IPFA Membership Terms & Conditions
By applying for or renewing membership of IPFA, the member organisation agrees to these Terms and Conditions.
IPFA may amend these Terms and Conditions from time to time. Members will be given reasonable written notice of any material changes, including the date on which those changes will take effect.
These Terms and Conditions should be read together with IPFA’s Articles of Association, available at (www.ipfa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/IPFA-Constitution.pdf)
If there is any conflict between these Terms and Conditions and the Articles of Association, the Articles of Association will prevail.
IPFA will process personal data in accordance with its Privacy Notice, available at (www.ipfa.org/privacy-policy).
1. Membership
IPFA provides corporate membership to eligible public and private sector organisations operating in, or connected with, the infrastructure, energy and project financing industry.
In these Terms and Conditions, “member organisation” means the organisation whose membership application or renewal has been approved by IPFA, and “User” means an individual authorised to access membership benefits through that membership.
Membership is held by the member organisation and not by any individual employee.
Subject to the applicable membership category, membership benefits may be accessed by employees of the member organisation. Core Membership is limited to a maximum of 10 nominated Users.
Details of the benefits applying to each membership category are available on the IPFA website and in the applicable IPFA membership materials.
IPFA does not offer individual membership. However, Solo Membership may be available to eligible independent consultants and sole practitioners.
Members and their Users must comply with the IPFA Member Code of Conduct when participating in IPFA events, activities and other interactions to which the Code applies.
From time to time, IPFA may provide additional benefits, services, content, event places or opportunities at no additional charge. Unless IPFA expressly states otherwise, these are discretionary, do not form part of the member’s contractual membership entitlement and may be changed, limited or withdrawn at any time.
2. Applications and Eligibility
Membership applications may be submitted online, by email or by any other application method made available by IPFA.
IPFA may refuse an application where the applicant does not meet the applicable eligibility criteria or where IPFA reasonably considers that admission would not be in the interests of IPFA.
Eligibility requirements for the relevant membership categories are set out in IPFA’s Eligibility Guidelines, available at (www.ipfa.org/membership/eligibility-guidelines/.)
Membership becomes effective once the application has been approved by IPFA.
For paid membership, the member organisation becomes liable for the applicable membership fee once its application or renewal has been confirmed, whether or not it subsequently makes full use of the available membership benefits.
Following approval, the primary membership contact will receive confirmation of membership together with an invoice where payment is required.
3. Private Sector Membership
Private Sector Membership operates on a calendar-year basis from 1 January to 31 December.
Applications may be made at any point during the membership year.
Where an organisation joins part-way through a membership year, the fee payable will be the applicable fee quoted by IPFA at the time of application.
Private Sector Membership eligibility is determined in accordance with IPFA’s Eligibility Guidelines.
Private Sector Membership may be offered through different membership categories, including Full Membership, Local Membership, Core Membership and Solo Membership. The specific benefits, services, fees and geographic access applicable to each category will be set out on the IPFA website, in the relevant membership pack or otherwise communicated to the member organisation.
Membership fees are non-refundable where a member chooses not to use, or is unable to use, the membership benefits available to it.
IPFA may make reasonable changes to its programme, events and membership benefits during the membership year.
Where, for reasons outside IPFA’s reasonable control, a material membership service cannot be provided, IPFA will, where reasonably practicable, provide a suitable alternative service or benefit.
4. Honorary Membership
IPFA provides complimentary Honorary Membership to eligible organisations in accordance with its Eligibility Guidelines.
No membership fee is payable for Honorary Membership.
Applications for Honorary Membership may be made at any point during the year.
Honorary Membership continues unless and until it is withdrawn or terminated in accordance with these Terms and Conditions and is subject to an annual eligibility review, currently undertaken in February.
As part of the annual review, IPFA may confirm the organisation’s key membership contacts and require the organisation to provide information reasonably necessary to establish its continued eligibility.
