Our governance model has been developed carefully, with regard for the criteria established by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and our continuing goal to be responsive to our stakeholders. ESAO has adopted the Carver policy governance model, which involves the creation of policies for governing the organization under the leadership of the Board, and is recognized as a highly effective approach to governing non-profit organizations.

According to our By-law, the Board shall consist of not more than 14 directors. These include 11 voting directors elected by the members, two ex-officio voting directors nominated by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, and one ex-officio non-voting director who shall be the Executive Director of the corporation. Each director elected by the members must be employed by an organization that contributes to the funding of ESAO through assessments under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act.

The Board of ESAO is a rotating Board. Each director elected by the members serves a three year term, except for certain existing directors who have served a one year or two year term to establish the rotation. Each year, the term of office of three or four directors will expire and, at the Annual Meeting, the same number will be elected. These directors may not serve for more than two consecutive terms. We believe that the rotating Board provides ESAO with an appropriate balance of experience and renewal.

The By-law establishes a Nominating Committee responsible for identifying candidates to serve on the Board. The By-law requires that the Nominating Committee will strive to ensure that the Board is representative of the stakeholders in the corporation (including the voting members, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and labour) and that all candidates for election to the Board are individuals who will act with a view to the best interest of the corporation as a whole.

The By-law provides for two categories of membership: voting and non-voting members.

There are eight voting members. These are:

• The Ontario Public School Boards' Association
• The Ontario Catholic Schools Trustees' Association
• The Council of Ontario Universities
• The Association of Applied Arts and Technologies of Ontario
• The Ontario Library Association
• The Ontario Museum Association
• The Independent Schools Association of Ontario
• L'Association Franco-Ontarienne des Conseils d'ecoles Catholiques

These organizations, or their respective successors, represent the colleges, universities, schools, libraries and museums that contribute to the funding of ESAO through assessments by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board. At the annual meeting, the voting members elect directors, review financial statements and appoint auditors.

Any person who is not a voting member may apply for non-voting membership. Applications may be submitted to ESAO through the Director of Administrative Services and will be reviewed periodically by the Board. Non-voting members receive notice of the annual meeting, and are encouraged to attend and participate in the discussions.