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Are you interested in serving on OPPI Council or as an OPPI Representative? The OPPI Governance & Nominating Committee is calling for nominations from individuals who wish to contribute to the planning profession by joining OPPI Council as Chair-Elect or a Director. Additionally, we are recruiting an OPPI Representative for an external committee. Chair-Elect and Director positions commence at the adjournment of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in the fall of each year. The Governance & Nominating Committee works diligently to ensure that the OPPI Council is diverse in every way possible to ensure broad representation for the profession. Disclosing your personal identities is entirely optional. OPPI recognizes that there are real and perceived risks in self-identifying and disclosing this information. These responses are kept confidential and are used solely for the purpose of ensuring a greater representation of lived and professional experiences amongst members of OPPI Council. We strongly encourage applications from members of Indigenous, racialized, marginalized communities and/or other equity-deserving groups. Completed nominations packages must be submitted by April 15, 2024.
OPPI is led by a volunteer Council elected by the OPPI membership. Members of OPPI Council are guided by OPPI’s Act, By-Law, Strategic Plan, as well as an annual operational plan and budget prepared by staff and approved annually by Council. The priority of Council is to guide the organization through its strategic and governance responsibilities. It provides oversight and guidance in several core areas such as finance, risk management, and stakeholder relations. It empowers staff and volunteers to implement the strategic plan. OPPI has a full-time Executive Director who reports to Council through the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is made up of the President, President-Elect, and Secretary Treasurer. The Executive Committee meets a minimum of four times a year, between regular Council meetings, to provide important guidance on strategic and planning matters. The Executive Director manages a staff team of eleven individuals including a leadership team of four, the Registrar & Director of Education, the Director of Finance & Administration, the Director of Strategy & Communcations, and the Director of Diversity and Social Justice. The Registrar maintains the register of members and manages OPPI's complaints and discipline process.
OPPI Council convenes for an in-person meeting at OPPI headquarters (at the Yonge-Sheppard Center in Toronto) four times per year, quarterly. The meeting schedule is agreed to and published one year in advance. In-person meetings begin on a Thursday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. with a generative discussion or workshop followed by a dinner, and then Council business is dealt with on Friday until approximately 12:00 p.m. Transportation, accommodation, meals, and/or travel reimbursement are provided based on OPPI's Travel Policy. If an OPPI Council member is unable to travel to a meeting, a Zoom option to join the meeting will be available. Additionally, if government protocols prevent in-person gatherings, the quarterly meetings will be held via Zoom. There is a possibility that additional Zoom meetings may be scheduled throughout the year to deal with important matters. These meetings tend to be scheduled for 1.5 hours and are focused on one or two specific agenda items. In the fall of each year, OPPI Council members also attend OPPI's annual conference and participate in the Annual General Meeting (AGM). OPPI Council members are also asked to participate in workshops focusing on leadership skill building, governance, and strategic planning. In addition to their role on Council, OPPI Council members are invited to participate on one standing or program committee.
The roles and responsibilities of OPPI Council members ensure effective governance of OPPI.The general responsibilities of Directors, as well as restrictions on candidacy, are outlined in the By-law. First and foremost, Directors must fulfill their fiduciary responsibilities:
OPPI Council members must adhere to a Code of Conduct and sign a Confidentiality Agreement annually. Each new OPPI Council member is provided with an orientation session and governance training to ensure there is complete understanding of these responsibilities, especially as it relates to OPPI.
The Governance & Nominating Committee (G&N Committee) is responsible for managing the nominations and elections process for OPPI. A call for nominations will be published to invite candidates to submit their nominations package. A convenient self-assessment questionnaire has been prepared to help you assess readiness for a position on OPPI Council. If you submit a nominations package, you can expect the following actions to be taken by the G&N Committee: