Current stage

• Your role as board member
• Desired skills and experience
• How to join the board through the nomination committee slate
• Your contribution to Canada’s internet
• Important dates and deadlines

Your role as a board member

CIRA's board of directors help advance CIRA’s development. They provide strategic direction and oversight for the .CA domain name registry to help guide CIRA as it fulfills its mandate to manage the .CA domain as a key public resource for the benefit of all Canadians. The board also plays a key role in enabling a trusted internet for Canadians through CIRA's programs, products and services that leverage all that the internet has to offer.

Members of CIRA’s board of directors have the responsibility to:

• Provide strategic direction and oversight for the .CA registry
• Help develop and implement policies that support Canada's internet community and represent the .CA registry internationally
• Attend at least five meetings and the annual general meeting
• Participate in committee work and associated conference calls
• Approve CIRA’s corporate plan and annual budget

Board members are expected to serve on committees and attend board meetings regularly. Directors are remunerated for their time and reimbursed for expenses. For details, please review theboard compensation.

If successfully elected to the board, candidates must be available for two days of board meetings in early November.

Desired skills and experience

Each year CIRA's board of directors submits a Letter to the Nomination Committee that outlines the skills and experience the nomination committee should be looking for when reviewing applications. 

We are seeking Canadians who have:

• A passion for Canada's internet
• Experience in the domain name industry in which CIRA operates, including an understanding of the current and emerging business and industry trends
• Deep financial acumen as a credentialed practitioner
• Knowledge of key components of cybersecurity
• Entrepreneurial experience at the executive level, in starting a technology business or pursuing a “go to market” strategy at the enterprise or line of business level
• The ability to understand environmental and internal risks, opportunities and implications that may impact CIRA
• An understanding of areas of law related to CIRA's business, such as internet, IT, DNS, and privacy
• Leadership skills with the ability to be open to others’ perspectives and build consensus

It is important to note that positions on CIRA’s board are not considered entry-level. It is imperative that all board members have a solid understanding of the duties and responsibilities of directors and board governance in the not-for-profit and/or the for-profit sectors.

To be eligible to become a board director, an individual must:

• consent to be a nominee, a candidate and, if elected, a board director
• on the day election period begins (September 15, 2022), meet the “qualification” requirements defined in subsection 3.03 of CIRA’s By-law No. 1.

CIRA board directors are not required to be CIRA members.

How to join the board through the nomination committee slate

Joining the board of directors through the nomination committee slate can be achieved by following these steps:

1. Verify that you are qualified: we are looking for individuals with specific skills and experience. Make sure you qualify before submitting your application
2. Complete the online application: applications and resumes will be accepted through our online application system from May 25 to June 8, 2022, at 2 p.m. ET. Late applications will not be accepted
3. Committee selects candidates: the nomination committee will review each application and narrow down their list of potential candidates. Nominees may be contacted by the nomination committee, or delegate, with follow-up questions to help them make their decision. The final list of nomination committee candidates will be announced on July 21, 2022
4. Complete your declaration form: once the candidates are pre-selected by the nomination committee, they will be asked to complete a declaration form that states any conflicts they may have with current board members or other candidates
5. Campaign: once candidates have been selected to appear on the ballot, they can begin their campaign. A toolkit with ideas on how to promote your platform will be provided. This includes participation in the campaign forum from September 8 to September 22, 2022.
6. Vote: members can vote for their preferred candidates from September 15 to September 22, 2022, at 12:30 p.m. ET.

Your contribution to Canada’s internet

CIRA board directors:

• serve a three-year term with the objective of helping CIRA in its mandate to foster the development of the .CA domain as a key public resource for all Canadians
• apply their skills and expertise to help develop the strategic direction of .CA
• gain valuable insight and experience developing and implementing policies that support Canada’s internet community and the .CA registry internationally
• help enable a trusted internet for all Canadians by supporting the ongoing development of the internet
• have an impact on the day-to-day lives of Canadians by enhancing the quality of their internet experience

Important dates and deadlines for this stage

Learn more about CIRA’s board of directors election.