
Chair: TBD
Advises on the development and implementation of the Start Network's People Strategy, as well as other policies and procedures relating to human resources such as personnel and performance management, and staff remuneration.
CADENA and two independents
RISK & COMPLIANCE COMMITTEE
Chair: Mohammed Nadeem (independent)
Assists the Board in fulfilling its corporate oversight responsibilities in relation to the charity's risk appetite statement, risk management strategy and associated framework and functions.
2 independents
START FUND COMMITTEE
Chair: Vrinda Dar (Relief International)
Oversees the management, operation and strategy of the Start Fund. Strategically, the Committee provides advice and input to the Board, particularly around the principles and the processes for decision-making. The Committee has delegated authority from the Board and, through decision-making subsets called ‘rotas’, makes decisions on funding allocations, stewards the progression of the project selection procedures, and participates in associated learning and evaluation peer reviews.
War Child UK, Qatar Charity, Mercy Corps, GOAL, SEEDS India, Christian Aid UK, Oxfam GB, Action Aid
OTHER GOVERNING BODIES
Start Fund Council
The Start Fund Council brings together all Start Fund donors to review their investment in the Fund. The Council has direct governance oversight over the risk management of the Start Fund, the policy of which the Council reviews and endorses on an annual basis.
Read more about Start Network governance.
START NETWORK STRATEGY 2021-2023
Over the next three years, Start Network will work across four complementary and mutually reinforcing areas of work aimed at catalysing system change and driving more effective humanitarian action to assist and protect communities in need.