How MGE acts, decides and remains accountable

Institution-first responsibility

MGE places the institution and the purpose it serves before commercial opportunity.

We seek to strengthen institutional capability in ways that are responsible, evidence-informed and worthy of the trust placed in MGE.

Commercial opportunity, technical capability or the value of a relationship does not by itself make an engagement appropriate.

MGE considers not only what capability an engagement may strengthen, but also the direction in which that capability is knowingly being strengthened and the societal purpose it serves.

Responsible engagement

MGE will not knowingly engage in, facilitate, promote or materially support activities that are incompatible with its constitutional responsibility to society.

MGE’s current constitutional exclusions include:

• tobacco and tobacco products;
• weapons, arms, and their manufacture or commercial supply;
• alcoholic beverages and alcohol products.

MGE will not circumvent these boundaries through an intermediary, technology, advisory role, ecosystem relationship, supply arrangement or other indirect contribution where that contribution would materially support an excluded activity or outcome.

These exclusions are governed through MGE’s constitutional governance and may be developed through the established constitutional evolution process.

Integrity, honesty and professional judgement

MGE expects honesty in decisions, communications, records, representations and professional relationships.

People acting for MGE are expected to:

• exercise sound professional judgement;
• identify material concerns rather than conceal them;
• distinguish evidence from interpretation and assertion;
• acknowledge uncertainty where it is relevant;
• avoid misleading representations;
• protect the integrity of information and records;
• raise concerns when an approach may compromise MGE’s responsibilities.

MGE also encourages people acting for or on behalf of MGE to contribute observations, knowledge, ideas, concerns and professional judgement that they reasonably believe may strengthen MGE, an institution, an engagement or an outcome.

A person’s role or level of hierarchy does not determine whether they are permitted to think, observe or contribute.

Constructive contributions that strengthen MGE’s work, institutional outcomes or organisational capability should be appropriately recognised and encouraged.

Evidence, knowledge and outcome integrity

MGE does not present assumptions as evidence or possibilities as demonstrated outcomes.

Research, data, standards, experience and institutional information must be represented accurately and in context.

Claims about performance, impact or outcomes must not exceed what available evidence supports.

MGE will not knowingly manipulate, conceal or misrepresent material information to create a more favourable impression of an intervention, institution, result or relationship.

Independence and responsible relationships

MGE seeks relationships based on contribution, trust, shared responsibility and legitimate institutional purpose—not improper influence or dependence.

Conflicts of interest

People acting for MGE must identify and appropriately manage actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest.

Personal, financial, family, professional or other interests must not improperly influence MGE’s decisions, recommendations or relationships.

Where a conflict could materially affect independent judgement, it must be disclosed and appropriately addressed.

Independence and improper influence

No person acting for MGE should allow gifts, hospitality, financial interests, personal relationships, pressure or other improper influence to compromise professional judgement.

MGE expects institutions, suppliers, contractors, ecosystem stakeholders and other external parties with whom it engages to conduct themselves in ways compatible with MGE’s ethical standards.

The existence of a relationship does not constitute endorsement of another party’s conduct, policies, claims or practices.

MGE may establish safeguards, conditions or restrictions, or may decline, suspend or withdraw from an engagement where necessary to protect its integrity and the trust placed in it.

Confidentiality and intellectual property

Confidentiality is reciprocal, but ownership is not automatically reciprocal.

Receiving or using another party’s information does not transfer ownership of that information to MGE. Likewise, access to MGE’s work does not automatically transfer ownership of MGE intellectual property.

Information and intellectual property must be used, attributed, shared and protected according to applicable rights, agreements, law and MGE requirements.

Representation, communication and digital conduct

Anyone representing MGE is responsible for protecting the integrity of MGE’s representation.

Only authorised persons may make formal representations on behalf of MGE.

People acting for MGE are nevertheless encouraged to contribute observations, knowledge, ideas, concerns and professional judgement. Such contribution does not by itself constitute authority to represent MGE formally.

Public communications, publications, presentations, proposals, social activity and digital interactions must remain consistent with MGE’s constitutional responsibilities and approved authority.

No person may knowingly represent an unapproved position as an established MGE position.

Automated AI systems may assist MGE where authorised, but technical capability does not constitute authority to represent MGE.

No automated AI agent may independently publish, comment, reply, endorse, contact, join, follow or otherwise publicly represent MGE without review and approval by authorised MGE personnel.

Equality, dignity, inclusion and human capability

MGE believes that a person’s dignity and potential contribution cannot be reliably measured by hierarchy, status or conventional assumptions about capability.

