Member-Elected Trustee
2025 Member-elected Trustee Announcement
The membership program is an important aspect of ROM’s commitment to public access and accountability. Pursuant to the Royal Ontario Museum Act, ROM Members elect four of the 21 positions on the Board of Trustees. A call for nominations to fill one vacancy for a Membership-elected Trustee was shared with the Membership in November 2024 and January 2025.
ROM is pleased to announce the re-election of Ms. Virginia Van Vliet to its Board of Trustees. Ms. Van Vliet will commence her second three-year term on July 1, 2025. Virginia is a retired librarian, an active member of ROM’s Department of Museum Volunteers Board, and a committed volunteer for the last 25 years.
ROM congratulates Virginia and looks forward to working with her on the Board. ROM also thanks its Members for their interest and participation in the election process.
General Information
Founded more than one hundred years ago, the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is a globally renowned institution celebrated for its multidisciplinary collections, ground-breaking research and iconic architecture. Spanning art, culture, and nature from around the world and across the ages, the Museum’s comprehensive collection, coupled with its exceptional exhibitions, installations, and programs that speak to diverse audiences, has made the ROM a leading cultural destination for local, national and international visitors.
Welcoming more than 1 million people annually, ROM is the most attended museum in Canada and ranks among the top 10 cultural institutions in North America. And as a globally recognized field research institute, home to more than 18 million artworks, cultural objects and natural history specimens featured in over 40 galleries and exhibitions spaces, the ROM is also one of the few truly multidisciplinary museums in the world.
Our mission is to transform lives by helping people to understand the past, make sense of the present and come together to shape a shared future. To do this, we build and share our global collections, create knowledge, inspire learning, encourage gathering and spark exchange on topics that matter to people and communities.
In 2025, ROM Members will have the opportunity to elect one Trustee to ROM’s Board of Trustees. ROM is looking for a candidate who have significant experience in areas relevant to ROM’s business. This needs to accompany a deep commitment to ROM’s values and purpose. ROM is seeking a candidate who can contribute insight and innovation, provide diversity of thought and experiences, and demonstrate an understanding of good governance.
To qualify as a candidate, you must meet the candidate eligibility requirements as outlined in ROM’s Membership-elected Trustee Management Policy (PDF). Candidates are strongly encouraged to review the nomination and election process. All candidates must:
- Be a Current Member of the ROM
- Be a resident of Ontario and at least 18 years of age
- Be nominated by 25 or more Current Members of ROM
- Not be in a conflict-of-interest position with respect to ROM
- Not have exhibited any Inappropriate Conduct
- Not be a current or retired employee of ROM. For clarity, current or retired employees of ROM who are Current Members are eligible to nominate candidates and to vote in the election.
The Board is the governing body responsible for the conduct of ROM and its affairs. A Trustee acts in a position of trust and is responsible for the effective governance of the organization and represents the interests of the Museum body as a whole. For clarity, whether appointed, elected or by virtue of office, all Trustees represent the interest of the institution and the Museum body as a whole and do not represent any one specific body or Membership sub-group of ROM. For more information about a Trustee’s role, please see the ROM Board of Trustees Role Description (PDF).
There are four committees of the Board, each held quarterly during the week in September, November, February and May. Board meetings are also held quarterly during the week following on the committee meetings, in October, December, March and June. Trustees are asked to sit on two committees and attend meetings in person. Additional time commitments include travel time to and from committee and board meetings and pre-meeting preparation time.
The Membership-elected Trustee term begins July 1 of the year in which a Member is elected and runs for a period of three years. An incumbent Trustee may seek re-election for an additional three-year term. The incumbent Trustee must follow the same nomination process as a new candidate. For more information, you are asked to review the Membership-elected Trustee Management Policy (PDF).
Nomination Process
ROM conducts all nomination and election processes as prescribed under the Membership Policy (PDF) and Membership-elected Trustee Management Policy (PDF).
Candidates must submit to the Board Office a “Candidate Submission Package” which includes the following items:
- The signatures (digitally accepted), with the Membership numbers, of at least 25 Current Members in support of their nomination within 30 days following the notice calling for nominations using the nomination form (PDF); one membership number per nomination
- A 200-word biography, and a 100-word personal statement in support of their candidacy, which will be made available to Members in the event of an election. The Board Office reserves the right to reject any candidate biography or personal statement that contains any factually inaccurate statement about the ROM or themselves, or that contains any communication that reflects Inappropriate Conduct
- May provide a headshot for inclusion in the election material provided to Members in the event of an election
- Responses to a pre-established set of questions (PDF), which are prepared by the Governance Committee of the Board of Trustees, and which will be made available to Members in the event of an election
- A current police criminal record background check (please allow for two or more weeks of processing time)
- A signed nominee statement of declaration form (PDF) in the form provided by the Board Office, declaring that such candidate has complied with, and will comply with, the Membership-elected Trustee Management Policy.
The Election & Voting Process
The Election
If more than three eligible candidates have met the requirements set out within the Membership-elected Trustee Management Policy (PDF), an election will be conducted.
No Campaigning
Campaigning is not permitted by or on behalf of a candidate, as is stipulated in the Membership-elected Trustee Management Practice. Candidates will have an opportunity to share their biography, personal statement and responses to a pre-established set of candidate questions.
Voting Procedures
Each ROM Membership number will be entitled to one vote. Only Current Members are entitled to vote and must be in good standing one month before the election. The election will be conducted through electronic means on the ROM website. Instructions on how to cast a vote will be provided to members in advance of the election via email.