The Canadian Arab Women’s Association (CAWA) has one very important goal this year – to strengthen the organization’s board!
“Attending Capacity Canada’s Board Governance BootCamp was the first step to achieve this goal for our organization, says Asma Alwahsh, Founder and Executive Director of CAWA.
Currently in the process of transitioning from an operational board to a governance board, Asma, along with two other board members – Omar Hussein and Salha Haider, attended the last BootCamp.
“We all agreed how this training was very beneficial to enhance our board governance process,” says Asma. Additionally, Asma says attending the BootCamp gave her much-needed knowledge and understanding of the board’s roles and responsibilities. “These new skills and learnings will help me personally when I am ready to take on any future board responsibilities to help and give back to the community.”
Capacity Canada’s Board Governance BootCamp offer’s an exceptional opportunity for building the capacity of boards across organizations. It is led by a renowned faculty, participatory small-group facilitations, customized resources, and sample problems in an intensive three-day period.
The last three-day annual Board Governance BootCamp, sponsored by Manulife, was held at the Bingemans Conference Centre on December 7, 8 and 9. Keynote speaker Paul Smith, Founder of Future Directors Institute, Perth, Australia, kick-started the BootCamp.
Led by an incredible roster of industry professionals, including CEOs, EDs, and board members, the BootCamp was attended by over 200 participants across Canada. A spectacular lineup of 19 speakers covered vast topics such as risk management, understanding your organization’s financial statements, collaborative governance approaches, and creating an inclusive culture.
“I enjoyed making connections, being part of the discussions, and going through presentations in the short span of three days. But most importantly, I enjoyed learning about the traits of future board directors,” she said. Adding that learning how to become an effective board director was one of her biggest takeaways from the BootCamp.
Thanking Capacity Canada for organizing the Board Governance BootCamp, Asma added, “looking at our board now, I always reflect on those traits and see where we can improve more. We are in the process of having a capacity-building meeting for our board, and some of what I have learned at the BootCamp will be reflected and shared in the meeting.
Our Board Governance BootCamp increases your governance abilities by sharing strategies and tools for innovative ways of working that teams can incorporate right away. Overall, you become better equipped to lead positive change across your organizations and communities.
To learn more about Capacity Canada’s Board Governance BootCamp, please visit our website.