IPFA may suspend or withdraw Honorary Membership where:
- The organisation no longer meets the applicable eligibility criteria;
- The organisation fails to provide information reasonably requested as part of an eligibility review;
- The organisation materially breaches these Terms and Conditions or the IPFA Member Code of Conduct; or
- Another good and sufficient reason applies.
Before a final decision to terminate Honorary Membership is made, the organisation will be informed of the reasons for the proposed termination and given a reasonable opportunity to respond.
IPFA may review or amend the eligibility criteria for Honorary Membership from time to time.
5. Core Membership
Core Membership is a restricted-access membership category allowing access for up to 10 named Users.
An organisation taking out Core Membership, whether when first joining IPFA or as part of a subsequent renewal or change of membership category, will be asked to nominate its authorised Core Users.
The list of Core Users will be reviewed and reconfirmed as part of each annual membership renewal.
Once access has been granted, changes to nominated Core Users during the membership year will normally only be permitted where a User:
- leaves the member organisation; or
- moves into a role for which IPFA membership is no longer relevant to their work.
Once access has been granted, changes to nominated Core Users during the membership year will normally only be permitted where a User leaves the member organisation or moves into a role for which IPFA membership is no longer relevant to their work. IPFA may permit a change in other exceptional circumstances at its discretion.
Requests to change nominated Core Users should be submitted to the IPFA Membership Team at [email protected]
6.Solo Membership
Solo Membership is available to eligible independent consultants and sole practitioners.
Solo Membership is held by the individual in their capacity as an independent business or sole practitioner and may not be shared with or transferred to another individual or organisation.
If a Solo Member ceases to meet the applicable eligibility requirements, including where they join or establish an organisation that would ordinarily require corporate membership, IPFA may require them to move to an alternative membership category.
The specific benefits, services, fees and eligibility requirements applicable to Solo Membership will be set out in the relevant membership materials or otherwise communicated by IPFA.
7. Membership Under a Parent Organisation
Employees of a wholly owned subsidiary may access the membership of their parent organisation where the subsidiary is represented under the parent organisation’s name and branding and IPFA has confirmed that the arrangement is permitted.
Such access does not constitute separate membership of the subsidiary.
Organisation-level membership benefits, including hosting opportunities and facilitated introductions, are not available separately to subsidiaries accessing membership through a parent organisation.
- A separate membership is required where an organisation:
- Is not wholly owned by the parent organisation;
- Wishes to be represented under its own name or branding; or
- Wishes to receive the full range of organisation-level membership benefits in its own right.
IPFA may require reasonable information to confirm that an organisation qualifies to access membership through a parent organisation.
8. Membership Fees & Payment
Private Sector Membership fees are payable within 30 days of the invoice date unless IPFA agrees otherwise in writing.
Payment may be made using the payment methods made available by IPFA, which may include debit or credit card payment and bank transfer.
IPFA may introduce, change or withdraw payment methods from time to time.
If payment has not been received by the applicable due date, IPFA may suspend the organisation’s membership and access to membership benefits by giving written notice to the member organisation.
Membership benefits will resume once all outstanding membership fees have been received.
If membership fees remain unpaid for 30 days after IPFA gives notice of suspension, IPFA may terminate the membership.
Termination does not remove the member organisation’s liability to pay any membership fees or other sums that became due before termination.
9. Membership Fees and Price Changes
IPFA may change its membership fees for future membership years.
Any applicable fee increase will be communicated as part of the renewal process.
If IPFA identifies an error in the price quoted or invoiced for a membership subscription, it will notify the member organisation as soon as reasonably practicable and explain any correction required.
10. Renewal
Membership does not renew automatically each year.
Before the end of the membership year, IPFA will invite the member organisation to renew and will provide details of the applicable membership category, benefits and fee.
Renewal will only take effect once the member organisation confirms that it wishes to renew and IPFA accepts that renewal.
