Board of Trustees

Functions

The Board of Trustees establishes the objectives and overall direction of CIMMYT, reviews and approves the center’s strategy, business plan and annual budget. Additionally, it sets and monitors various metrics of center management and performance. A key board responsibility is to appoint the Director General.

Organization and structure

CIMMYT’s Board of Trustees consists of internationally recognized and experienced experts with diverse backgrounds and skills. Current board members constitute a diverse pool of expertise in the areas of agricultural science, financial management, business management and economics, and other professional disciplines.

The Board of Trustees comprises up to thirteen voting members, ten of whom are elected and three of whom are ex officio members. The latter includes CIMMYT’s Director General and two representatives of the Government of Mexico.

Mexico’s Secretary of Agriculture is a non-voting, ex officio member and serves as honorary chair of the board.

Activities

The Board meets twice a year, regularly in April and October. It is the responsibility of the Board Secretary to organize the meetings, ensure proper documentation of the board’s business and support the Board Chair and other members.

The Board of Trustees works closely with specially formulated committees, which ensure efficient and effective implementation of the board’s business.

All committee members are Trustees, and CIMMYT’s Director General is an ex officio member of some of the committees. Director- and Unit Head-level staff serve as resource persons for the committee to which their responsibility most closely relates.