The Council
The Womenians Workplace Excellence Council™
The Council is the independent decision-making body behind WWEC certification. It sets and maintains the standard, approves assessors, reviews assessment files, and takes every certification decision — so recognition reflects evidence, not influence.
Its role
What the Council is responsible for.
Assessment and decision-making are deliberately separated. Assessors evaluate; the Council decides.
Owns the certification decision
No assessor, adviser or applicant decides an outcome. The Council reviews the assessment file and records the decision.
Safeguards impartiality
Council members declare conflicts of interest and withdraw from any file where impartiality could reasonably be questioned.
Approves assessors
Assessor accounts are created, trained and assigned by the Council, and their assessments are reviewed before decision.
Maintains the standard
The eight dimensions, assessment criteria and scoring guide are reviewed and maintained under Council authority.
Oversees appeals
Appeals and complaints are heard separately from the members who took the original decision.
Publishes the record
Certified workplaces, validity periods and decision dates are published so recognition can be verified.
How decisions are made
From application to published decision.
Every certification decision follows the same controlled route, and every step is recorded on the application timeline.
- STEP 01
Application file opened
The organisation applies, the file receives a reference, and the Council checks eligibility and scope.
- STEP 02
Evidence submitted and reviewed
The organisation uploads supporting documents through the secure evidence portal. Assigned assessors mark each item reviewed, accepted or returned.
- STEP 03
Independent assessment and scoring
Assessors score each of the eight dimensions against the published criteria and record the rationale for every score.
- STEP 04
Council review
The Council reviews the scored assessment, the evidence review record and any outstanding queries as a complete file.
- STEP 05
Decision recorded
The Council records certified, conditional, deferred or not certified, with the reasoning captured against the application.
- STEP 06
Notification and publication
The applicant is notified by email, the timeline is updated, and certified workplaces are published to the public directory.
Possible outcomes
Four recorded decisions.
Certified
The evidence meets the standard. Certification is issued for the published validity period of one year.
Conditional
The evidence largely meets the standard, with specific conditions to be closed within an agreed period.
Deferred
The file is paused pending further evidence or clarification before a decision can be taken.
Not certified
The evidence does not meet the standard. The organisation receives the reasoning and may reapply.
Certification outcomes cannot be purchased, negotiated or sponsored. Selecting a package does not guarantee certification.
Serving on the Council
Roles, eligibility and appointment.
Council seats are appointed, not applied for and granted. Expressions of interest are assessed against published eligibility and independence requirements.
Council Member
Reviews assessment files and records certification decisions. Brings workplace, governance, legal, research or lived sector experience.
Council Chair
Chairs decision sittings, ensures the decision route is followed, and signs off the record of each decision.
Independent Observer
Attends decision sittings without a vote to confirm that process, impartiality and recusal rules were followed.
Eligibility requirements
- Demonstrable senior experience in workplace practice, people governance, assessment, law, research or public interest oversight.
- No current commercial relationship with WWEC that would compromise independence.
- Willingness to declare all interests on appointment and before each application file.
- Agreement to the conflict-of-interest, confidentiality and professional conduct policies.
- Capacity to attend decision sittings and review files within the published timelines.
Appointment steps
- STEP 01
Expression of interest
You submit the Council interest form with your background, sector experience and any interests to declare.
- STEP 02
Eligibility and independence review
WWEC checks the submission against the published eligibility requirements and the conflict-of-interest policy.
- STEP 03
Conversation
Shortlisted candidates discuss scope, expectations, time commitment and independence obligations.
- STEP 04
Appointment and declaration
Appointment is confirmed in writing, interests are declared and recorded, and portal access is issued for a defined term.
Council membership carries no influence over the certification outcome of any organisation a member is connected to. Members declare interests on appointment and before each file, and recuse themselves from any decision where a conflict exists. Expressing interest in the Council does not affect an organisation's application, assessment or certification decision in any way.
Council members
Access the Council portal.
Council members sign in to review applications, evidence and assessments, and to record certification decisions.