Board Position Descriptions:

CHAIR: The Chair's overall responsibility is to provide leadership and direction to the Board and staff. The person serves as an ex-officio member of all Board committees and chairs the Annual General Meeting. The Chair also maintains regular contact with the Secretary General and Executive Director, and liaises with the International Board and International Secretariat.

VICE-CHAIR: The Vice Chair performs duties as delegated by the Chair and the Board, assumes the responsibilities and functions of a Director, and advises the Chair on issues of sensitivity or controversy, when necessary.
 
TREASURER: The Treasurer monitors the organization's financial situation by reviewing monthly financial statements and provides financial analysis to assist the Board in making informed decisions on financial matters. The Treasurer also participates in budget preparation and meets with the auditors following each annual audit of the Branch.

DIRECTORS: Directors attend and actively participate in Board meetings and the Annual General Meeting. They approve the annual budget for the Branch, review and assess annual financial statements, mandates, and strategic plans, and participate in various committees.


If you would like more detailed position descriptions or if you would like to get in touch with a current or past Board member about a Board position you are interested in, please email a member of the Board Nominations Committee.

What skills and experiences are we looking for?

We are looking for a well-rounded person with a combination of skills and experiences. Please refer to the following questions when filling out your nominations form.

  1. Are you committed to Amnesty’s Vision and Mission? Amnesty International’s vision is a world in which every person enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards. (For the full mission statement see www.amnesty.ca)
  2. Are you able to demonstrate integrity and respect while working with other Board Members? You must be willing and able to work collaboratively with other Board Members who come from different identities, who may hold different world views from yours, and whose working style may be different than yours.
  3. We are looking for individuals with a combination of skills and experiences. No one person will have all of these. Do you have one or more of the following skills or experiences to contribute to the Board?
    • Knowledge of understanding anti-black racism and anti-racism in all its forms. 
    • experience in leadership transitions & organizational change;
    • knowledge of Canadian and international human rights issues;
    • fundraising experience;
    • experience with information technology systems;
    • gender mainstreaming understanding and/or experience;
    • experience working with youth;
    • diversity and equity understanding and/or experience;
    • human resources skills, including organizational development, policies and procedures;
    • governance experience, especially in a non-profit, member-based organization;
    • legal experience regarding charities and human rights law;
    • financial management skills;
    • business experience, for-profit or non-profit;
    • communications, including public engagement, social media;
    • understanding of Amnesty International Canadian Section (English Speaking), and;
    • language skills (French and Spanish)
    4. 4. Do you bring an alternate or diverse perspective to the Board?  We welcome individuals from diverse backgrounds to the Board. We encourage nominations from individuals with varying perspectives and experiences, including life experiences as well as other learning experiences. These views can come from your own life experience as well as through other learning experiences. 

What is the time commitment?

The Board hold three meetings each year that are two to three days in length. These meetings take place on weekends and are held in, or near, Ottawa. Board members also attend the AGM each year. Amnesty’s AGMs now alternate between in-person and online meetings so that in alternate years, an online AGM is held in conjunction with a Board meeting in Ottawa.

Time commitments vary depending on committee work and can be between four hours to two days per month in addition to the meetings noted above.
 
What can you gain from this experience?

  • the satisfaction of being able to contribute to human rights
  • the opportunity to use and further develop your skills
  • the opportunity to meet and work with a variety of interesting, committed people
  • the opportunity to deepen your understanding of Amnesty and its work
  • a chance for you to make a unique contribution to the evolution of the Branch



Member Delegates for the Global Assembly
Note: please refer to the Global Assembly Delegation Rotation schedule for further information.

The Global Assembly, or "GA", is Amnesty International's highest decision-making body and is the international equivalent to our Annual General Meeting (AGM). The GA is held annually and includes delegates from AI Sections and Structures around the world. 

The 2025 Member Delegate will work with, prepare for, and attend the 2025 GA with the Amnesty Canada delegation, including preparation for the Amnesty International Regional Forum that will take place prior to the GA in the fall.


What skills and experiences are we looking for in a Member Delegate?

  • Have been involved with Amnesty International for at least two years 
  • Have had leadership experience either within Amnesty International or external to Amnesty International
  • Available to participate remotely (or in person should the Global Assembly be held in person)


What is the time commitment?

Being an GA delegate means being part of a team. You will be preparing alongside the other members of the GA delegation. This involves numerous email exchanges, several conference calls, and a lot of reading. It is a fair amount of work, but you are supported through every step in the process. That sense of collegiality and teamwork continues all the way through to the end of the GA.

One of the key elements of our global governance model are the Regional Forums that bring together each region for a series of meetings each spring in preparation for the GA. Again, this will be a virtual meeting between all sections within the region. In preparation for the Regional Forum there is likely to be reading and one conference call with the GA delegation.

After the Regional Forum, and in advance of the GA there will be preparation for the AGM, conference calls and GA documents to read.

What can you gain from this experience?

Anyone who has participated in a GA will tell you that it is an amazing experience. In addition to hearing from AI activists from around the globe, delegates have an opportunity to debate, discuss, negotiate and resolve issues that directly affect Amnesty's human rights work on an international level. Participating in our global governance processes can be challenging and time-intensive work, but it is also immensely satisfying and, at times, exhilarating!