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Projects: Recent & Currently 'In Progress'

  1. Research
  2. Publications
  3. Series of Web Articles
  4. Invited Presentations
  5. Consulting
  6. Training
  7. Faculty Appointments

Research

  • Research to derive “Practical Lessons on Governance from Case Studies on 20 Canadian nonprofits” (ranging from a rural Saskatchewan Lions Club through health and social service organizations, school boards and the B.C. Fast Ferries project. Find a copy of the report, list of organizations and case study summaries at http://www.iog.ca/view_publication_section.asp?area=5#pub_108 .
  • Research was supported in part by PricewaterhouseCoopers (now IBM) Endowment for the Business of Government; Human Resources Development Canada; Health Canada; Canadian Heritage; Agriculture Canada; and, the Alberta Ministry of Children's Services.
  • Literature review combined with these case studies resulted in development of a new framework of governance models used by Canadian nonprofits.
  • Researched and developed ‘Governance Self-Assessment Checklist' (administered to 50 non-profit organizations). Research supported by Health Canada and Human Resources Development Canada.
  • Research to establish linkages between good governance practices and organizational effectiveness in partnership with University of Ottawa, Centre for Research on Community Services, 2001-03.
  • Conducted and supervised Governance Reviews of five Canadian and international non-profit membership network organizations (Canadian Council for International Cooperation, the National Action Coalition on the Status of Women, the Canadian AIDS Society, the National Audubon Society, Amnesty International Canada), 2001
  • Principal Investigator, CIDA funded project to examine relationship between governments and non-profit organizations in development of public policy in Canada and four Southeast Asian countries, 2002 to 2004

Publications

  • Governing for Results: A Director's Guide to Good Governance . Handbook for Directors. Trafford Publishing Inc., Victoria, B.C., 2005. Book cover, table of contents, excerpts, reviewer commentary and ordering information available at www.synergyassociates.ca .
  • “ The Governance Self-Assessment Checklist: An Instrument for Assessing Board Effectiveness ” Mel Gill with Dr. Robert Flynn and Dr. Elke Reissing. Nonprofit Management and Leadership March 2005 15 (3). Paper on preliminary findings initially presented at 2002 ARNOVA conference in Montreal.
  • Sample By-law for nonprofit organizations, 2005. Available on CD ROM from author.
  • Sample Governance Policies , 2005. Also available on CD ROM from author.
  • “ Prospecting for Practical Methodologies: To Examine Links Between Governing Boards' Performance and Organizational Effectiveness ” Boards and Beyond Invitational Conference, Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership, University of Missouri, Kansas City, March 2005, conference proceedings.
  • “ Conflicted about Conflict of Interest?"” Publication pending in Spring 2007 issue of The Nonprofit Quarterly.
  • “ Building Effective Approaches to Governance ”, Mel Gill. Non-Profit Quarterly , Vol. 9 no. 2 Summer 2002 pp. 46-49. Paper initially presented at 2002 ARNOVA conference, Montreal.
  • “ What Governance Model is Right for Your Nonprofit Organization? The Options Available to Health and Human Service Organizations ” Open Minds: The Behavioral Health & Social Service Industry Analyst , 15(5) 2003, Gettysbury, PA
  • “ Policy Partnerships: Essential Elements of Effective Government/NGO Relationships ”, June 2003.
  • “ Benefits for Children: Case Study on the Role of Canadian Nonprofits in Development of Public Policy ”, Institute On Governance, Ottawa, January 2004. A fall 2004 revised version of this is available at www.iog.ca under the title “The Role of Canadian Voluntary Sector Organizations in Development of Public Policy Related to Benefits for Children: Case Studies from Canada” as part of a larger report: “Strengthening Social Policy: Lessons on forging government-civil society policy partnerships”.
  • “ Guide to Good Governance: A New Framework for Understanding and Strengthening Governance ”, February 2002. This working paper for the Institute On Governance (IOG) provided the foundation for designing the Institute's website offering on board governance. Most of the content on that site is drawn from this paper.
  • “ Governance Do's and Don'ts: Executive Summary ” The ‘Journal', Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies, Vol. 46, no. 1, April 2002; and, ARNOVA News, Fall 2003 Vol. 32(4).
  • “ Corporate Governance after Enron and World Com: Applying the Principles of Results-Based Governance ” keynote luncheon address at conference on Corporate Governance, Calgary, Dec 3, 2002.
  • “ Governance Do's and Don'ts: Practical Lessons from Case Studies on Twenty Canadian Non-profits ” 2001, available with case study summaries at www.iog.ca , Publications, Board Governance.
  • “ Synopsis of Governance Models and Frameworks ”, 1999, occasional paper prepared as background for further research and book on governance. Full paper selectively available from author for academic research purposes.

