Code of Conduct
This Code binds every member and Fellow of the Association. It sets out the professional and ethical standards expected of those it recognizes, and grave violations of it are grounds for removal under Section 6.4 of the Charter.
What every member and Fellow upholds
The Code rests on six tenets. Each states a principle and, beneath it, what that principle asks of you in plain terms.
- 01
Integrity and honesty
Tell the truth, and stand behind your work.
Members and Fellows act with honesty in their professional conduct and in every dealing with the Association. Fraud, deception, falsified evidence, and plagiarism are incompatible with membership and are treated as grave violations.
- 02
Public trust and safety
Build digital systems worthy of the trust placed in them.
The Association exists to advance reliable, secure, and privacy-respecting systems that serve society. Members hold the safety, security, and legitimate interests of the public, and of those who depend on their systems, above narrow or short-term advantage.
- 03
Competence and diligence
Work only within your competence, and do it carefully.
Members undertake work they are qualified to perform, apply sound and current professional practice, and exercise due care and candour about the limits and risks of their work. They do not misrepresent the maturity, security, or reliability of a system.
- 04
Truthful representation of credentials
Never overstate your standing or the Association's recognition.
Members and Fellows describe their tier, post-nominals, and any recognition accurately, and only while in good standing. They do not imply that recognition is a distinction they have not been granted, and they use the post-nominals only as conferred.
- 05
Independence and conflicts of interest
Disclose what could sway you, and step back when it would.
In nomination, review, election, and verification, members disclose any personal, financial, or professional interest that could affect their judgment, and recuse themselves where a conflict is material. Reviewers and Committee members keep the evidentiary record, not relationships, at the centre of every decision.
- 06
Respect and good standing
Treat colleagues and the process with respect.
Members treat colleagues, candidates, reviewers, and staff with professional respect, free from harassment, discrimination, or intimidation. They do not act in ways that bring the Association into disrepute, and they cooperate honestly with its review and governance processes.
Raising a possible breach
If you believe a member or Fellow has acted contrary to this Code, you may raise it with the Association. Concerns are reviewed in the following stages.
- 01
Concern raised
Anyone may raise a concern in confidence using the channel below, describing the conduct at issue and any supporting material. - 02
Administrative review
The Association acknowledges the concern and conducts an initial review to establish the facts and whether the Code may have been breached. - 03
Selection Committee or Governance review
Where warranted, the matter proceeds to formal review by the Governance Board, or the Selection Committee for matters touching Fellowship, with the person concerned given a fair opportunity to respond. - 04
Outcome and, where warranted, removal
The review concludes with a documented outcome. For grave violations, removal requires a two-thirds vote of the Governance Board following that formal review, under Section 6.4 of the Charter.
Confidentiality
Concerns are handled in confidence, and disclosed only as far as is necessary to review the matter fairly and reach an outcome.
Non-retaliation
No one who raises a concern in good faith will face retaliation for doing so. Retaliation is itself a breach of this Code.
This Code of Conduct is maintained under the Association's Charter and Regulations, and is read together with them. Where it speaks of removal, the procedure and the two-thirds vote of the Governance Board are those set out in the Charter.