IGSB provides a structured pathway for organisations seeking independent assessment and certification against the G-Series Governance Standards.
The pathway is designed to ensure clarity, consistency, and evidence-based decision-making at each stage of engagement.
The IGSB certification pathway consists of clearly defined stages, each with specific objectives, evidence expectations, and decision points.
1. Pre-Assessment (optional)
2. Evidence Preparation
3. Formal Assessment
4. Certification Decision
5. Ongoing Review and Renewal
Each stage in the certification pathway is structured to preserve independence, ensure evidence integrity, and support consistent, defensible decision-making across all organisations, irrespective of size, sector, or jurisdiction.
A scoped review to confirm readiness, identify gaps, and define the expected evidence set before formal assessment begins.
Clarifies applicable standards and assessment scope
Highlights priority gaps and remediation actions
Provides a readiness view before formal engagement
Organisations compile evidence against defined criteria, ensuring traceability, governance ownership, and audit-ready documentation.
Evidence mapped directly to published criteria
Ownership assigned across accountable roles
Documentation structured for review efficiency
Evidence is reviewed against criteria using a consistent methodology, with requests for clarification handled through controlled review cycles.
Criteria-based review with documented rationale
Clarifications requested where evidence is incomplete
Findings recorded in a controlled assessment record
The stages below complete the certification pathway, defining the formal review, decision, and ongoing surveillance requirements that preserve independence, consistency, and long-term conformity to IGSB criteria.
Assessment findings are consolidated and evaluated against published criteria, with evidence sufficiency, materiality, and any outstanding conditions documented prior to decision.
Findings consolidated into a structured assessment record aligned to criteria
Material nonconformities and conditions categorised with required remediation evidence
Final evidence sufficiency check completed prior to decision routing
A certification decision is issued through an independence-preserving decision route, confirming scope, applicable standards, and any conditions or limitations attached to certification.
Decision made by an independent decision authority separate from assessment activity
Certification scope and applicability confirmed, including standards and organisational boundary
Decision outcome documented, including conditions, limitations, and validity period
Certified organisations are subject to defined surveillance and renewal requirements to ensure ongoing conformity, evidence maintenance, and governance continuity over time.
Surveillance checks scheduled in accordance with certification cycle requirements
Material change controls applied (scope, ownership, governance structure, risk profile)
Renewal assessment completed to confirm continued conformity and certification validity
The final stages define non-routine controls that protect the integrity of certification outcomes, including enforcement actions, formal appeals and complaints handling, and scope modification where organisational circumstances change.
Where material nonconformity, integrity concerns, or sustained failure to meet requirements is identified, certification may be suspended or withdrawn in accordance with documented enforcement controls.
Enforcement triggers defined, including material nonconformity and integrity-related concerns
Suspension conditions documented with required corrective action and evidence timeframes
Withdrawal actions recorded and scope/status updated across issued certification records
A formal process is maintained to receive, evaluate, and resolve appeals and complaints in a controlled, impartial manner, with documented outcomes and independence safeguards.
Controlled intake and triage process with clear eligibility and scope of review
Independence preserved through separation from original assessment and decision activity
Outcomes documented, including corrective actions, determinations, and communications trail
Where organisational scope, boundaries, or material operating conditions change, certification scope may be modified or extended subject to review against published criteria and evidence requirements.
Scope change requests evaluated against published criteria and organisational boundary definitions
Evidence requirements specified for additions, removals, or modifications to certified scope
Scope updates issued through controlled decision routing and certification record revision
The IGSB certification framework is governed through defined independence, oversight, and separation controls designed to ensure impartiality, consistency, and public confidence in certification outcomes.
Certification activities are structured to preserve independence between assessment, decision-making, and enforcement functions. Individuals involved in assessment activities do not participate in certification decisions relating to the same organisation, and decision authority is exercised through controlled, documented routes.
Oversight mechanisms are maintained to support consistent application of criteria, evidence expectations, and decision outcomes across organisations and sectors. Review controls, documented methodologies, and escalation routes are applied to reduce subjectivity and ensure defensible certification determinations.
Conflict of interest controls are applied across all certification activities, including assessor assignment, decision routing, and appeals handling. Identified conflicts are recorded, managed, and mitigated in accordance with documented governance procedures to protect the integrity of the certification framework.