Launched in November 2009, the Canadian Board Diversity Council (CBDC)’s goal is to improve the diversity of boards of Financial Post 500 organizations and federal agencies, boards, commissions and crown corporations. The Council’s vision is to increase board representation of women, members of visible minority groups, Aboriginal and First Nations people, persons with disabilities and members of the LGBT community over the next five years.

The CBDC believes that boards comprised of directors who bring a wide range of perspectives, skills and experience to corporate governance will be effective contributors to the performance of their organizations.

Our Founding Members are organizations that are leaders in diversity and corporate governance in the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors. The CBDC has also received funding from the Government of Canada.

What is the mandate of the CBDC?

• To educate private and public sector leaders on diversity best practices;
• To encourage CEOs, Board and Nominating Chairs to adopt a board diversity guideline/policies;
• To increase the representation of women on FP500 boards from 14% to 20% by 2013;
• To equip organizations with the tools to recruit diverse candidates and equip board-ready and high-potential diverse candidates with the tools to pursue board placement.

How will the CBDC achieve its mandate?

• Creating and distributing an Annual Report Card on diversity practices and outcomes on the boards of Canada’s FP500 organizations;
• Creating and communicating ‘Board Diversity Best Practices’ and ‘Board Diversity Action Plans’ to support Chairs of Boards and Nominating Committees in addressing board composition;
• Bringing together Chairs of Boards and Nominating Committees with board-ready and high-potential diverse candidates;
• Equipping board-ready and high-potential diverse candidates with the tools to pursue board placement;
• Executing an advertising and media campaign that profiles companies and their boards that are leaders in board diversity with stakeholder groups including shareholders, governments, employees, media and customers.