Overall authority for the control and management of the APEC Architect framework rests with the Central Council. It is the responsibility of the Central Council to determine policy and procedures for all matters relating to the APEC Architect Register and to promote its objectives. The Central Council may delegate authority to authorised Monitoring Committees in each participating economy to carry out its functions.

Architects wishing to export their professional services to other economies, and regulatory authorities requiring evidence that they are competent to do so, may turn to the APEC Architect Register to facilitate achievement of these objectives. It is important that the policy adopted by the APEC Architect Central Council and the procedures employed to implement them are readily accessible and equitable to all parties.


Constitution of the Central Council

The Central Council acts as the joint governing body for the APEC Architect framework and is composed of at least one representative from the Monitoring Committee of each economy authorised to operate a section of the Register. There is no limit to the number of members appointed to the Council by Monitoring Committees but each authorised economy is entitled to only one vote.

To promote the project and extend its benefits, economies that have not yet received authorisation to maintain a section of the APEC Architect Register are also invited by the Council to appoint representatives to attend its meetings as non-voting observers. Although observers are not entitled to take part in the decision making process, this provides an opportunity for them to familiarise themselves with the APEC Architect framework with a view to establishing a Monitoring Committee in their own economy.


Duties of the Central Council

The Central Council has ultimate responsibility for the operation of each aspect of the APEC Architect framework. Its duties include the following:

Maintenance of the APEC Architect Register:

• determine standards and assessment procedures for admission, renewal and termination of the registration of an APEC Architect;
• oversee and coordinate all sections of the Register operated by independent Monitoring Committees, maintain the APEC Architect website;
• establish and apply governance systems and quality assurance strategies to review and maintain uniformity and compliance with agreed criteria.

Establishment of Monitoring Committees:

• determine policy concerning the composition, authorisation and responsibilities of Monitoring Committees;
• assess applications for authorisation of Monitoring Committees to operate a section of the APEC Architect Register, and to hear appeals;
• conduct reviews of registration systems and standards in authorised participating economies to ensure continued compliance;

Oversight of the Reciprocal Recognition Framework

• Regularly review the commitment of participating economies to the nominated categories of registration / certification requirements that they are prepared to offer APEC Architects from other economies;
• ensure that the reciprocal commitments recorded on all websites are accurate and current.

Administration of the APEC Architect Project

• make provision for a Secretariat to administer the business of Council, maintain records and coordinate with Monitoring Committees;
• act as a communications centre to provide information, documentation and advice on all aspects of the project.

Standards and Criteria for Registration as an APEC Architect

The purpose of the APEC Architect Register is to establish authoritative and reliable evidence of the achievement of common standards of professional competence by the architects enrolled on it. Registration is reserved for experienced practitioners to provide an additional level of assurance to consumers.

The criteria adopted for registration as an APEC Architect are based on a dynamic set of principles that identify common elements of professional recognition in APEC economies and reflect current practice norms. These standards and criteria are incorporated in Council guidelines periodically reviewed by the Central Council to ensure that they remain relevant to international best practice within the profession.

Equally the Council must assure itself that APEC Architect standards are rigorously upheld and uniformly applied by the Monitoring Committees authorised to assess them. Strategies employed by the Council to ensure continued compliance by participating economies with required standards rely on a system of regular reporting and notification of changes to agreed process by Monitoring Committees, supplemented by informal visits and discussions when necessary.


Information and Communication

An important role for the Central Council is to promote the APEC Architect Register throughout the region and to provide advice and support to governments and regulatory authorities to help streamline recognition procedures for APEC Architects. Understanding current restrictions to the mobility of architects and developing strategies to address them play a significant part in the effective operation of the APEC Architect framework. The Council maintains regular communication between participating economies, and advises architects on the significant benefits that registration as an APEC Architect provides in the export of professional services

While much of the publication and dissemination of Council documents is handled by Monitoring Committees, information provision and promotion of the project remains the responsibility of the Central Council.


Council Proceedings

Council Meetings: The Central Council meets at least every two years, at a date and venue determined by the members, to review its procedures and criteria, consider applications for authorisation of Monitoring Committees, receive reports from participating economies, and deal with matters arising. Participating economies host the meetings on an alternating basis.

Membership: The selection of members to be appointed to the Council and their terms of office is a matter for decision by Monitoring Committees, within the guidelines established by the Central Council.

Meeting Chair: The Meeting Chair is normally appointed by the Monitoring Committee acting as host for the Central Council general meeting, although this may be varied as required.

Meeting Agenda: To provide an opportunity for all Monitoring Committees to have an input into the topics to be discussed at Council meetings, draft meeting agendas prepared by the Secretariat are circulated for comment to Central Council members, revised and recirculated in the meeting Brief for final adoption by consensus at the start of the Central Council meeting.

Meeting Quorum: The Central Council meeting quorum is two thirds of the Central Council Monitoring Committee membership.

Attendance: Monitoring Committees whose representatives fail to attend three consecutive meetings will be deemed to have withdrawn from the APEC Architect framework and may need to reapply for activation of their authorisation should they wish to continue as participants.

Decision Making: All Central Council decisions in connection with changes to APEC Architect criteria and registration policy, and the authorisation or conditional suspension of Monitoring Committees, require the two-third support of all Central Council member Monitoring Committees for adoption. Council decisions on other matters are arrived at by the consensus of members present. A Monitoring Committee must be represented in order to vote. All decisions requiring voting must be notified in advance of the meeting for precirculation with the agenda.