GOVERNANCE STATEMENT

The Statement

This statement covers the following areas:

• Board Membership

• Diversity

• Risk management and internal control

Board membership

The Asian Sports Foundation Board determines the organisation’s strategic direction and alignment, provides oversight and accountability, and ensures that governance is shared, rather than centralised within one single agency or individual.

Throughout the year the Board of Directors is proactive in providing scrutiny over processes, as well as regularly meeting to monitor progress against strategic objectives. The Board carries out an annual assessment of Trustees’ knowledge and skills sets to identify any gaps. The Board follow a recruitment policy when recruiting new Directors. Appointments are made to close an existing skills gap or meet any additional requirement as determined by the Directors. All Directors are appointed in an independent capacity in line with relevant guidance.
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Finance and Resources. The Board meets regularly and will review in detail the financial position of the Asian Sports Foundation. The CEO and Board members will work with the independent auditors to review the annual accounts, present any recommendations contained in the auditor’s management letter and ensure these actions, where appropriate are carried out. The Board are responsible for ensuring all necessary policies and procedures are in place to ensure effective financial controls are in place and these are reviewed in line with the Board Development Plan.
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Diversity

The Board of the Asian Sports Foundation is committed to the diversity policy and consistently works towards the action plan it sets itself. The Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan will address any gaps in the diversity policy.
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Risk Management

The Asian Sports Foundation Board considers major risks to which the organisation is exposed and satisfies itself that systems or procedures are in place in order to manage and mitigate those risks. The following key principles outline the Asian Sports Foundation approach to risk management:

• As the principal executive and policy-making body of, the Asian Sports Foundation Board are responsible for risk management.
• It is responsible for maintaining a sound system of internal control that supports the achievement of policies, aims and objectives, whilst safeguarding the public and other funds and assets for which it is responsible.
• There is an open and receptive approach to solving risk problems.
• The Asian Sports Foundation makes prudent recognition and disclosure of the financial and nonfinancial implications of risks.
• Senior staff within the Asian Sports Foundation are responsible for encouraging and implementing good risk management practice.
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Internal Controls

The Board has a number of systems in place to set the internal control environment i.e. Financial Procedures Policies and Staff Handbook. The Board undertake ongoing reviews of these controls which includes the external audit review where any weaknesses are identified and addressed.
 
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Governance Improvement

The Asian Sports Foundation Board conducts annual reviews of both Governance and Board Performance.
Asian Sports Foundation Governance priorities for 2026/7 are:

• Ensure full compliance with the Code for Sports Governance
• Implement the diversity action plan
• Carry out a review of the Board membership
• Carry out appraisals to include skills audit for all Directors
• Implement Board recruitment to fill identified gaps
• Review the effectiveness of the overall approach and policy for risk management and internal controls
• Implement a continuous review of policies and statements
• Review Governance statement
   

The Board undertakes a statement review annually.

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