Chair of BSI Consumer & Public Interest Network

The BSI Consumer & Public Interest (CPI) Network exists to ensure that the consumer voice is heard in standards development and that issues of public interest are tackled from the viewpoint of the general public – the end user of standards. Current concerns are particularly across the areas of accessibility, sustainability, services, privacy and security, and safety.

BSI-CPI Reps sit on working groups and technical committees for subjects as diverse as the accessibility of buildings to the surface temperatures of cookers, the standard of provision in sheltered accommodation to green roofs and much more.

Strategic direction to the work is provided by individuals and members of relevant organizations (such as Consumer Focus, Which?, NCF, Citizens Advice and the OFT) who form the CPI Strategic Advisory Committee (CPI-SAC). The Chair of the BSI Consumer & Public Interest Network is also the Chair of CPI-SAC.

If you could and would like to take on the role of Chair of BSI Consumer & Public Interest Network, please write and tell us what you have to offer.

Your letter should be sent to:

Daniel Mansfield
Secretary to BSI CPI-SAC
BSI
389 Chiswick High Road
London
W4 4AL
daniel.mansfield@bsigroup.com

OR
consumer@bsigroup.com

For full details and our expectations of the post holder, please see Role, Qualities and Experience, and Support and Remuneration.

Role

The Chair of the BSI Consumer & Public Interest Network and BSI CPI Strategic Advisory Committee (CPI-SAC) is also the CPI representative on the BSI Standards Policy & Strategy Committee (SPSC) bringing a consumer input to the highest level committee within BSI.

Broadly, the Chair is expected to be directly involved in the policy activities of the BSI-CPI Network and work on horizontal and broad issues in the United Kingdom, Europe and internationally.

Specific duties are dependent on the availability and position of the candidate outside BSI, but potentially they include:

• Chair CPI-SAC (3-4 meetings p.a. each of approx 2 hours duration, usually Central London location)
• Attend SPSC (3-4 meetings p.a., usually at BSI)
• Chair/attend All-members meetings of CPI Network (2 meetings p.a.)
• Chair/attend CPIC Steering panel, when possible (3-4 all-day meetings p.a.)
• Possible attendance at ISO/COPOLCO meetings, which may be anywhere in the world, e.g. 2010 Indonesia, 2011 London. Typically these last 3-5 days.

 

Qualities and Experience

	Essential	Important	Desirable
CONSUMER
Consumer credibility — relevant consumer background	X
Seniority/ Good contacts — already well known in consumer world; ‘door opener’		X
STANDARDS
Buy-in to standards — preparedness to be involved	X
Past knowledge/ involvement/ promotion of standards			X
Respect from/ ability to work with other sectors in SPSC		X
OTHER
Charisma/ leadership — ability to operate at relevant level	X
Availability — min 12 days p.a.		X
Credibility outside London: UK regions/ other countries			X
Willingness to travel to meetings in Europe or internationally — possibly 1-2 per year			X

 

Support and Remuneration

Secretarial support is provided to CPI-SAC and the CPI Network is supported by the Consumer & Public Interest Unit (currently two BSI staff).
Expenses for necessary travel and accommodation are covered through a government funding scheme and a small honorarium is paid by BSI.