For membership operating on a calendar-year basis, the renewed membership will run from 1 January to 31 December of the relevant membership year.
A new invoice will be issued for any applicable membership fee.
11. Membership Contacts
The member organisation is responsible for ensuring that IPFA has up-to-date details for the appropriate primary contact responsible for administering its membership.
If the primary contact leaves the organisation, changes role or is no longer responsible for administering the membership, the organisation must nominate a replacement contact and notify IPFA as soon as reasonably practicable.
As membership is held by the organisation, a change in primary contact does not affect the organisation’s responsibility for any outstanding membership fees or other obligations under these Terms and Conditions.
12. Member Conduct
Member organisations and their Users must conduct themselves appropriately when participating in IPFA activities and must comply with the IPFA Member Code of Conduct where applicable.
IPFA may take reasonable action where it considers that a member organisation or User has breached the Member Code of Conduct or otherwise acted in a manner that materially harms IPFA, its members, its activities or its reputation.
Depending on the circumstances, such action may include restricting access to particular activities or benefits, suspending membership or considering termination in accordance with these Terms and Conditions and IPFA’s Articles of Association.
13. Suspension and Termination
IPFA may suspend membership where:
- Membership fees are overdue;
- The member organisation or one of its Users materially breaches these Terms and Conditions or the IPFA Member Code of Conduct;
- The organisation no longer satisfies the applicable eligibility requirements;
- Suspension is reasonably necessary to protect IPFA, its members, its staff, its activities or its reputation; or
- Another good and sufficient reason applies.
Where appropriate, IPFA will inform the member organisation of the reason for suspension and any steps required for membership to be reinstated.
IPFA may terminate membership for good and sufficient reason in accordance with its Articles of Association.
Before a final decision to terminate membership is made, the member organisation will be informed of the reasons for the proposed termination and given a reasonable opportunity to respond.
Termination or expiry of membership will not affect any rights, liabilities or payment obligations that arose before the date membership ended.
14. Changes to Membership Services
IPFA seeks to provide membership benefits consistently across its membership but may make reasonable changes to events, programmes, services, content, speakers, venues, delivery formats and other membership activities.
IPFA does not guarantee that any particular event, speaker, programme, opportunity or benefit will be available at a particular time or in a particular location.
Where a material membership benefit cannot be provided, IPFA will consider whether a reasonable alternative can be offered.
15. Standard Membership Terms
As a not-for-profit membership organisation providing services on a consistent basis across its membership, IPFA operates a standard membership model.
Unless expressly agreed otherwise by IPFA in writing, IPFA does not offer bespoke membership agreements or negotiate individual membership terms with member organisations.
16. Data Protection
IPFA is committed to protecting personal data and complying with the UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018 and other applicable data protection legislation.
Information about how IPFA collects, uses, stores and protects personal data is set out in IPFA’s Privacy Notice at (www.ipfa.org/privacy-policy).
Member organisations are responsible for ensuring that any personal data they provide to IPFA in connection with their membership has been provided lawfully.
17. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
These Terms and Conditions and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with them are governed by the laws of England and Wales.
The courts of England and Wales will have jurisdiction in relation to any dispute arising out of or in connection with these Terms and Conditions or the membership relationship.
Nothing in these Terms and Conditions affects any mandatory rights or protections applicable in a member’s jurisdiction that cannot lawfully be excluded.
18. Queries, Comments and Complaints
If you have any queries, comments or complaints concerning your membership, please contact the IPFA Membership Team.
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7427 0900
Lines are open Monday to Thursday, 9.00am to 5.00pm UK time, excluding public holidays.
Email: [email protected]
Post:
IPFA
1st Floor, beyond
Fox Court
14 Gray’s Inn Road
London
WC1X 8HN
United Kingdom
IPFA is the trading name of The Project Finance Association, a company limited by guarantee.
Registered Office:
1st Floor, beyond
Fox Court
14 Gray’s Inn
London
WC1X 8HN
