Marine Renewables Canada Call for Nominations for the 2025 Board of Directors Now Open

Help advance sustainable solutions to climate change – join the Marine Renewables Canada (MRC) Board of Directors and be part of our efforts to ensure marine renewable energy plays an important role in energy transition and building Canada’s blue economy. Share your leadership and knowledge by working with a dedicated group of board directors, members, and staff who have been committed to advancing tidal, offshore wind, wave, and river current energy development and opportunities across Canada. 

The MRC Board of Directors invites nominations for three (3) new members for its board directors, with each open seat designated for female candidates to ensure a gender balanced and diverse board. 

MRC is committed to the Government of Canada’s 50-30 Challenge which sets a goal of gender parity on Canadian boards. As MRC continues to build a diverse and effective board, we believe that achieving gender balance is critical to our success. With this in mind, the MRC Board is designating the three (3) open board seats for 2025 to female candidates with the aim of ensuring the board reflects a range of perspectives and experiences. This approach aligns with our commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion at all levels of our organization. We believe that by proactively seeking out qualified female candidates, we can create a more balanced and dynamic board that benefits from diverse viewpoints and leadership styles. MRC encourages its membership to support this commitment when submitting nominations. 

The MRC Board also encourages candidates to apply who bring skills and experience from a range of sectors that will help to build the growing marine renewable energy sector. MRC is committed to advancing and championing all forms of marine renewable energy and aims to ensure that its leadership has the knowledge and expertise to support this goal. As a national association, MRC also aims for its board to reflect its coast-to-coast-to-coast membership by having board director representation from across the country, particularly in areas with high potential for marine renewable energy development.  

About Marine Renewables Canada 

Marine Renewables Canada is the national association for tidal, offshore wind, wave and river current energy, representing technology and project developers, utilities, researchers, and the energy and marine supply chain. Since 2004, the association has worked to build the sector by advocating for supportive policies, identifying domestic and international business development opportunities for its members, facilitating collaboration amongst its membership and broader ecosystem, providing education and outreach, and disseminating market intelligence. As part of its focus on developing the sector, Marine Renewables Canada is active in catalyzing opportunities for how marine renewable energy can contribute to achieving net-zero goals through production of green fuels such as hydrogen, as well as displacement of diesel in remote communities and marine industries. 

 → More at www.marinerenewables.ca 

About the MRC Board of Directors 

The MRC Board of Directors is comprised of nine elected members with a diverse range of experience and skills. Board director terms are for three years. During this time directors are expected to: 

  • Actively participate and support the mission of MRC by engaging in meetings, contributing to association-led initiatives and providing leadership, governance, and oversight. 
  • Represent the interests and capabilities of the Canadian marine renewable energy industry by developing strategies and advocacy that will build the sector. 
  • Provide advice and knowledge to ensure the health and sustainability of the association. 
  • Assist with developing and fostering strategic alliances among other organizations and stakeholders, both locally and globally to pursue common goals. 
  • Foster diversity, equity, and inclusion by developing, adopting, and implementing organizational policies that reflect the values of MRC and its membership.  

Time commitment – Board positions are volunteer-based. Board of director meetings are scheduled quarterly. Directors are also expected to engage in any special meetings of the board as well as the Annual General Meeting. They are also encouraged to participate in MRC-led events such as the annual conference, networking events, workshops, webinars, etc. 

Nomination Process 

The Call for Nominations begins October 8, 2024 and will run until November 8, 2024. As stated above there are three (3) board director positions available. 

Members in the Full, Leader or Champion categories whose dues are current are eligible to be nominated and run for election. If you are not an MRC member yet, but have interests in the association, industry, and board opportunity please email Amanda White for more details about membership (contact information below). Information about membership is also available here. 

Nominations will be conducted electronically (via email).  

To nominate an individual or self-nominate, please email Amanda@marinerenewables.ca by November 8, 2024 (11:59 pm AT) and include nominee’s full name, title, company, contact information including email and phone. A confirmation will be sent verifying receipt and acceptance of the nomination. 

**All Nominees will be required to provide a photo, one-page biography, that includes details on why you want to be on the MRC Board of Directors. This information will be used ONLY for the purposes of the election and will be distributed to members when voting opens. 

Voting will be carried out from November 12, 2024 to December 13, 2024 and will also be conducted electronically (via email). Members in the Full, Leader or Champion categories whose dues are current are eligible to vote. A notification will be sent to all members once voting opens. 

For questions, please contact Amanda White at Amanda@marinerenewables.ca / (902) 717-0716.