IOC Decision A-32/4.8.1 (2023) requested the Executive Secretary to review progress with reform of GOOS governance to meet the needs of Member States, including any proposed actions or otherwise in response to the 9 recommendations of the 2021 Neville Smith Report (GOOS-290). The interim report (IOC/EC-57/4.1.Doc(1)) was considered by the Executive Council at its 57th session (EC-57) in 2024. Through Decision EC-57/4.1, the Executive Council consequently invited its Executive Secretary to develop a proposal to evolve GOOS governance that considers the proposed actions provided in document IOC/EC-57/4.1.Doc(1) and present the proposal to this Assembly session.

This document provides the proposal and next steps to evolve GOOS governance.