Established in June 2015, the CIFD Institute is a global not-for-profit community of investment fund directors. Through its specialist focus and membership, the CIFD Institute has the following key objectives: a) to raise professional standards in investment fund governance internationally and in doing so safeguard the interests of investors b) to develop and support investment fund directors in the execution of their roles as such c) to be thought leaders in the area of investment fund governance. Members of the CIFD Institute comprise professionals who have successfully completed the CIFD Programme and, thus, have been awarded the professional designation of Certified Investment Fund Director by the CIFD Institute. The CIFD Institute will seek to achieve its objectives: a) by managing and co-ordinating the delivery of the CIFD Programme in a number of key locations, by awarding the professional designation Certified Investment Fund Director and by the operation of the continuing professional development required to retain that designation; and b) by providing a community and a forum in which Certified Investment Fund Directors can network and leverage off each other’s experience, thereby developing in the execution of their roles.