Diabetes Canada

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Time Commitment:

• Quarterly Board meetings (two 5-day in-person meetings held in Toronto and two 1-day virtual meetings)
• Quarterly Committee meetings (virtual, 2 hours)
• Occasional ad hoc videoconferences for Board and/or Committee
• Meeting preparation time an additional 2-4 hours per meeting

About Diabetes Canada:

Our vision is a world free of the effects of diabetes. That’s why we’re working together to improve the quality of life of people living with diabetes. We’re sharing knowledge and

creating connections for individuals and the health care professionals who care for them; advocating through public policy; and funding research to improve treatments and find a cure to end diabetes.

Director Requirements:

As a vital part of Diabetes Canada’s governance structure, Directors play a pivotal role in shaping the strategic direction of the organization as well as providing oversight to it. Diabetes Canada is looking to fill the following three Director roles:

1. One individual with experience in digital transformation, technology and/or enterprise risk management.
2. One individual who is a senior healthcare provider, preferably with experience and interest in diabetes, and
3. One individual who has strong legal skills, preferably a

For at least two of these roles, Diabetes Canada is looking for individuals who identify as Indigenous. Additionally, preference will be given to candidates for all three roles from those who are based in Western Canada. This preference reflects current and upcoming gaps in the composition of the Board of Directors based on its commitment to Equity, Inclusion, Diversity & Accessibility (IDEA) including geographic diversity.

These roles are for an initial three-year term, beginning April 2025, with the possibility of renewal for an additional three years.

Vision, Aspiration and Values

Vision: A world free of the effects of diabetes

Winning Aspiration To improve the quality of life of those living with diabetes

Values: Agility, Collaboration, Excellence, Integrity & Initiative

Strategic Priorities

To fulfill its vision, DC invests donor dollars in five key areas:

• Providing knowledge and connection for people affected by diabetes
• Working to “Change the Conversation” around diabetes stigma & apathy
• Advocating for nation-wide and provincial/territorial diabetes health system frameworks while being the voice for people with diabetes to advocate for their needs and rights
• Creating and disseminating Canada’s diabetes clinical practice guidelines and other educational resources for health care providers
• Funding excellent research into effective prevention, treatments & cures

Our Governance: The Board of Directors

The role of the Board of Directors is to govern and oversee the affairs of Diabetes Canada; it is a strategic Board not an operating one. The Board is made up of 14 Directors regionally dispersed across Canada.

Board meetings are held quarterly (a mix of two virtual and two in-person meetings in Toronto) with additional videoconferences as required. Board Directors are required to attend all Board meetings and must sit on at least one Board Committee. There are five standing Board Committees as well as an Executive Committee. From time to time, the Board may create time-limited Task Forces with clear terms of reference and deliverables.

DC Board members are expected to govern in the best interests of DC and make decisions that will be informed by their regional/community perspective, specialties, skills, and other experiences. However, each Board member is responsible for making decisions as a DC Board Director, not representing or negotiating on behalf of a constituency.

Director Qualifications

As a leader, you seek to volunteer with an organization committed to enhancing the lives of those affected by diabetes and those at risk of diabetes. You understand, perhaps from personal experience, the impact that diabetes has on the individual, family and society. With the combination of your personal commitment and your professional expertise, you can help lead Diabetes Canada as it embraces the increasing demand for better health outcomes for those living with diabetes.

Diabetes Canada is committed to creating a high-performance culture, characterized by inclusivity, diversity, equity, and accessibility. Diabetes Canada strives to live its values of agility, collaboration, excellence, integrity, and initiative through all its work, and learn or unlearn, iterate, and improve its approach to everything it does. Just as every experience with diabetes is different, so is every person’s lived experience and Diabetes Canada searches for people and groups to call-in, listen to, amplify, and stand together with, ensuring all voices are heard. It focuses on what could be done, not what has been done, and strives to courageously hold itself and others accountable to this commitment.

Open Director Roles

• Diabetes Canada is currently looking for individuals with the following:
• experience in one or more of these areas: senior healthcare provider (ideally with experience and interest in diabetes), legal experience (ideally as a lawyer), and digital transformation/technology and/or enterprise risk management
• experience and ability for broad-based thinking and contribution on all aspects of Diabetes Canada Board work
• experience working with volunteer boards
• willingness to act as an ambassador for the cause of diabetes as an urgent & important disease

Speaking with One Voice

The Board, as represented by individual Board Directors, speaks with a unified and consistent voice. Positions are generally spoken to by the Chair on behalf of the Board, and then supported and represented by Board members publicly as agreed upon by the Board.

In coming to the Board’s decisions, Board members are expected to participate openly and vigorously in Board discussions so that the Board can make the best, most informed decisions and choices. Individual Board members carry many duties and responsibilities in this process, including:

• Duty of Knowledge
• Duty of Care
• Duty of Skill & Prudence
• Duty of Diligence
• Fiduciary Duty
• Duty of Trusteeship

Apply now:

If you want to be part of a dynamic and innovative health charity, please submit a letter of interest and a brief CV highlighting your experience and qualifications, including: business/work experience, academic qualifications, experience that would assist the Board, previous Board experience, and previous community and/or volunteer activities. For Indigenous candidates, verification of Indigenous ancestry is required.

Please send to [email protected]

For further information on Diabetes Canada please see www.diabetes.ca

Application deadline: December 13, 2024

We thank you for your interest in Diabetes Canada.