Series of Web Articles

Invited Presentations

  • “Board and Organizational Effectiveness” , Legal Aid Ontario - Community Clinics Governance Conference, Toronto, May 2007
  • “Networks on the Move“, Conference Plenary Keynote Presentation, "Networks, Stakeholders and Nonprofit Organization Governance", Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership, University of Missouri, Kansas City, April 2007
  • “Directors' Dialogue“ University of Victoria, School of Public Administration and Centre for Nonprofit Management, Oct 2006
  • “Governing for Results: Boards that Lead and Leaders that Govern” , Canadian Society of Association Executives, annual conference, September 2006, Edmonton
  • “Performance Evaluation in Health Care” , MHA class, University of Ottawa, July 2006
  • “Governing for Results: Planning Strategically – Measuring What Matters Most” , Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations, May 2006
  • “Governing for Results: Boards that Lead and Leaders that Govern” , pre-conference workshop for Volunteer Leadership Development Program, United Way Canada annual conference, April 27, 2006, Edmonton
  • “Best Practices in Governance: Audits of Third Party Governance” , Conference on ‘Internal Audits for the Public Sector', Crown Conferences , December 2005, Ottawa
  • “Building a Best Practice Corporate Governance Framework”, Pre-conference workshop, ‘Corporate Governance in the Public Sector', IQPC (International Quality and Productivity Centre) , Ottawa, November, 2005
  • “Board/Staff relations in Nonprofits”, Inaugural Keynote presentation, Altruvest Leadership Alumni networking breakfast, Toronto, October, 2005
  • “Prospecting for Practical Methodologies: To Examine Links Between Governing Board's Performance and Organizational Effectiveness” ‘Boards and Beyond' Invitational Conference, Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership , University of Missouri, Kansas City, March 2005
  • “Linking Board Governance to Organizational Performance: Prospecting for Practical Methodologies” Annual Conference, ARNOVA (Association for Research on Non-profit Organizations and Voluntary Action), Los Angeles, November 2004
  • “Structures and Strategies for Influencing Public Policy: A Canadian and International Comparison on Strengthening Policy Partnerships” Annual Conference, ARNOVA , Los Angeles, November 2004
  • “Governing for Results” , Canadian Association of Police Services Boards , Annual Conference, Vancouver, August 2004
  • “Strengthening Government/NGO Partnerships: The Role of Canadian Voluntary Sector Organizations in Development of Public Policy Related to Benefits for Children” ‘Building Effective Government–Civil Society Social Policy Partnerships', Research Roundtable sponsored by IOG and funded by CIDA , Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, June 2004
  • “Governing for Results” , Master's level training, Association of Fundraising Professionals , International Conference, Toronto, March 24, 2003
  • “Governing for Results” Luncheon Keynote, Insight Conference on ‘Corporate Governance' Calgary, Dec 3 2002
  • “Governance Models: What's Right for Your Organization” and “The Governance Self-Assessment Checklist: Links Between Good Governance & Organizational Effectiveness” Annual Conference, ARNOVA , Montreal November 14-15 2002
  • “Lessons on Governance from Canadian Research” , Annual Conference, ARNOVA , Miami, December 2, 2001
  • “Practical Lessons on Governance” , Annual Conference, YMCA Canada , Vancouver, June 2001

