Our board
Who is responsible for the room
A private club is only as good as the governance behind it. The board holds the strategy, the money, the calendar and the standard — and several of its seats are open to members right now.
Open seats
6
currently open to members, including two elected member directorships.
Nominate yourself or someone elseThe board
Seats and mandates
Each seat carries a defined responsibility. Open seats can be filled by nomination at any time.
- Founder & Chief Executive Officer
- Ebony Ormond-Ham, the founder of The Garden's Executive Club, Inc. Sets the club's direction and hosts the quarterly membership inquiry dinners.
- Board Chair
- Chairs the board, sets the agenda, and holds the advisory board to its fiduciary and cultural responsibilities.
- Vice ChairSeat open
- Deputises for the Chair and leads board development. A natural fit for a member who already facilitates for others.
- Secretary
- Custodian of the club's records, minutes and governance documents. Ensures decisions made in the room are decisions on the record.
- TreasurerSeat open
- Oversees the club's finances, membership investment and the stewardship of donations and sponsorship.
- Membership ChairSeat open
- Owns the candidate pipeline: the quarterly candidacy dinners, the application review, and the invitation decision.
- Programs Chair
- Steward the Core groups, the Salon Series, the GEC Leaders Program and GEC Connect.
- Events ChairSeat open
- Leads the annual dinner, the GEC Summit, The Magnolia and the calendar of member gatherings.
- Director of Research & ImpactSeat open
- Leads the club's published work — the five research threads — and the annual review.
- Member Directors (2 seats)Seat open
- Elected seats held by serving members, to guarantee the board is never more removed from the room than the room is from the board.
Committees
Where the work actually gets done
The board sets direction. The committees do it. Committee membership is open to serving members only.
- 01
Membership & Candidacy
Reviews applications, prepares the quarterly candidacy dinners, and makes the invitation recommendation. Members only.
- 02
Programs
Designs the Core group curriculum, commissions Core guides, and runs the Salon Series calendar.
- 03
Events & Experiences
The annual dinner, the GEC Summit, The Magnolia, and the luncheon series.
- 04
Finance & Stewardship
Membership investment, sponsorship, donations, and the annual review's financial section.
- 05
Research & Impact
Owns the five published work threads and the club's public positions.
Common questions
On joining the board
Board service is a commitment, not a favour. Here is what is actually involved.
Do I have to be a member to take a board seat?
For the two elected member directorships, yes — those seats exist precisely to keep the board close to the membership. For the other offices, a non-member candidate may be considered where they bring a capability the board lacks.
What is the time commitment?
The board meets quarterly. Committee leads meet monthly in the season and quarterly out of it. We would rather under-promise here: ask us for the detail before you volunteer, and we will give you the honest number.
What is being asked of a director financially?
Directorships are unremunerated. Members who take a seat continue their full membership investment, and the board funds its own travel and subsistence.
How are candidates assessed?
On the strength, length, influence and impact of your career and your community contribution — the same standard applied to membership. We value diversity in every measure, including background, industry and role.
Can I nominate without knowing the candidate well?
Yes, and we would ask that you say so. Nominations are not endorsements of character; they are a signal that someone should be looked at properly.
People / Purpose / Possibility
Nominate someone for the board
Nominations are reviewed quarterly by the Membership Committee. You do not need to be a member to nominate — only to care.