Board of Directors

Board of Directors

Volunteer | Hybrid - Edmonton

Recruiting for Board term- 2026-27

The Newcomer Centre is seeking to fill multiple Board vacancies. This role offers you an opportunity to strengthen your leadership skills, gain valuable governance expertise, expand your professional networks, and use your professional and personal skills and networks to support a cause you believe in.

About the Organization

The Newcomer Centre’s core purpose is to support newcomers along all stages of their settlement journey, from arrival to thriving. The Newcomer Centre offers settlement, counselling, English language classes, employment, and community engagement programs. Learn more at www.newcomercentre.com

About the Role

Board members set the vision and strategic priorities. As a board director, you will attend board meetings in person every second month from September to June (virtual attendance is an option when in-person attendance is not possible). Directors are expected to attend the yearly Annual General Meeting held in late June and the annual Strategic Retreat in October. Board members also contribute by serving on at least one standing committee: Governance, Audit and Finance, Human Resources and the Advisory Development and External Relations Committee. You will also be invited to represent the Newcomer Centre at other functions or events throughout the year.

Skills and Experience

The Newcomer Centre is seeking individuals passionate about making our community more inclusive and celebrating diversity as a strength. Ideal candidates understand board governance and demonstrate a commitment to community involvement and the work of the organization. Our goal is to create a high functioning and diverse board that is representative of the community members we serve.

We are looking to fill out our board’s knowledge in the areas of:

• Legal
• Human Resources
• Community and government relations
• Fundraising and Fund Development
• Knowledge of program areas (e.g. settlement, employment, community development)

Term of Service

Appointees serve until the June 2027 AGM, where members vote to ratify them for 3-year term.

This is an unpaid volunteer position. All reasonable travel and similar expenses will be reimbursed with prior approval.

Selection Process

The deadline to apply is October 26, 2026. Interviews will run in early November, 2026. Selected candidates will be appointed for Board Approval at the next Board meeting. Appointees take their seats right away.

The Selection Committee will be comprised of five members:

• Hussein Bhanji
• Sandra Moreno
• Sumira Duggal
• Sunny Chattha
• Terence Sawke

Interview Preparation

During a 45-minute conversation, the Selection Committee members will ask you several questions. To help you collect your thoughts, we have outlined the categories of topics you may be asked about.

Understanding of Newcomer Centre’s scope of work and expression of personal interest

Why are you applying to join the Newcomer Centre Board? What is your current understanding of the work that the Newcomer Centre does or what has your experience with our organizations been? Do you have a personal connection with the agency or its work you are comfortable sharing with the panel?

Board and governance experience

What board roles have you have held and what were the key contribution you made in those roles? If you do not have experience serving on a board, what leadership experience do you have in organizations or on committees that would lend itself to serving on the Newcomer Centre board?

The Newcomer Centre values and understanding of equity, diversity, accessibility, justice, and inclusion

The Newcomer Centre supports folks from all over the world to create a sense of home here in Edmonton. Our core values are Interconnectedness, Empowerment, Compassion and Accountability. We are committed to championing social justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion within our agency and in our broader community, while also being humble and constantly learning.

How do the Newcomer Centre values align with your own? How are you a champion for EDI?

Experience in key skill and knowledge areas

The Newcomer Centre is seeking folks that can support our board in areas of Legal expertise, Human Resources and Government Relations.

What experience do you have in an organizational leadership or governance role in any of these areas? Are there other areas of strength can you share with the Newcomer Centre not mentioned here?

Strategic thinking and alliance building capacity

Canada is expecting many newcomers in the coming years, and the Newcomer Centre just developed a 3-year Strategic Plan with focus in five key areas of activity to help us build organizational capacity:

• Align the organization
• Advance a defined business & economic model
• Integrate the service delivery model
• Adopt a newcomer-centered approach to service design
• Champion & advocate for newcomer success.

How do you think your skills, experiences, and connections will help support one or more of these strategic thrusts? What challenges are facing newcomers in Edmonton today? What do you think some major opportunities are for the Newcomer Centre in the future?

Capacity to commit to Board work and support of agency strategy and activities

The Newcomer Centre has ambitious objectives over the coming three years that will require the investment of time and resources from our Board members. This includes a commitment to attending Board and Committee meetings, responding promptly to communications from the Newcomer Centre staff and board colleagues, amplifying the Newcomer Centre’s voice digitally on social media and in person by attending events, and being willing to support fund development activities by making connections to potential donors and sponsors or choosing to make the Newcomer Centre one of your charities for personal philanthropy.

How will you integrate our board responsibilities and the Newcomer Centre activities into your already busy calendar? Where do you foresee potential conflicts of interest or time challenges to full participation?