Cooperation Canada members will be called upon to elect the Board in the lead up to the Cooperation Canada Annual General Meeting on September 22, 2025.
Our Board of Directors is a dynamic and diverse group of leaders who champion international cooperation and value collaboration. If you are passionate about shaping a fairer, safer and more sustainable world at a time of disruption and transformation for the world, we invite you to stand for nomination!
Cooperation Canada’s Board is composed of up to 14 Directors, elected to represent the diversity and priorities of our membership. Of these 14 Directors, ten are nominated and elected by members, and four are nominees of provincial and regional councils, one of which shall be from Quebec. Terms on the Board are for two years, and Board members can sit on the Board for a maximum of three terms, or six years.
This year:
- Three Board members are coming to the end of their terms and will stand again for election to the Board (Katharine Im-Jenkins – Equality Fund, Usama Khan – Islamic Relief and Dorothy Nyambi – MEDA).
- Five Board members are coming to the end of their terms and cannot or will not stand again (Eileen Alma – Coady Institute, Christine Bui – Equality Fund, Tanjina Mirza – Plan International Canada and Tracey Wallace – Northern Council for Global Cooperation; note Zehra Rizvi – Saskatchewan Council for International Cooperation, recently stepped down due to moving on from the organization).
- Six Board members are not up for re-election and will remain on the Board (Michèle Asselin – Association québécoise des organismes de coopération internationale (AQOCI), Anne-Catherine Bajard – British Columbia Council for International Cooperation (BCIC), Julie Francoeur – Fair Trade Canada, Ferrada Jacob Lightening – VIDEA, Musu Taylor-Lewis – Food for the Hungry Canada and Béatrice Vaugrante – Oxfam-Québec).
This means at the Annual General Meeting, the Membership will be asked to:
- Ratify six Board members (noting three current Board members are standing for re-election for another term).
- Ratify two Board members from provincial and regional councils.
The call for nominations is now open and members are invited to apply by August 15, 2025.
Please note that to be eligible, Director nominees must be affiliated to a Cooperation Canada member organization. Individuals affiliated with Cooperation Canada member organizations can self-nominate.
Board Composition Priorities
Cooperation Canada is a signatory to Canada’s 50-30 Challenge, which aims for gender parity (50%) and significant representation (30%) of equity-deserving groups within boards and senior management across Canada. In addition, Cooperation Canada has a Board Diversity Policy.
Importantly, following the resignation of an Indigenous Board member prior to the 2024 Annual General Meeting, the Cooperation Canada Board has been engaging in a process of reflection and learning on Indigenous leadership and governance, and seeking to take concrete steps to strengthen commitments to enhance onboarding and support for new Directors and build an inclusive, productive and supportive Board space that is welcoming of Cooperation Canada’s diverse membership and diverse perspectives. This remains a priority for the Board.
To ensure the Board represents a broad cross-section of the diversity of our membership and of people in Canada, and supports the organization’s strategic and evolving needs, this year the Cooperation Canada Board is encouraging nominations from candidates who bring the following experience and perspectives:
Skills/organizational characteristics
- People with executive strategic leadership experience, including from larger organizations, who can represent and support Cooperation Canada to build strong and productive relationships with the federal government, federal political parties and/or Canadian philanthropy.
- People with strategic leadership experience working with organizations that focus on issues central to international cooperation but beyond traditional humanitarian and international assistance programming and government funding models (e.g. multi-sector partnerships, diverse and/or innovative finance and funding models, trade/economic development).
Individual characteristics
- Individuals who reflect Canada’s racial, linguistic, cultural, and regional diversity, especially Indigenous People, Racialized, Black, and/or People of Colour, People with disabilities (including invisible and episodic disabilities) and 2SLGBTQ+ and/or gender and sexually diverse individuals.
These characteristics are provided as a guide and are not prerequisites for nomination.
All nominees can meet with existing Board members prior to or following the submission of their nomination. This can support candidates to discuss the work of the Board and assess their alignment with Cooperation Canada’s values and goals.
For questions, or to discuss the implications of Board participation, please contact Shannon Kindornay.
Updates to Cooperation Canada’s Board Nominations Process
Cooperation Canada is making changes to the Board of Directors nominations and election process to enhance transparency, efficiency, and member engagement.
This year, voting will take place electronically prior to the Cooperation Canada AGM on September 22, 2025. As usual, each Cooperation Canada member will have one vote. Results of the election will be shared with the membership prior to the AGM, when members will be asked to ratify the slate of candidates presented. No nominations will be received from the floor.
Key Dates
- Nominations launched: June 26, 2025
- Nomination deadline: August 15, 2025
- Voting period prior to AGM: Members will have from September 2 to 12, 2025 to review materials and cast their votes online.
- AGM Ratification: September 22, 2025
Submission
Candidates are asked to make their submission by August 15, 2025. We ask that candidates make a written submission by completing the submission form. This year, candidates may also submit a short video introducing themselves to the membership. This information will be shared with the Cooperation Canada membership when the voting period is launched. Learn more about adding a video to your submission.
Board of Directors Nomination
Video Requirements
- Maximum length: 3 minutes.
- Format: No editing by Cooperation Canada; videos must be submitted ready for use.
- Support: Our team can provide technical support for video recording if needed. Please contact us.
- Consistency: All candidates will follow the same guidelines to ensure fairness.
Note: Submitting a video is optional but encouraged to help members get to know the candidates.
Candidate Video Support Checklist
If you choose to submit a video introducing yourself to the membership, please follow these simple guidelines to ensure a smooth process.
Before Recording
- ✅ Review the maximum time limit: 3 minutes or less.
- ✅ Prepare a brief outline of key points you want to cover (e.g., your background, relevant experience, motivation for joining the Board).
- ✅ Choose a quiet, well-lit location with minimal background noise.
- ✅ Set up your device (phone, laptop, or webcam) at eye level.
- ✅ Ensure you have a neutral background (plain wall or simple backdrop).
- ✅ Avoid editing — record your video in one take if possible.
Submitting Your Video
- ✅ Confirm your video is under 3 minutes.
- ✅ Save your file as one of the following formats: .mp4, .mov, or .avi.
- ✅ Label your file clearly with your full name (e.g., Firstname_Lastname.mp4).
- ✅ Submit your final video file by August 15, 2025.
- ✅ Remember: Your video will be shared exactly as submitted — no edits will be made.
Need Help?
- Cooperation Canada’s team is available to provide technical support (e.g., tips for recording, setting up Zoom to record yourself, troubleshooting basic issues).
- If you need assistance, please contact us.