Title: Board of Directors
Application deadline: October 11, 2021
Location: Anywhere in Canada
NEW BOARD MEMBER RECRUITMENT
LEAF (Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund Inc.) is currently seeking a new member to join its Board of Directors! LEAF is a well-established and dedicated advocate for gender equality, demonstrating tangible results year after year. LEAF focuses on litigation, law reform, and public education. In particular, we seek to advance gender equality by challenging laws, policies, and practices that discriminate against equality guarantees enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, most notably sections 15 and 28.
Since 1985, LEAF has intervened in over 100 cases that have worked to advance equality in Canada. Our cases have resulted in landmark victories preventing violence against women and gender diverse people, eliminating discrimination in the workplace, allowing access to reproductive freedoms, and providing better maternity benefits, better spousal support, and the right to pay equity. Charter rights, in general, and section 15, in particular, have been tested and strengthened through the advocacy work of LEAF.
THE ROLE OF THE BOARD
The Board of Directors is the legal authority for LEAF. As a member of the Board, a Director acts in a position of trust for the community and is responsible for the effective governance of the organization. The Board of Directors is accountable to LEAF’s funders for the services outlined in any contribution agreements or contracts. Our Board works closely with the Executive Director in a governance and strategic, but non-operational, capacity.
The Board meets 12 times per year and board members are expected to attend all board meetings and to join at least one committee (Fund Development, Governance, Legal Programs, Finance, and Nominating). All Board members are elected for a two-year mandate, which can be renewed. Candidates may apply from across Canada, meetings can be attended virtually or via phone. Being a board member requires a commitment of 5-10 hours per month.
IDEAL QUALITIES FOR SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE
LEAF invites community activists, lawyers, law students, academics, and anyone else who is passionate about gender equality in Canada to share your talents with us. We are recruiting one candidate to strengthen the diversity of perspectives and lived experiences at the board level. In particular, we welcome applications from candidates with experience and knowledge in any of the following areas:
- Anti-racist and anti-colonial practice
- Community Activism
- Communications
- Fund development
- Human rights and equality litigation
- Law reform
- Non-profit governance
- Program development
- Public legal education (including law students)
- Social Work
LEAF is committed to building a team that is reflective of the diversity of those we serve, and encourages applications from Women of Colour, Indigenous Women, Women with disabilities, Women from other marginalized groups and/or Queer/Trans identifying individuals. Further, LEAF encourages those early in their careers to apply. Preference will be given to candidates that will enhance the diversity, depth and competencies of our board.
We invite interested applicants to complete and email the volunteer application form with your resume and a cover letter that speaks to what draws you to the work of LEAF and the unique perspectives you would bring to this board position to [email protected].
Applicants selected for an interview will be contacted by October 15, 2021. Interviews will be conducted between October 18-21, 2021. Successful candidates will be notified by October 22, 2021, and will join the Board of Directors at our Annual Board Retreat on October 29-30, 2021.
Please submit your application as soon as possible. The deadline is October 11, 2021.
LEAF Board of Directors Application Form
Note: If you have already submitted your application based on the previous deadline, you will still be considered for the position.
If you have any questions please contact LEAF National at 416-595-7170 or by email: [email protected]
LEAF is a national, charitable, non-profit organization founded in 1985. LEAF works to advance the equality of women and girls in Canada through litigation, law reform and public education using the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. For more information, please visit us at www.leaf.ca.
