Nomination and selection of the highest governance body

GRI 2-10 has two requirements. First, describe the nomination and selection processes for the highest governance body and its committees. Second, describe the criteria used to nominate and select members of the highest governance body, including whether and how stakeholder views (including shareholder views), diversity, independence, and competencies relevant to the organization’s impacts are considered.

Use the actual highest governance body under the legal structure, not a universal assumption that it is called the board. In a two-tier system, include both tiers where together they form the highest governance body. This is a governance-process disclosure, so do not create a boundary by sites, regions, subsidiaries or local boards.

For the first requirement, show the route from nomination through assessment and recommendation to final election, selection or appointment. Cover the highest governance body and every one of its committees, and distinguish who nominates, who assesses, who recommends and who makes the final decision. Reappointment and removal can be useful context where they are part of the standing process.

The four criteria in the second requirement apply to nomination and selection of members of the highest governance body. Do not automatically present them as mandatory criteria for committee appointments. If the organization applies criteria to committee appointments too, report that as supplementary context and label it clearly.

For each criterion, ‘whether and how’ is one requirement: give a direct yes or no, then explain the mechanism if it is used. A criterion that is not used is a reportable answer, not a reason for omission. If required information cannot be reported, identify the affected requirement in the GRI content index and use a permitted reason for omission.

Stakeholder views can enter through nomination rights, shareholder voting, cumulative voting, formal stakeholder representation or documented engagement feedback. GRI 2-10 does not require a separate consultation exercise, but the route into the nomination or selection decision must be clear.

Keep the exact concept of diversity, name the dimensions the organization uses, and explain how they affect the candidate specification, search, longlist, shortlist, assessment or recommendation. Do not replace the process criterion with current composition statistics.

For independence, identify the statutory, listing or internal definition used. Independence means conditions that allow a member to exercise independent judgment free from external influence or conflicts of interest; explain how and when the test is applied.

For competencies, connect the capabilities sought to impacts associated with the organization’s sectors, products and services, and geographic locations. A generic list of leadership, finance or industry experience does not by itself explain competencies relevant to impacts.

Report the standing policy and process even if no nominations, selections or appointments occurred during the reporting period. A note on changes to the process is useful LRA practice but is not a separate GRI 2-10 requirement.

The nine datapoints below are an LRA operational decomposition of the two requirements in Disclosure 2-10. They are not nine separate GRI requirements.

This LRA educational guidance supports disclosure preparation. For the exact requirements, always refer to the official GRI source.

A quick mental checklist before you prepare this disclosure — tick each as you settle it.

Key information to prepare

Request highest-governance-body nomination and selection records

Translate the disclosure into an internal business question — then adapt it to your organisation's own language.

Use the organization’s legal names for each governance body, tier, committee and decision-maker. Do not request site, region or entity population data for this governance-process disclosure.

Subject: GRI 2-10 nomination and selection records for [period]

Hi [name/team],

Please provide the legal governance structure identifying our highest governance body (including both tiers where applicable), the complete committee register, and the standing process in force during [period] for nomination, assessment, recommendation and final selection, election or appointment of body members and appointment of committee members.

For members of the highest governance body, please state whether and how the process considers: stakeholder views including shareholder views; diversity; independence; and competencies relevant to our impacts. Please attach the policy, terms of reference, succession plan, candidate or decision records, and approvals. If a criterion is not used, say so directly. If no appointment occurred, still provide the process in force.

Thanks,
[preparer name]

Please send the legal governance map, full committee register and standing nomination-to-appointment process for [period]. For highest-governance-body members, include whether and how the four GRI 2-10 criteria are used, plus supporting records. A criterion not used should be stated directly.

Notes that turn data into a disclosure

LRA training templates — adapt them to your organisation, and check the official source before sign-off.

For each claim, check the evidence

Mistakes to avoid when collecting the data

Where judgement is often needed

Illustrative examples

Synthetic, written by LRA — not from a company report, not text from any standard.

Scenarios to work through

Relevant GRI requirements and related disclosures

Available framework references and nearby disclosures relevant to preparing this requirement.

Questions this page answers