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.
Overerview
Membership-elected Trustee Election
As a ROM Member, your membership allows you the opportunity to participate as a voter in the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) Member-elected Trustee election. ROM Members elect four of the 21 positions on the Board of Trustees. Each membership is provided with an opportunity to cast one vote.
ROM looks for leaders who share ROM’s values, reflect the diversity of our city and province and have strong business skills and relevant board experience.
ROM is currently seeking and recruiting qualified candidates to run for one position in the 2026 Membership-elected Trustee election. Members interested in the member-elected Trustee positions are encouraged to read about the nomination process outlined here.
General Information
Founded more than one hundred years ago, the 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 one 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 2026, 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 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 from May 11, 2026, 12:01 a.m. (Eastern Time) until May 25, 2025, 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time).
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 by April 11, 2026. 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.
Important Dates
March 16, 2026: Call for Nominations Opens
April 17, 2026: Nominations Period Closes
April 24, 2026: Candidate Notification
April 27–30, 2026: Candidate Information Session (date tbc)
May 8, 2026: Member Notification of Election
May 11–25, 2026: ROM Membership-elected Trustee Election
June 2–3, 2026: Verification of Votes
June 5, 2026: Election Results are Shared with Candidates
June 8, 2026: Election Results are shared with Members
Definition of Terms
Campaign: an organized effort, other than on the platform provided by ROM on its website, which seeks to influence the decision-making process of any Member or within a specific group of Members, including, without limitation, sending electronic messages or direct mail to, or hosting events for, Members, that describes a candidate’s accomplishments or vision for the future of the ROM.
Current Member: A Member who is in good standing not less than 30 days’ prior to, and on the date of, the election.
Inappropriate Conduct: includes, without limitation, (i) any offensive, abusive, disparaging or defamatory communication or conduct towards any ROM staff, trustee, volunteer, any other ROM Member or any visitor, (ii) any threatened or actual damage to or destruction of any property located in or at the ROM, (iii) the failure to comply with any ROM security measures (after being advised thereof) or any ROM policies, (iv) any communication or conduct that may be damaging to the reputation of ROM, or (v) any conviction of an indictable offence or felony, or if any charge or information is brought involving any act of moral turpitude, in each case, as determined by ROM in its sole discretion.
Need more information?
If you have a question, please contact the ROM Board Office at election@rom.on.ca.