The International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) is seeking international executive board (IEB) practitioners for the 2017-2018 board year, who will help lead IABC into the future. The IEB selection process follows a rigorous, competency-based selection approach emphasizing: leadership problem-solving global perspective strategic thinking business acumen

1. Board Candidate Briefing
International Executive Board

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International Executive Board (IEB) Candidate Pack
International Association of Business Communicators
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Board Candidate Briefing
International Executive Board
International Association of Business Communicators
Dear candidate,
Thank you for taking the time to consider a board role for the International Association of
Business Communicators (IABC).
IABC is the only global association dedicated to connecting and serving professional
communicators.
This brief pack sets out essential information for this role:
• IABC’s vision, values and beliefs
• How the organization effects change
• Who does what – and where you learn more…
It also covers the expectations of the International Executive Board, descriptions of officer
roles and competency criteria. Last but not least, it sets out a timeline for the nomination
process.
Please study it carefully. Reach out if you have questions: pastchair@iabc.com - and please
help spread the word using #IABCieb.
Communication can be a force for good – and you can help ensure it is. It has never been
more important than it is today.
You’ll grow as a leader – and make a difference too.
Step up.
Michael Ambjorn
Chair of the Nominating Committee

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International Executive Board (IEB) Candidate Pack
International Association of Business Communicators
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About IABC

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International Executive Board (IEB) Candidate Pack
International Association of Business Communicators
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The board plays an essential role in the smooth running of an
organization drawing on 1000+ leaders across the world.
Learn more about IABC’s governance:
https://www.iabc.com/about-us/governance/
Meet the leaders and staff:
https://www.iabc.com/about-us/leaders-and-staff/

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International Executive Board (IEB) Candidate Pack
International Association of Business Communicators
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INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD/TRUSTEE BOARD
The International Executive Board (IEB) is the governing body of IABC. It is accountable to
the members and has supervision, control and direction of the affairs of the association. It
actively pursues the association’s mission, determines its policy within the limits of the law,
Bylaws, and Articles of Incorporation. It upholds the IABC Code of Ethics for Professional
Communicators and supervises disbursement of the association’s funds. The Executive
Board develops the strategic plan and direction for the association under the guidance of
the association Bylaws approved by the IABC membership. The IEB serves as the Board
of Trustees for the IABC Foundation.
EXPECTATIONS AND ROLES
The IABC International Executive Board/IABC Foundation Trustee Expectations
• To help drive communication as a force for good in business and society
• To provide leadership and support to the profession and the IABC global membership
• To set explicit governing policies and bylaws
• To ensure that IABC programs and services are serving member needs and those of the
profession
• To ensure ongoing financial health and set strategic priorities of the Association
• To work collaboratively with the entire IABC team, including staff
• To understand and have a passionate commitment to IABC and professionalism in
communication
Duties of board members
• Contribute to the development of IABC’s strategy, annual business plan and financial
stewardship
• Be a dynamic liaison for member relations
• Attend at least two in-person board meetings per year – at World Conference and
International Leadership Institute
• Participate in board video conference calls at least monthly, usually of 90 – 120 minutes
duration
• Serve, at the chair's pleasure, on board committees
• Attend the IABC Annual General Meeting at the World Conference
BOARD LEADERSHIP POSITIONS:
Chair (one-year term)
• Act as Chief Officer of IABC
• Be the principal spokesperson for the Association
• Exercise general supervision over the executive director
• Act as key liaison from the board to IABC's executive director
• Preside at all annual and special meetings of IABC
• Preside at all executive board and executive committee meetings
• Assign titles, duties and responsibilities to directors
• Serve on Personnel Committee
• Promulgate or establish all committees
• Appoint chairs of committees, where needed
• Serve as an ex-officio, non-voting member of the nominating committee
• Select the recipient(s) of the annual Chair's Award
• Represent or appoints representation for IABC at meetings of other organizations
and at public events

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International Executive Board (IEB) Candidate Pack
International Association of Business Communicators
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• Automatically serve a subsequent term as past chair
Vice Chair (one- year term – 3-year commitment serving as Vice Chair, Chair and
Past Chair)
• Prepare for role as chair and past chair (automatic)
• Perform duties assigned by the chair
• Act in the absence of the chair
• Serve as chair of the Council of Regions
• Oversee long-range planning activities for the Association
• Serve on the Executive Committee
• Serve on Personnel Committee
• Serve on the Nominating Committee
• Serve on the Finance Committee
• Serve on the Policy Committee
• Serve as an ex-officio member of all standing committees
Secretary/Treasurer (one-year term)
• Serve as chief financial officer for the Association
• Chair the Finance Committee
• Serve on the Executive Committee
• Serve on Personnel Committee
• Serve on Investment Committee
• Sign all certified copies of acts of the Association
• Report to the board on the Association’s financial results on a regular basis
• Sign off minutes of Executive Board meetings
• Oversee the preparation of the Association’s budget
• Responsible for duties as outlined in the IABC by-laws
• The Secretary/Treasurer shall serve a one-year term, and may be elected for a
second consecutive term
COMPETENCIES
IABC is looking for board members who can demonstrate degrees of competency in
the following (unranked) list:
Problem Solving
• Balances the need for sometimes courageous decisions with good judgement
• Displays effective problem solving and decision-making skills, good insight and
judgement, innovative and creative thinking, and the ability to work in teams to reach
consensus
Leadership
• Able to collaborate and work in a team environment
• Has the ability to inspire, and motivate individuals and groups to achieve results
• Behaves in a manner that is consistent with the character and standards of IABC’s
Code of Ethics
Global Perspective
• Has a good understanding of the global communications environment
• Has experience in, or good appreciation of, global organizations/businesses
• Has the ability to identify and deal with the variety of challenges and opportunities of
operating in a multi-cultural and multi-national world
• Understands the concerns, interests, needs, and wants of the profession and
practitioners within it, including IABC’s own members

