AFT Structure

The Association of Free Traders is exactly what it says; a grouping of individual starcaptains, governors and small companies who share a common goal: profit. Trade is our lifeblood. While the Association's long term goal is economic dominance, in the short term we aim to help each member to make as much money as they can. To help this, the AFT encourages inter-affiliation trade (preferably via the AFT, of course), and provides an extensive support network for its members.

Independence is an important tenet of the AFT, and each member is entitled to act independently, subject only to the constraints of the Association's Code of Conduct. The AFT has a good reputation as an honest, trustworthy, neutral trading organisation, and aims to maintain this reputation through the Code. The Code lays out the Association's key principles of independence, trust and neutrality, as well as the AFT's stance on piracy.

The Association is ruled by the AFT Council. Each and every member has the right to a seat on the Council, and a say in the running of the Association. All major matters are decided by consensus in the Council, and more minor matters are generally also discussed by the Council. The Council also offers an easy method for trade opportunities to be distributed between the members of the Association.

A few members of the Council take on executive roles, playing a more direct role in the furthering of the aims of the affiliation as a whole. They are expected to provide assistance and advice to other members of the AFT, and to negotiate on behalf of the Association with outside parties. There is no set limit to the number of executive councillors, and the positions are generally awarded to whoever is prepared to take on the responsibilities.

The most senior executives are the Fleet Masters. These experienced councillors each oversee significant trade fleets, as well as multiple starbases from which their operations are run. Like Executives, Fleet Masters are expected to act to further the aims of the Association as a whole as well as their own personal companies, but with the added benefit of more experience to do this more effectively.

At the head of the Council is the Master Trader, with whom lies overall responsibility for running the Association and for chairing the Council. The current Master Trader is Archangel, owner of Archangel Bulk Freight Services. Archangel's company joined the Association in late 204, with Archangel rising rapidly to become Master Trader in early 206.