NATIONAL INVESTOR RELATIONS INSTITUTE

One of NIRI’s four primary mission areas is advocacy on issues that impact the investor relations profession and shareholder engagement. This important function aggregates the opinion of NIRI’s diverse membership, representing every sector and market cap to bring your voice to the table in Washington, D.C. This key member benefit is particularly critical in today’s rapidly changing regulatory and legislative atmosphere. NIRI interfaces directly with the SEC and Congress and collaborates with other organizations on public policy impacting issuers, shareholders and investor relations. NIRI issues “Calls to Action” and harnesses the collective power of the IR community.

When appropriate, NIRI collaborates with other professional organizations and business groups in the area of advocacy. 

Another advocacy resource is the Advocacy Committee of the NIRI Board of Directors. Charged with identifying emerging issues that will require NIRI advocacy and determining the appropriate advocacy approach, this group is working to ensure that IR has a seat at the table on critical industry issues in Washington and beyond. 

Each September, NIRI holds a Legislative and Advocacy Fly-In gathering in Washington. NIRI convenes members to meet with senior Securities and Exchange Commission staff to raise IR professionals' regulatory concerns and to hear the staff's views on key IR issues. NIRI also arranges meetings with U.S. House and Senate staffers so IR professionals can share their views on critical regulatory issues for public companies. Here is an IR Update article that recaps a past Fly-In event. 

NIRI had an "advocacy ambassador" initiative to build greater support at the chapter level for NIRI's advocacy priorities. These ambassadors gather input and data from chapters about issues that NIRI may take a position on and help answer members’ questions about regulatory concerns. NIRI encourages every chapter to appoint an “advocacy ambassador.” Chapters may create a new officer position or designate an existing officer to handle this responsibility. More information on this program can be found here. 

Please visit the Advocacy Call to Action page, NIRI's Advocacy 101 presentation, and the other links available through this section to learn more about regulations currently in place, those under consideration, and NIRI's advocacy actions on behalf of members. For questions on NIRI's advocacy efforts, please contact Niels Holch.