Panel Advisor Guidelines

GUIDELINES
C-AO/PAG/001:2026 PUBLIC
Panel Advisor Guidelines
Guidelines for Panel Advisors of the CIAO Standard
Date Issued  1 January 2026
Review Date  1 January 2027
Cite as: CIAO Standard. (2026). Panel Advisor Guidelines. v1.0. C-AO/PAG/001:2026. www.c-ao.com
🟢 Commons — Visible to all members

The CIAO Standard Panel advisory services are delivered exclusively through our certified partner network. This page sets out the requirements, structure, and commercial framework for individuals seeking to become CIAO Standard Panel Advisor. A CIAO Standard Panel Advisor membership programme opens up further credibility in the combined information assurance discipline and skills marketability. Interested in being a CIAO Standard Panel Advisor member, please watch this space for developments in our Practitioner membership programme.

1. Purpose and Scope

This guideline document, provides the requirements for Panel Advisor members within the C-AO.com ecosystem. It also provides the Panel Advisor scoping and agreement expectations, and a listing of Panel Advisors below.

2. Approach to Use to be a Panel Advisor

🔵 Core — Core membership and above
🔒 Core membership required — Core membership required for full Panel Advisor Guidelines.  Login  or become a member →

Consider experience, scale, and scope of the CIAO Standard organisation membership tiers required to be advised on. The CIAO Panel Advisor Levels are at a minimum a 1:1 mapping to CIAO Membership tiers. Alternatively, a Panel Advisor Level could mean being able to advise in more than one Membership Tier. A minimum ratio of trained Panel Advisor to membership tier members of at least 1:1000 per continental scope. The Panel Advisor qualifications are described below per Panel Advisor Tier.

Being a Panel Advisor means that an individual has the necessary training, skill, and real-life advisory in organisations of scope up to the highest corresponding membership tier.

For Panel Advisor above Commons Panel Advisor level, proof on an annual basis must be submitted showing sufficient evidence of being employed by a corresponding CIAO member organisation and of have a job role with significant CIAO implementation advisory responsibilities or influence.

2.1. The CIAO Commons Panel Advisor Level

The CIAO Standard Commons Panel Advisor level is for Panel Advisors that are individuals who would primarily be employed by, or consult to, in very senior advisory capability to the CIAO Commons membership market.

The Panel Advisor’s Employer organisation or Contracted consulting engagement organisation must be at least subscribed to the CIAO Commons membership tier and;

0% commission unless higher membership tiers are purchased within the first year of membership. Commissions on first year membership upgrades will be as per the Panel Advisor levels below, divided by 100 to the Panel Advisor that has introduced or upgraded their organisation through the CIAO Standard Partner and confirmed membership tier subscribed to.

2.2. The CIAO Core Panel Advisor Level

The CIAO Core Panel Advisor level is for senior advisory individuals supporting organisations in the CIAO Core membership market (1–10 employees). The Panel Advisor’s employer or contracted organisation must hold at least a Core membership and confirm the Panel Advisor’s role involves CIAO advisory-related responsibilities. Qualification criteria and commission structure for this level are currently being formalised. Registration of interest opens when this tier becomes active.

2.3. The CIAO Essential Panel Advisor Level

The CIAO Essential Panel Advisor level is suited to experienced advisors supporting small-to-medium organisations (10–100 employees) building structured governance foundations. The Panel Advisor’s employer or contracted organisation must hold at least an Essential membership. Qualification criteria and commission structure for this level are currently being formalised. Registration of interest opens when this tier becomes active.

2.4. The CIAO Professional Panel Advisor Level

The CIAO Professional Panel Advisor level is suited to governance advisors supporting mid-sized organisations (100–1,000 employees) managing multiple frameworks simultaneously. The Panel Advisor’s employer or contracted organisation must hold at least a Professional membership. Qualification criteria and commission structure for this level are currently being formalised. Registration of interest opens when this tier becomes active.

2.5. The CIAO Enterprise Panel Advisor Level

The CIAO Enterprise Panel Advisor level is suited to senior advisors and governance leads supporting large enterprises (1,000–10,000 employees) with complex, multi-framework programmes. The Panel Advisor’s employer or contracted organisation must hold at least an Enterprise membership. Qualification criteria and commission structure for this level are currently being formalised. Registration of interest opens when this tier becomes active.

2.6. The CIAO Conglomerate Panel Advisor Level

The CIAO Conglomerate Panel Advisor level is for the most senior advisory individuals supporting organisations exceeding 10,000 employees, or multi-entity conglomerates spanning multiple jurisdictions. The Panel Advisor’s employer or contracted organisation must hold a Conglomerate membership. Qualification criteria and commission structure for this level are currently being formalised. Registration of interest opens when this tier becomes active.

3. The C-AO.com Panel Advisors

The C-AO.com Panel Advisors are listed below (with their highest Panel Advisor level only, sub-levels per Panel Advisors are not listed).

APAC

LATAM

NORAM

EMEA

⚫ Enterprise & Conglomerate — Implementation artifacts
🔒 Enterprise membership required — Enterprise membership required for implementation artifacts.  Login  or become a member →

Enterprise and Conglomerate implementation content will be added here.

● LIVE CONTENT  ·  Verified 15 April 2026 at 17:43 UTC  ·  Version 1.0  ·  Always current at c-ao.com  ·  © CIAO Standard 2026