CIRA board election: join the board through the members’ slate

CIRA members likely know our mission is to build a trusted internet for all Canadians…but did you know members can help us advance this mission? CIRA members have the exclusive opportunity to participate in the governance of CIRA at the highest level—as a CIRA board member on the members’ slate! CIRA is governed by a Board of Directors, and every year seats on the board open. This year, we are looking for a qualified member to fill one seat on the board.

CIRA members: do you have the skills and experience necessary to lead CIRA’s strategic direction? Curious about the process? Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about applying!

The role of the board

The role of CIRA’s board is to guide our organization. They provide strategic direction and oversight for CIRA as it fulfills its mandate to manage the .CA domain as a key public resource for the benefit of all Canadians. The board helps CIRA build a trusted internet through initiatives like CIRA’s Net Good program, cybersecurity products, the development of internet policies and so much more.

What skills and experience should candidates have?

Every year we look for individuals with specific skills and experience, all outlined in a letter to the nomination committee provided by the governance committee of the board. This letter also lets members know what to keep in mind when applying and voting for candidates.

This year, we’re looking for individuals with the following skills and experience:

• Experience in the domain name industry in which CIRA operates, including an understanding of the DNS, Registry systems, internet governance or IP addressing.
• Deep financial acumen as a certified practitioner with advanced literacy in finance, audit, investment and risk oversight.
• Knowledge of key components of cybersecurity related to risk and threat management.
• Leadership skills with the ability to be open to others’ perspectives and build consensus.
• Ability to articulate views with evidence-based reasoning and bring a creative and innovative approach to problem solving.
• Understand strategic risks and opportunities that may impact CIRA and propose sustainable solutions.

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

Who can apply?

Only CIRA members who have the necessary skills and experience, meet the qualification requirements and can commit to the conditions of directorship are welcome to apply to the members’ slate.

Here’s what you should know before applying:

• Nominees, candidates and, if elected, directors, must meet the “Qualification” requirements defined in subsection 3.03 of CIRA’s By-law on the day the Election Period begins (September 27, 2023).
• Directors serve three-year terms.
• The minimum time commitment to perform board and committee duties is around 10 to 15 hours per month and approximately 15 business days per year.
• Directors must be able to fulfill the requirements and responsibilities of their position, for example:
  • Preparing for and attending board and committee meetings;
  • Upholding their fiduciary obligations and working cooperatively and respectfully with other board directors and advisors; and
  • Complying with legislation governing the corporation, the corporation’s by-laws and policies and all other applicable rules.
• Directors must sign an oath of office to adhere to CIRA’s rules, regulations and policies prior to the commencement of their term of office.

What is the application and review process?

Applications for the members’ slate are accepted online from 2 p.m. ET August 2 to 2 p.m. ET August 16, 2023.

The application:

Interested and qualified applicants must complete and submit an application that includes:

• your CIRA membership ID;
• answers to questions related to their background, skills and experience;
• a candidate statement;
• answers to three mandatory questions;
• your resume; and
• reading and agreeing to a nominee declaration.

Since this application period is only open to CIRA members, make sure your CIRA membership is active and you have your ID on hand. Locating your member ID is easy! Log into your CIRA member profile; your member ID is located on the top left of the page under your name.

Review for completeness:

During the application period, CIRA staff review all applications to ensure they are complete, include all required attachments and have been submitted on time.

Declaration of conflicts:

Member nominees must complete a declaration regarding conflicts of interest and financial associations. This declaration is reviewed by CIRA’s independent election Returning Officer for any conflicts that would prevent an applicant from becoming a candidate.

If you’re eligible to become a member nominee, your statement and answers to mandatory questions will be included in your election profile which is posted publicly on CIRA’s election website in preparation for the nominee endorsement period.

Nominee endorsement:

To become a candidate on the final members’ slate, you must receive at least 20 endorsements from other members. Endorsing a nominee is done entirely online. CIRA will send an email to each eligible member on August 30, 2023 containing a link to the show of support site and a unique voter ID and PIN number to login.

What opportunities are available to CIRA’s board?

On top of helping build a trusted internet, other opportunities that come with being on CIRA’s board include:

• Gaining valuable insight and experience developing and implementing policies that support Canada’s internet community and the .CA registry internationally.
• Applying your skills and expertise to help develop the strategic direction of CIRA.
• Working with Canada’s top digital leaders and technologists.
• Receiving compensation for your work.

Learn more about CIRA’s board election.

About CIRA membership

CIRA is a member-based organization that values the input of its members and their contributions to enabling a trusted internet. Having a .CA domain name and being a member supports CIRA governance and operations and the great work we do for Canada’s internet.

Membership is free and only open to .CA domain name holders. It remains active so long as your domain(s) remains registered—there’s no additional renewal process beyond renewing your .CA domain name!

If you’re not a member and have a .CA domain name—become one! Don’t have a .CA domain name? What are you waiting for—register yours today.