Complaints and grievances

The IoD is a voluntary membership organisation that promotes professional standards for directors and is dedicated to ensuring its members maintain appropriate standards of conduct. We are also committed to continuous improvement and view all feedback as an opportunity to grow, improve and ensure we are meeting your expectations.

Who can lodge a complaint or grievance?

If you are a member of the IoD, you can lodge a grievance if you are concerned about how the IoD has treated you (or a group of members).

If you are a member of the IoD or a member of the public, you can lodge a complaint about the conduct of an IoD member.

A complaint must relate to the conduct of an individual IoD member. It must identify the member, describe the conduct complained about, and include enough supporting information for the IoD to assess whether the matter may involve a breach of IoD member standards. Concerns about an organisation, a board as a collective, or a person who is not an IoD member will not be able to be considered under this process.

Lodge a complaint

Lodge a grievance

IoD professional standards framework

In 2021, the IoD membership voted to update and enhance the IoD’s standards framework. This included amending membership criteria and providing the IoD Council with more flexibility to address member misconduct. This enhanced framework helps protect and maintain IoD’s reputation as a membership-based professional body and uphold professional standards for directors.

Member obligations

Rule 17 of the IoD Constitution sets out the process that must be followed in relation to complaints and grievances.  All members are required to cooperate to resolve such matters efficiently, fairly and with the minimum of disruption to the IoD’s activities.

Under Rule 4.8 of the IoD Constitution, every member of the IoD: 

1. is deemed to have agreed to be bound by the Rules and any binding Codes issued by Council from time to time; and
2. must not act in a manner that compromises (or is likely to compromise) the position of the IoD or brings (or is likely to bring) the IoD into disrepute.

The following binding codes have been issued by the IoD Council:

• • The ‘Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Code’, approved by Council, contains the continuing professional development requirements for each membership category.
  • The Code of Practice for Directors.

Chartered  Members and Chartered Fellows are subject to additional requirements, having to confirm annually that they satisfy the applicable CPD requirements, will uphold the principles of the Charter of the Institute of Directors, are of good character, and are fit and proper persons to remain in that membership category.