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HSRC Annual Report 2016/17
Board
Secretariat
The HSRC Board is assisted by the Board secretary who provides secretariat and administrative support to the Board, its
subcommittees and various other forums, such as the executive directors’meetings and the HSRC bargaining forum.
The role and functions of the Board secretary specifically include acting as liaison between the Board and the organisation,
providing comprehensive support and guidance to the executive management, compiling and filtering Board documents,
ensuring compliance with appropriate standards of ethics and good governance and performing project management
relevant to the activities of the various committees.
Annual
Board Evaluation
In keeping with the recommendations of King III, the HSRC Board conducts an annual self-evaluation to assess its
performance. The evaluation is facilitated externally every fourth year to coincide with the end of each Board’s term.
PwC conducted the 2016/17 evaluation, using a questionnaire structured around 19 key areas, to measure Board
effectiveness. These included:
•
Board composition;
•
Board meetings and content;
•
The role of the CEO;
•
The role of the Council secretary;
•
Board accountability;
•
Appointment, induction and training, succession planning;
•
Performance evaluation;
•
Board committees;
•
Communication and stakeholder relations;
•
Board dynamics and leadership;
•
Strategy, compliance and performance;
•
Risk management and internal controls;
•
Information technology governance;
•
Combined assurance;
•
Non-financial sustainability;
•
Integrated reporting;
•
Balance of power and authority; and
•
Ethics.
The evaluation report highlighted positive trends, as well as areas for improvement and concluded that the Board is
effective in its functioning as a collective.