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• Possesses a general understanding of industry trends that must be addressed by the
Association in order to drive communication as a force for good in business and
society and appeal to prospective members
Strategic Thinking
• Understands trends in the communication profession
• Understands changes in technology and how they affect the profession
• Understands the strategic direction of the Association and uses strategic approaches
to decision-making
• Possesses an accurate understanding of the Association and of various
environmental conditions that influence the profession, constituents, and the
Association
Business
• Has a good grip on how business and markets work and the value communication
brings to these
• Financial knowledge, including an understanding of financial statements, managing
financial products and financial decision-making
• Understands how fundraising/sponsorships work
High-performing board members also tend to have a strong interest in good practice in the
non-profit sector. Here are a few relevant resources you may want to look at more closely as
you think carefully about whether a role like this is right for you:
• http://governancecode.org/
• http://leadingwithintent.org/
• http://boardsource.org/
CAPACITY
Being a practitioner-led association, IABC benefits from the generosity of members
giving their time at international, regional and chapter level. We do ask you to
consider your capacity to take on a board role if you are already an active volunteer
for the association. As part of the application process we ask you to inform us of any
other posts you currently hold within IABC.

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APPLICATION CHECKLIST:
VIDEO SUBMISSIONS:
Create a one-minute digital video that answers the question:
“How my membership of, and contribution to, the IEB will significantly help strengthen the
Association in its vision and mission”.
Please limit your video to 60 seconds or less and use this opportunity to help the
nominating committee get to know you as a person.
Your video does not have to be studio quality, and should be submitted in a MPEG file
format. Use Dropbox as necessary to upload the file. Cell phones, digital cameras,
webcams or other devices will work. Your video will give the Nominating Committee a
chance to hear your thoughts, as well as other candidates’ thoughts, on the common
subject identified above.
Submit video file to nominations@iabc.com by Wednesday, January 11th
.
Questions to expect on the online application form:
- List other professional organizations to which you belong
- Time available to committee to board work
- Why you have an interest in serving on the International Executive Board (IEB)
- Describe how experiences from your work as a volunteer for IABC has prepared you
for service on the IEB
- Describe your thoughts on what difference IABC can make to its members and the
profession
- Describe how IABC will need to change to deliver on the IABC strategy, particularly if
we are to drive communication as a force for good in business and society
- Describe how IABC differentiates itself from other associations
- Describe what has the most untapped potential value for all that IABC has to offer
- For those who apply for the role of Vice Chair, you’ll be asked your thoughts around:
o What is the most significant contribution you can make as Chair
o Why do you want to be Vice Chair and Chair
o What is your approach when things go wrong
☐ Completed online application form
☐ Current resume or curriculum vitae and recent photo
☐ 60 second video
Please expect to provide contact information for three references during the
application process .

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International Executive Board (IEB) Candidate Pack
International Association of Business Communicators
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NOMINATING COMMITTEE
The IABC Nominating Committee shall screen nominees under guidelines adopted by the
Executive Board, primarily based on the basis of competency criteria established by IABC,
with consideration for geographic, demographic, and cultural diversity; and shall present its
slate to the Executive Board for approval (IABC Bylaws, Article 8: Executive Board
Nominations).
On 13 June 2015, the International Executive Board adopted a policy to extend the role of
the bylaw instituted Nominations Committee to serve its function for all relevant IABC
committees and institute an open call for nominations using the IABC Leadership
Competency Framework.
Further information on the 2016-17 IABC Nominating Committee.
HOW TO APPLY
Please fill out the online application form. At time of submission, please be ready to upload
your CV/resume.
Following the submission of your online application, your 60-second video must be emailed
to nominations@iabc.com by Wednesday, January 11th
. *At the close of the open call, if an
application lacks a video submission, that application will not be considered.
If you would like an informal discussion about the IEB and its roles, you are welcome to
contact Chair of the Nominations Committee (and Past Chair of the Association), Michael
Ambjorn – reachable via pastchair@iabc.com .
Any further questions about how to apply, please reach out to Governance Manager Kirsten
Peterson at kpeterson@iabc.com .
TIMELINE
Closing date for applications 11 January 2017
Application review, referencing & scoring Early February
In person Nominating Committee selection meeting 25 February 2017
Final appointment and approval by full board 1 March 2017
Outreach to all candidates End of March
Ratification of IEB Slate during Annual General Meeting 10 June 2017
If you are applying for Vice Chair, please ensure you are free for an interview with the
Nominating Committee on 25 February 2017. [Either through skype video-conference or in-
person at Leadership Institute in Dallas, TX (Travel and accommodation costs will not be provided by
IABC if a candidate chooses to attend the in-person interview)]