Consulting

  • Review of the relationship between the Health Promotions and Programs Branch of Health Canada and its Territorial Government counterparts, Spring 1999
  • Governance Review, Child and Family Services Authority, Grande Prairie, Alberta , 2000-01
  • Governance reviews of 20 Canadian nonprofits as part of research project noted under research heading, 2000-01
  • Governance Assessment using Governance Self-Assessment Checklist (GSAC), National Association of Friendship Centres , April 2001
  • Governance Reviews, Canadian Environmental Network and Affiliates (First Nations Environmental Network and New Brunswick Environmental Network); facilitated implementation of new governance structure and by-laws, 2001-02
  • Review of the governance of the Canadian Internet Registration Authority , spring 2002 •  Governance Assessment using GSAC, Child Find Manitoba , April 2003
  • Development of Outcome Measurement/Evaluation Framework, Health Charities Council of Canada and NVO Health Division , December 2002 to March 2003
  • Development of Comprehensive Governance Policies including ‘donor confidentiality' policy, Canadian Hemophilia Society, Dec 2002 to April 2003
  • Governance and Executive Director performance review process, John Howard Society, Kingston , Ontario, Feb. 2003
  • Compensation review, Executive Director, Canadian Environmental Network , March 2004
  • Governance Assessment using GSAC, Police Services Board, Port Moody, B.C. February 2004
  • Governance Assessment using GSAC, Ottawa Hospital Foundation , Summer 2004
  • ‘Strategic Plan' development. Canadian Environmental Network , Winter/Spring, 2005
  • Governance Assessment using GSAC, Canadian Stem Cell Network , Spring 2005
  • Governance Assessment using GSAC, Developmental Disabilities Resource Centre of Calgary , Spring 2005
  • Governance Assessment using GSAC, Parkinson Society of Canada , Summer 2005
  • Advisor, United Way Canada on revamping of Board Basics website and Volunteer Leadership Development program, 2005 and 2006
  • Advisor to United Way International Global Standards Initiative: Reference Group on Governance, Privacy and Ethics, 2005
  • ‘Strategic Implementation Framework' for Corporate Plan, Parkinson Society of Canada , Toronto, December 2005
  • Facilitation of Board meeting, Parkinson Society of Canada , Toronto, February 2006
  • Review of Governance Structure, Children and Family Services of Prescott-Russell , ON March 2006
  • Advice on network governance, VON Ottawa-Renfrew, Spring 2006
  • Board, Board Chair, Director & CEO annual performance evaluation, CODE Inc. Ottawa, June 2006
  • Bylaw and policy development; review of governance structure and training material, VON Ottawa-Renfrew, Summer 2006
  • Development of governance policies and board training, Carefor Health and Community Services, Ottawa, Fall & Winter 2006/07
  • Development of governance policies; advice on CEO compensation and employment contract, RCEN, Fall & Winter 2006

Training

Governance, Leadership and Learning Organizations

  • "VCARS Board on Track" West Parry Sound ON Victim's Services, March 2007
  • "Governing for Results: Focused Leadership for CIM" Canadian Institute for Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum, Montreal, February 2007
  • "Boards that Get Results" Sierra Club of Canada, Ottawa, February 2007
  • "Governing for HOPE" HOPE Volleyball, Ottawa, Sept. 2006
  • ‘Governing for Results: Boards that Lead and Leaders that Govern', Canadian Society of Association Executives , annual conference, Edmonton, September 2006
  • ‘ Board Evaluation and Trustee Recruitment' , tele-seminars, Ontario Library Boards Association, May 2006
  • 'Governing for Results: Best Practices for Better Boards', Canadian Nurses Protective Society, April 2006
  • “Governing for Results: Aligning Board Work with the Strategic Plan” , Canadian Community Newspaper Association , Toronto, February 2006
  • Canadian Assn of Landscape Architects, Toronto, January, 2006
  • Credit Institute of Canada, Toronto, January 2006
  • “ Governing for Results: Boards that Add Value ” Canadian FundRaiser workshop, November, 2005
  • Open Hands Society, Cornwall, September, 2005
  • “Governing for Results” workshop, United Way of Ottawa annual conference, June, 2005
  • Parkinson Society of Canada, June 2005
  • Canadian Stem Cell Research Network, November 2004
  • Canadian Environmental Network, June 2003
  • North York General Hospital Foundation, Toronto, March 24, 2003
  • John Howard Society, Kingston, Ontario, Feb. 2003
  • Community Arts Ontario: Provincial Board, February 2002; Kingston Regional group, May 2002; & Training Provincial Trainers, Toronto November 2002
  • New Brunswick Environmental Network, October 2001
  • United Way Volunteer Leadership Trainers, South Central Ontario, October 2001
  • United Way Volunteer Leadership Trainers, Vancouver, June 2001
  • Hospice at Maycourt, Ottawa, October 2001
  • Child and Family Services Authority, Grande Prairie, Alberta, Spring 2001
  • Services to Children and Adults, Prescott-Russell, February 2001 St. Leonard's Society of Canada, 2000

Faculty Appointments

  • "Fundamentals of Governance" Executive Development Course, School of Business, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, April 2007
  • "Board Work Plans that Add Value to Organizational Performance" 5th Annual Conference on Health Care Governance, Federated Press, Toronto, March 2007
  • "Performance Evaluation in Health Care" Masters in Health Care Administration, University of Ottawa, March 2006
  • "Politics of Change" School of Social Work, University of Regina, Saskatoon Campus, Winter sessions 1985 & 1986
  • "Mental Health Services" School of Social Work, University of Regina, Saskatoon Campus, Fall session 1985

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