MGE does not tolerate discrimination, harassment, intimidation, humiliation, threats, bullying, retaliation or abusive conduct.

This expectation applies within MGE and when such conduct is directed toward a person acting for or on behalf of MGE by an institution, supplier, stakeholder, contractor, visitor or other external party.

MGE recognises that disability does not determine a person’s capacity to think, create, learn, lead, contribute or produce meaningful work.

A physical, sensory, intellectual or mental disability shall not, by itself, be treated as evidence of incapability or as justification for denying a person the opportunity to contribute through lawful and good-faith work.

Where practicable and appropriate, MGE seeks to support accessibility, reasonable accommodation and adaptation that enable people to contribute according to their capabilities.

MGE is equally committed to the dignity, safety, participation and development of women, including protection from sexual harassment and gender-based discrimination and respect for applicable maternity, parental and pregnancy-related protections.

Safe and responsible working environment

MGE seeks to maintain working and engagement conditions that protect physical, psychological and professional safety.

This includes appropriate attention to:

People may raise immediate safety concerns and, where reasonably justified, pause or refuse an activity presenting a serious or immediate health or safety risk while the concern is escalated, subject to applicable law and emergency requirements.

Security and surveillance measures must have a legitimate purpose and be proportionate, appropriately authorised, transparent where appropriate, securely managed and consistent with applicable requirements.

Financial and commercial integrity

MGE does not tolerate fraud, corruption, bribery, improper advantage, manipulation of commercial processes or deliberate financial misrepresentation.

Gifts and hospitality must never be used to improperly influence decisions or create an obligation inconsistent with professional independence.

Commercial considerations must remain subordinate to MGE’s constitutional responsibility.

Individual and leadership responsibility

Everyone acting for or on behalf of MGE is responsible for understanding and complying with the standards relevant to their role and for raising concerns when they become aware of conduct that may compromise them.

Leaders carry an additional responsibility to demonstrate these standards through their own decisions and behaviour, create conditions in which people can speak openly and responsibly, address concerns appropriately, and avoid using authority to suppress legitimate questions or contributions.

No position of authority places a person outside MGE’s ethical responsibilities.

Speaking up and accountability

MGE expects concerns to be raised when conduct, decisions or circumstances may conflict with this Code or MGE’s constitutional responsibilities.

A concern may be raised as a request for guidance, an informal concern or a formal complaint.

Reporting is not limited to people working within MGE.

Institutions, suppliers, ecosystem stakeholders, contractors, clients and other external parties may also raise a concern or complaint where they believe MGE or a person acting for or on behalf of MGE may not be complying with its ethical or behavioural standards.

MGE will provide appropriate reporting and escalation routes and will seek to acknowledge, assess and address recognised concerns appropriately.

Good-faith reporting is protected from retaliation.

An allegation that cannot be substantiated is not, by itself, a false or malicious allegation.

Have a concern?

MGE expects concerns to be raised when conduct, decisions or circumstances may conflict with this Code or MGE’s constitutional responsibilities.

Speak Up / Report a Concern →

Expectations beyond MGE

MGE expects people and organisations engaged with MGE to respect the principles relevant to their relationship with us.

This includes expectations concerning:

• honesty and integrity;
• respect and dignity;
• non-discrimination and freedom from harassment and abuse;
• protection of confidential information;
• evidence and information integrity;
• avoidance of improper influence;
• responsible treatment of people acting for or on behalf of MGE;
• compliance with applicable contractual and legal requirements.

MGE’s willingness to engage with an institution or external party does not mean that MGE endorses all of that party’s conduct, policies or practices.

Where conduct presents a material ethical or integrity concern, MGE may establish safeguards, restrict an engagement, escalate the concern, suspend activity or withdraw.

Reporting and response

Concerns may be raised through the reporting routes established by MGE.

Where a concern involves the person who would normally receive, supervise or manage the report, the reporting person may bypass that person and escalate the concern directly to MGE leadership or another authorised reporting route.

Serious or urgent concerns—including immediate safety risks, serious unlawful conduct or risks involving destruction or manipulation of evidence—may be escalated immediately through an appropriate route.

MGE maintains internal procedures for the detailed handling, assessment and investigation of concerns. These procedures implement the Code; they do not redefine its ethical requirements.

Speak Up / Report a Concern →

Relationship to law, contracts and internal procedures

This Code does not replace applicable law, contractual obligations or MGE’s internal policies and procedures.