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BDA Organization
Leadership & Governance
The Business Development Association is governed by a transparent, accountable governance structure designed to ensure that the BDA fulfills its mission as the global standard-setting body for business development — with integrity, independence, and global representation.
Governance Philosophy
Governed for the Global BD Profession
The BDA's governance structure is designed to ensure that the association remains independent, credible, and globally representative — serving the interests of the BD profession and the professionals who practice it, not any single organization, geography, or interest group.
The BDA operates under governance principles aligned with ISO 17024 — the international standard for personnel certification bodies — ensuring that all BDA certification activities are conducted with the highest standards of independence, impartiality, and rigor.
The BDA's governance includes a Board of Directors, a Standards Committee, a Certification Committee, and a Global Advisory Council — each with clear mandates, transparent processes, and diverse global representation.
Governance Structure
BDA Governance Bodies
The BDA is governed by a multi-tiered structure that ensures independence, expertise, and global representation at every level of decision-making.
Board of Directors
The BDA Board of Directors provides strategic oversight and governance for the association — setting the overall direction, ensuring financial sustainability, and upholding the BDA's mission and values. The Board includes diverse representation from across the global BD community.
Standards Committee
The Standards Committee is responsible for developing, maintaining, and updating the BDA BoCK™ competency framework and certification standards. It is composed of subject matter experts (SMEs) from diverse industries and geographies, ensuring that BDA standards reflect global best practice.
Certification Committee
The Certification Committee oversees all BDA certification activities — including exam development, psychometric validation, and certification decisions — ensuring that BDA certifications meet the highest standards of rigor, fairness, and validity.
Global Advisory Council
The Global Advisory Council brings together senior BD leaders, academics, and practitioners from around the world to provide strategic guidance on the evolution of the BD profession and the BDA's role as its global standard-setting body.
Appeals & Ethics Committee
The Appeals & Ethics Committee handles all appeals related to certification decisions and investigates alleged violations of the BDA Code of Conduct — ensuring that all BDA processes are fair, transparent, and accountable.
Regional Chapters
BDA Regional Chapters provide local representation and community for BD professionals in specific geographies — organizing events, supporting local certification activities, and ensuring that the BDA's global standards are applied with appropriate local context.
Governance Standards
ISO 17024 Aligned Governance
The BDA's governance and certification processes are aligned with ISO 17024 — the international standard for personnel certification bodies.
| ISO 17024 Requirement | BDA Implementation |
|---|---|
| Impartiality | BDA governance structures are designed to prevent conflicts of interest and ensure that certification decisions are made independently of commercial pressures. |
| Competence | All BDA certification activities are conducted by qualified professionals with appropriate subject matter expertise and certification management experience. |
| Transparency | BDA certification processes, eligibility requirements, and appeal procedures are publicly documented and consistently applied. |
| Confidentiality | All candidate information and examination materials are handled with strict confidentiality in accordance with BDA data protection policies. |
| Appeals Process | BDA provides a documented, fair, and accessible appeals process for all certification decisions, managed by an independent Appeals Committee. |
Trust the Global Standard for Business Development
BDA certifications are backed by rigorous governance, ISO 17024 aligned standards, and a global community of BD professionals.
