Access Copyright – Call for Board Directors

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Access Copyright has a rewarding opportunity for individuals looking to contribute to Canada’s creative economy in a Board Director capacity.

For over 35 years, Access Copyright has been a collective voice of Canadian creators and publishers, and their right to be paid for the reproduction of their work. We facilitate content use for educational and professional purposes so that users can customize published materials with an assurance that the original creators and publishers also benefit. When creators and publishers benefit, they can continue creating new and innovative works. In total, we have distributed over $470 million in royalties to rightsholders in Canada and around the world.

Why serving on the Access Copyright Board is right for you

Being an Access Copyright Board Director means you play a role in ensuring creators and publishers are fairly compensated for the use of their works in an increasingly digitally connected world. It also means joining a dynamic group of professional leaders from the worlds of academia, marketing, publishing, writing and visual arts.

Directors make sure Access Copyright will be able to execute a new strategic plan to re-envision the organization’s role as key service provider to Canada’s creator and publisher communities as well as to all those who use copyright protected material for education, training and other purposes, and also make high-level decisions and provide guidance to senior management.

Access Copyright is a non-profit organization, and Board directors serve on a volunteer basis and receive a small honorarium on a semi-annual basis.

The Access Copyright Board meets quarterly. While Directors are encouraged to attend the Board meetings in person (Toronto) as often as possible, it is possible to attend the meetings virtually. Directors are also expected to attend the Access Copyright Annual General Meeting which is held virtually. Additionally, directors serving on a committee(s) can also expect to meet virtually quarterly.

Additional Board and committee meetings may be called, as required, throughout the year with as much advance notice as possible.

If you have the passion, perspective and experience to contribute to Access Copyright, our Nominating Committee wants to hear from you.

No matter what your experience may be, if the thought of serving on Access Copyright’s Board interests and energizes you, we encourage you to apply for this opportunity.

As a Board Director you are:

• Interested in the current changes occurring in the creator and publishing world, including technology and digital issues;
• Passionate about creators and publishers being fairly compensated while also being sensitive to and knowledgeable about the challenges and needs of content users;
• Adept at both strategic and lateral thinking.

It would be great if you have any or all of the following skills:

• Knowledge of basic financial and investment practices for businesses;
• Previous experience as a Board Director;
• An understanding of copyright, and the current legislative and political environment;
• Knowledge of licensing and contracts, and how copyright collectives work;
• Experience in change management and organizational transformation;
• Experience in B2B sales and marketing, product marketing, and business development;
• Experience in Canada’s large-enterprise sector;
• Demonstrated skills in communications, negotiation, advocacy, lobbying, problem solving, policy making and risk assessment;
• Residency in Atlantic Canada.

Access Copyright strives to be an inclusive and safe space for all, and to accurately reflect the diversity of the various stakeholders that we serve. We strongly encourage expressions of interest from people who are members of marginalized and/or underserved/underrepresented communities, especially individuals who identify with: First Nations, Metis, or Inuit, or people of colour; diverse gender and sexual identities (including LGBTQ2+); people living with dis/ability, etc.

How to Apply

Individuals interested in applying to serve on the Access Copyright Board are invited to send in a resumé and cover letter summarizing their qualifications to Access Copyright at info@accesscopyright.ca. The deadline for applications is Friday, November 15, 2024.

We thank everyone for their interest but only those selected for an interview by the Nominating Committee will be contacted.

Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a short assignment prior to an interview. The Committee will also conduct a reference check for shortlisted candidates.

Candidates nominated by the Nominating Committee as director candidates to the Board for a three-year term must be approved by Access Copyright’s membership at its 2024 Annual General Meeting on April 25, 2025.

Access Copyright is committed to providing accommodations for people with disabilities. If you require an accommodation, kindly let us know and we will work with you to meet your needs.