As a relatively new Executive Director of an organization transitioning from a working board to a governance board, Scott Williams wanted to learn more about promising governance practices.
“We had two of our board members and two staff members from SPECTRUM attend the Board Governance BootCamp last year,” Scott said. “SPECTRUM is transitioning to a governance board, and the BootCamp helped us identify some of the practices we could incorporate in our organization.”
Founded in 2012 as Waterloo Region’s first Rainbow Community Space, SPECTRUM serves, affirms, and supports the well-being of 2SLGBTQ+ individuals in the Waterloo Region and the broader community through peer support, community partnerships, education and training, resources, and events.
“I found the panel discussion with board presidents the most helpful during the BootCamp,” Scott added. “It was great to hear from John Neufeld and Laura Manning about their relationships with their board presidents. That is something I would look forward to having on our board at SPECTRUM.”
Additionally, Scott found that it was an excellent opportunity for their staff members to spend time with the board members outside of a regular meeting. “It was helpful to be in a new environment and learn together.”
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.
This year’s 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.
Scott firmly believes that their learnings at the Board Governance BootCamp will contribute to strengthening SPECTRUM’s governance. “We will be working on a new strategic planning cycle towards the end of this year, and we look forward to building some of our learnings into that process.”
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.
