Strategic Advocacy and Navigating the Policy Landscape:
Positioning Your Board for Sector Influence 2025
In today's complex environment, effective organizational leadership extends beyond the boardroom. This advanced workshop is designed for experienced board members seeking to elevate their role in shaping and influencing the policy landscape relevant to their organization's mission. We move beyond the basics of governance to explore the critical function of the board in understanding, strategically supporting, and actively participating in advocacy efforts.
Participants will delve into the nuances of integrating advocacy into strategic planning, defining appropriate board vs. management roles, navigating the political terrain ethically and effectively, and measuring the impact of their advocacy work.
Equip your board to become a powerful voice for your organization's cause.
Learning Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this advanced workshop, participants will be able to:
-
Deepen Understanding: Analyze the political and policy environment impacting your organization and identify strategic advocacy opportunities and risks.
-
Mapping the Policy Ecosystem: Identifying key players, processes, and points of influence of the political and policy environment relevant to their sector.
-
Define the Board's Role: Clarify the board's unique responsibilities in advocacy oversight, strategic direction, and relationship-building, distinct from operational execution.
-
Master Participation: Understand the spectrum of board participation – from high-level ambassadorship to direct engagement – and determine appropriate levels based on context and capacity.
Who Should Attend:
This session is designed for experienced directors, board leaders, and senior executives seeking to master the complexities of modern governance and contribute to the organizations strategic direction.
Ideal for those who have a foundational understanding of Board governance and are ready to deepen their strategic contribution and leadership in the boardroom.
About The Presenter:
Mariam Waliji
Vice-President - Equity, Impact & Governance, Pillar Nonprofit Network
Mariam has a passion for connection – whether it be with people, place, or community. Her years studying evolutionary genetics and ecology sparked questions about how local food systems and restricted access to well-grown food impact society in multifaceted ways; this encouraged her to work towards addressing inequities and barriers to access more broadly in our current systems.
Her work with Pillar Nonprofit Network allows her to reframe the definition of success for social impact organizations while creating space to explore what it means to have intentional, meaningful impact in community in long-term and viable ways. Mariam’s experience and leadership as a Board member to various local community organizations uniquely equips her with the knowledge and skills required to understand nonprofit governance, social enterprise models, and community development work; a lens she brings with her to her work at Pillar Nonprofit Network. By commiting to being deeply embedded in community, Mariam strives to understand the needs of those both working in, and being supported, by the nonprofit sector -- allowing that to guide her approach to equity, impact, and governance.
Through education, an emphasis on sharing narrative, an understanding of intersectional environmentalism, ongoing personal development, and a genuine connection with her community, she aims to encourage growth and power in a collaborative economy. Her hope is to participate in creating a more just, equitable, and joyful future for us all.
This event is part of a 3-part series:
Advanced All About Boards 2025: Strategic Governance for Complex Times and Purpose-Driven Boards
<<<< Click here to learn more >>>>