About the Role

Background

Innovators & Entrepreneurs Foundation (IEF) is a national charity dedicated to support, educate & celebrate innovation & entrepreneurship among business owners in marginalized communities.

Our objectives:

• Support entrepreneurs and innovators within marginalized communities nationwide
• Create education and mentorship opportunities designed specifically for entrepreneurs within marginalized communities
• Deliver reliable, in-depth research to steer advocacy with both the private and public sector to influence change for the better
• Celebrate and promote excellence in Canadian innovation and entrepreneurship in marginalized communities

IEF’s sole “member” is the Canadian Women’s Chamber of Commerce, who manages/stewards the charity. 

About This Committee

The Governance & Nominations Committee plays a crucial role in ensuring that the organization remains committed to its mission of advancing feminist economic principles through strong, inclusive, and ethical leadership. This committee is responsible for recruiting qualified and diverse leadership, and ensuring that the foundation’s leadership team reflects its mission and values, including equity, diversity, and justice.

The committee helps maintain a strong and effective governance framework by making recommendations for leadership appointments, overseeing board member performance, and providing strategic advice to ensure that the IEF operates with transparency, integrity, and accountability. 

Leadership, Nominations and Succession Planning

• Lead the recruitment process for new board members, ensuring a focus on diversity, inclusion, and alignment with the IEF’s mission, vision, and values.
• Develop and implement a robust succession plan for board members, ensuring continuity of leadership while prioritizing the development of underrepresented voices in business and commerce.
• Regularly assess the skills, experience, and diversity of current board members and recommend potential candidates who bring fresh perspectives and expertise to the leadership of IEF.

Board Member & CEO Performance and Evaluation

• Oversee the annual evaluation of board members, assessing performance in areas such as leadership effectiveness, contribution to the board, and alignment with feminist values.
• Conduct annual performance review of CEO, per policy.
• Provide recommendations for improving board member engagement, training, and support, ensuring ongoing development of the board’s collective capacity and individual members’ competencies.
• Address any gaps or challenges in board performance, and work with the full board to ensure effective governance practices are in place.

Application Deadline

Start Date

Place of Work

Reports to

Duties & Responsibilities

Committee members can expect to spend up to 10 hours a month on IEF committee-related work, including reading emails, reviewing reports, preparing for meetings, and other activities related to this specific committee, to be set by the future committee Chair.

• Prepare for and attend meetings as scheduled. (Meetings will be virtual.)
• Participate in development or training sessions if/when offered or required. 
• Read and know IEF bylaws, policies and procedures.
• Make introductions between your network and IEF board, executives
• Maintain and uphold confidentiality. 

Committee Member Terms

Will be decided by the Committee Chair and members. 

The chair may reserve the right to remove a committee member if they fail to attend multiple consecutive meetings of the committee,

Committee Member Compensation

In accordance with the Act, Board -including committee members-  members shall receive no remuneration or waged compensation from their work or positions as Committee Members.

Recognition/Transparency

We understand how valuable your time and contribution are/will be to the organization. To honour your commitment and maintain transparency with our members, funders, and the public, and with your consent, we will add your photo, name and bio, and social media handles to the IEF Governance page on our website.

Review and Evaluation

The IEF board and each committee will conduct an annual self-evaluation to assess its effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.

How to Apply

Please fill out the application linked HERE or scan the QC code below. All committee applicants fill out the same applications as the Board of Directors.