Board of Directors – Call for Applications

The Academy for Sustainable Innovation (ASI)

The Academy for Sustainable Innovation Canada is a registered charity that was founded in 2018 with the recognition that the transition to a sustainable future isn’t just about technology solutions, but also the people behind it. We realized meaningful climate action requires a shift in leadership mindsets, capacities, and practices. This pointed us toward our role in encouraging people to think differently about how we show up as leaders.

Our Transition Leadership programs were created to transform how individuals and organizations perceive and practice leadership in response to climate challenges. Our offerings empower people with the knowledge, skills, and support needed to lead change.

Our Board of Directors are core to ASI’s success. Their diverse backgrounds, perspectives, experiences, knowledge, and networks are essential to creating accessible and impactful programming. We are immensely thankful that they share our passion for supporting Transition Leadership.

Interested in Serving on the Board of Directors?

ASI is seeking two dynamic volunteer board members to support the organization in advancing its impact. Strong candidates will be passionate about the need to increase the leadership capacities within Canadian organizations to effectively address the pressing sustainability and climate-related challenges. Having built a solid foundation of recognized programs, courses, and partnerships, ASI is at an exciting point with an outstanding team positioned to significantly further its impact. Currently, each Board position is a three-year term commitment, ideally commencing in late May 2024.

The ideal Board candidate is a collaborative team player, a highly effective communicator, is driven to make a positive impact, and doesn’t take themselves too seriously. ASI is an organization dedicated to building both a staff team and Board that is as diverse as our country, and we recognize that we need to bring in additional perspectives and lived experiences in order to embody this commitment. Successful Board candidate(s) would be joining a strong, experienced, and effective board [link to: https://sustainableinnovation.academy/about-us/] that is keen to bring in new perspectives and strengths.

As fundraising, business development, and strong financial management are key requirements of a growing non-profit such as ASI, ideal candidate(s) would have several of the following characteristics:

• • A strong alignment regarding the importance of building Transition Leadership capacity to help lead change towards a low-carbon, socially-inclusive future.
  • A strong and wide network of individuals and organizations in Canada (particularly amongst foundations/grant-makers, larger employers, networks, and associations), and willingness to open doors for ASI and act as a champion of our work.
  • Familiarity with either/both the education & training and climate & sustainability sectors.
  • Willingness to participate as a member of ASI’s Finance & Audit Committee, which meets quarterly for approximately one hour. Note that ASI’s systems and processes are well established, operating smoothly, and already supported by our CFO – so committee members do not need to be CPAs or Accountants!
  • Demonstrated business acumen and/or related business development experience.

All Board members should bring valuable strategic insights to support and enable the growth of ASI, and be willing to fully commit to carrying out the governance responsibilities. This role requires the following time commitment:

• • Preparation for and attendance at quarterly board meetings, typically 90 minutes in duration. (Total = 10-12 hours per year); and
  • Additional time to support ad-hoc activities which include: making introductions, providing feedback, participating in off-cycle decision-making (rare), or other one-off requests of the CEO or Board Chair (Total = 16-24 hours per year).

A modest stipend can be made available for board members who require childcare or other support in order to attend quarterly meetings online or otherwise conduct board-related duties.

ASI’s CEO and Board look forward to hearing from a range of candidates who are interested in bringing their experience, passion, and commitment to our existing team to help continue to build on ASI’s success and impact.

ASI is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and Board members. We strongly encourage applications from qualified people of all gender expressions and identities, sexual orientations, visible minorities, Indigenous persons, and persons with disabilities. Should you require accommodations throughout the application process, please be in touch.

How to Apply

To be considered for the volunteer Board member position(s), please submit an Expression of Interest letter plus a recent CV/Resumé in one (1) PDF document to hr@sustainableinnovation.academy with the subject line ‘Board of Directors Application’ no later than April 15, 2024. In the Expression of Interest letter, please include your answers to the following questions:

• • What motivates you to want to join the ASI Board?
  • Which characteristics and skillsets listed above do you have, and from which experiences have you built/developed them?
  • What characteristics are YOU looking for when you imagine a strong and inviting Board?
  • What else would be helpful for us to know about you?

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and interviews will take place as possible, ideally concluding prior to May 15, 2024. Should you proceed in the process, you may be asked to provide contact details of two references. The interview process (and all ASI Board meetings) will be held online via zoom video-conferencing, with automated closed captioning available.

We look forward to hearing from you!

With much appreciation,

Matt McCulloch, Board Chair, and Tamara Connell, CEO.