Gold Standard had opened rolling recruitment for experts to join its new Technical Review Panel and Thematic Working Groups, as it updates its technical governance structure.
Gold Standard has opened rolling recruitment for experts to join its new Technical Review Panel (TRP) and Thematic Working Groups (TWGs). The reform decision was taken by Gold Standard’s board and will widen opportunities for experts with relevant sectoral and geographic experience to contribute.
The TRP replaces the current Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) sub-committee structure, with a single cross-cutting panel responsible for approving Gold Standard for the Global Goals (GS4GG) standard, methodologies and guidance, a delegated by the Board of Directors.
Yannick Glamarec, Gold Standard Foundation President, and Chair of the Gold Standard Board, said:
“Good governance is central to the credibility of an independent standard. This reform means that Gold Standard will draw on a wider range of sectoral and geographic expertise while protecting the rigour and independence on which trust in the market depends. We are grateful to TAC members, past and present, for their contribution over the past 20 years, and hope this next phase will support the market’s continued development with confidence.”
Margaret Kim, CEO, Gold Standard, said:
“Our updated technical governance is intended to maintain the integrity and rigour of our standards while making decision-making more efficient and responsibilities clearer. I’d like to thank all current and former TAC members for the expertise, diligence and commitment they have brought to Gold Standard, and the experts who will contribute to the new Technical Review Panel and Thematic Working Groups.”
The TRP will provide independent expert oversight and approval across GS4GG documentation, as delegated by Gold Standard. board. The TWGs, which replace the current Methodology Expert Groups (MEGs), will scrutinise activity-specific and methodological matters, then advise and make recommendations. This structure is intended to make responsibilities clearer and technical decision-making more efficient, while maintaining expert, independent review and Gold Standard’s technical integrity. The technical governance guiding principles will be reviewed and updated by the TRP in due course.
The transition will be phased. The initial TRP will include a subset of existing TAC members, with new experts joining over the coming years to preserve experience and institutional knowledge. Existing MEG members may also transition to the TWGs. The existing TAC will continue to advise on Paris Agreement Alignment (PAA) matters through the end of 2026.
Gold Standard is seeking applicants with expertise in its thematic priorities:
- Energy and energy efficiency;
- The sustainable management of natural resources, including agriculture, agroforestry, forestry and marine; and
- Community services.
Relevant knowledge and experience across Gold Standard’s work will be taken into consideration. Applicants from academia, civil society, government and the private sector are encouraged to apply. Gold Standard will consider geographic and demographic representation and seek a balance of stakeholder perspectives.
Further details, including the Terms of Reference and how to apply, can be found on the Gold Standard careers page.
Gold Standard thanks all current and former TAC members for their dedication, diligence and expertise. Across its history, the TAC has helped uphold high standards of integrity and clarity in the carbon market.
We are grateful to everyone who has contributed to and supported its work, including Adam Harvey, Anna Forslund, Anu Chaudhary, Biksham Gujja, Cameron Prell, Carlo Galli, Dean Thomson, Gabriela Merla, Dr Jacqueline Gehrig-Fasel, James Dalton, Jamie Pittock, Jessica Wade Murphy, Kerry Constabile, Krishnan Kartick, Lawson Henderson, Liza Murphy, Matt Spannagle, Dr. Neil Bird, Rob Fowler, Rutger De Wiit Wijnan, Samuel Bryan, Sascha Lafeld, Scott Harder, Shelagh Whitley, Shigueo Watanabe, Steve Thorne, Sudha Padmanabha, Sue Ellen Johnson, Todd Gartner, and Tom Owino.