Your association has been asked to put forward a name to represent the sector. What is an advisory board? Who is the ideal candidate to put forward?
Governments across Canada have come to rely on advisory boards, councils, and task forces to provide input on complex public policy issues, provide fresh ideas, and contribute to smarter government decisions.
Advisory boards now exist to address government policies and issues of all kinds from health care, to taxation, to culture and trade. Some are expert committees dealing with narrow or technical matters while others, like the federal Economic Advisory Council, have a pivotal role in setting overall government direction. They often have members specifically named by associations to represent their interest or speak for a sector.
Composition
The advisory board is often comprised of a diverse group brought together to represent differing perspectives and sometimes to reconcile contrasting points of view. Their product is advice. Their purpose is to inform, guide, and influence government ministers and senior officials. They tend to focus on specialized topics and current problems. The members participate on a voluntary basis as appointees, and their work is non-partisan.
Dos and Don’ts for Association Representatives
Your association or non-profit has been asked to provide a representative for a government advisory board. What can they expect and how should they be prepared? Check out the next blog post for a list of dos and don’ts.
Content used with permission from CSAE Association Magazine (08/09, 2012)
