The Council
The Womenians Workplace Excellence Council™
The Council governs the WWEC certification scheme. It approves and oversees the Standard, methodology, governance framework and the authorised decision structure. Individual certification decisions are made by the WWEC Certification Decision Panel — so recognition reflects evidence, not influence.
Its role
What the Council is responsible for.
Assessment and decision-making are deliberately separated. Assessors assess, a separate Reviewer reviews, the Certification Decision Panel decides and Certification Administration issues. The Council governs the scheme; it does not routinely make individual certification decisions.
Governs the decision structure
The Council authorises the certification decision structure. Individual decisions are made by the WWEC Certification Decision Panel; no assessor, adviser or applicant decides an outcome.
Safeguards impartiality
Council members declare conflicts of interest and withdraw from any file where impartiality could reasonably be questioned.
Approves assessors
Assessors are approved and trained under Council authority, and their assessments are reviewed by a separate WWEC Certification Reviewer 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 WWEC 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
A WWEC Authorised Assessor scores each applicable criterion 0–4 (converted to 0–100) across the eight equally weighted dimensions and records the rationale.
- STEP 04
Independent review
A WWEC Certification Reviewer, separate from the assessor, reviews methodology application, evidence sufficiency, scoring, Mandatory Requirements, Employee Experience sufficiency and completeness.
- STEP 05
Decision recorded
The WWEC Certification Decision Panel records one of three outcomes — certification awarded, decision deferred or certification declined — with the reasoning captured against the application. Certification requires at least 70 overall, 50 in every dimension and all applicable Mandatory Requirements.
- STEP 06
Notification and publication
WWEC Certification Administration issues the certificate and verification record, the applicant is notified by email, and certified workplaces are published to the public directory.
Possible outcomes
Three recorded decisions.
Certification awarded
All applicable certification requirements are satisfied. Certification is valid for 12 months.
Decision deferred
Permitted clarification, evidence, Employee Experience participation or remediation is outstanding. No certificate is issued.
Certification declined
The certification requirements are not satisfied. 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.
Authorised members sign in to review applications, evidence and assessments, and — when acting as the Certification Decision Panel under the controlled procedure — to record certification decisions.