Lead what comes next
2027 Call for Nominations: Nominating Committee, Vice-President and Board of Directors
ARIDO is at an important moment. Our 2026–2028 Strategic Plan commits us to fostering community, reinforcing the value of Registered Interior Designers and building a more inclusive profession. The people who lead ARIDO decide how that plan comes to life.
This year we are inviting Registered Members to come forward for three leadership opportunities. Whether you have a few hours this winter or are ready for a three-year leadership commitment, there is a role here for you.
ARIDO is committed to a Board that reflects the members and communities it serves. We warmly encourage submissions from members who identify as Black, Indigenous or people of colour, members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, members with disabilities and members of other equity-deserving and underrepresented groups, and from members in every region of Ontario.
| Opportunity | Positions | Commitment | Apply by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominating Committee member | 2 | About 10–12 hours in total, late Nov to mid-Feb | Friday, November 13, 2026, 5:00 p.m. ET |
| Vice-President | 1 | About 1 hour a week plus Executive and Board meetings; three-year leadership path | Friday, December 4, 2026, 5:00 p.m. ET |
| Board Director | Board meetings plus at least one committee; three-year term | Friday, December 4, 2026, 5:00 p.m. ET |
What Every Leader Shares
Who you serve
Board and committee members act in the best interests of ARIDO as a whole. That means making decisions within ARIDO’s Acts, the Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, our By-laws and policies, and the law. You bring your experience to the table; you do not represent your own practice, firm, region or membership category. That independence is what makes the Board’s decisions trustworthy.
What we look for
Sound, independent judgment
Preparation: reading materials in advance and deciding on the evidence
Discretion with confidential information
Openness about conflicts of interest, and stepping aside when needed
Commitment to decisions the Board makes together, including ones you argued against
Respect for ARIDO’s Charter of Respect
Two positions · Apply by Friday, November 13, 2026, 5:00 p.m. ET
Want to shape ARIDO’s leadership without joining the Board? The Nominating Committee finds and assesses candidates for the Board of Directors and proposes the slate members consider at the Annual General Meeting. It is a short, high-impact role, and a rare chance to see how a professional association chooses its leaders.
What you will do
- Help confirm the plans of current Directors.
- Review candidates fairly against a Board-approved profile, asking every candidate the same questions.
- Interview candidates and agree on a proposed slate.
- Help run the formal nominations steps set out in By-law No. 6, section 2.09.
Who can apply
- Registered Members in good standing.
- You cannot serve on the Nominating Committee and stand for the Board in the same cycle. If you are thinking of running, please apply for a Board role instead.
Time commitment
About 10 to 12 hours in total from late November 2026 to mid-February 2027, most of it in December and early January when candidates are reviewed and interviewed. Meetings are virtual.
How members are appointed
The Committee is chaired by the Chair of the Board of Governors and includes three members of the Board of Governors and two Registered Members. The Board of Governors will recommend members, and the ARIDO Board will make the appointments. Submitting a form does not guarantee appointment.
One position · Apply by Friday, December 4, 2026, 5:00 p.m. ET
The Vice-President is ARIDO’s next President in the making. It is a three-year leadership journey: Vice-President, then President, then Past-President. You will work alongside the President, the Executive Committee and senior staff, and help lead the Association through an important period for the profession.
What you will do
- Support the President and serve on the Executive Committee.
- Lead Board work as assigned and step in for the President when needed.
- Prepare to become President and, after that, Past-President, under Board policy.
Who can apply
Registered Members in good standing. A candidate for Vice-President shall have served as an elected Director on the Board of Directors, a Chapter President or Communities Lead, or a member of an ARIDO Standing Committee or Task Force of the Association for a full term of office at least once in the 15 years before the date of the election. Alternatively, a candidate for Vice-President shall be a Registered Member who has contributed significantly to the profession of interior design. Members of the 2027 Nominating Committee cannot apply.
Time commitment
About 1 hour a week, plus about 3 hours a month of Executive Committee meetings and about 3 hours of Board meetings every six weeks, plus reading time before meetings.
Term
A three-year leadership commitment beginning at the 2027 Annual General Meeting, planned for March 25, 2027.
One position · Apply by Friday, December 4, 2026, 5:00 p.m. ET
The Vice-President is ARIDO’s next President in the making. It is a three-year leadership journey: Vice-President, then President, then Past-President. You will work alongside the President, the Executive Committee and senior staff, and help lead the Association through an important period for the profession.
What you will do
- Support the President and serve on the Executive Committee.
- Lead Board work as assigned and step in for the President when needed.
- Prepare to become President and, after that, Past-President, under Board policy.
Who can apply
Registered Members in good standing. A candidate for Vice-President shall have served as an elected Director on the Board of Directors, a Chapter President or Communities Lead, or a member of an ARIDO Standing Committee or Task Force of the Association for a full term of office at least once in the 15 years before the date of the election. Alternatively, a candidate for Vice-President shall be a Registered Member who has contributed significantly to the profession of interior design. Members of the 2027 Nominating Committee cannot apply.
Time commitment
About 1 hour a week, plus about 3 hours a month of Executive Committee meetings and about 3 hours of Board meetings every six weeks, plus reading time before meetings.
Term
A three-year leadership commitment beginning at the 2027 Annual General Meeting, planned for March 25, 2027.
How To Apply
- Choose the role that fits you. You may be nominated for both Vice-President and Director; please complete both forms.
- Download and complete the PDF form for that role. Include a short biography and a statement about why you want to serve. For Vice-President and Director, obtain a Registered Member nominator’s name and signature and the names and signatures of three Registered Member seconders, following last year’s process. Complete the candidate consent on the form.
- Email the completed form to Jeremy Vandermeij, Executive Director, at [email protected] by the deadline.
- You will receive an acknowledgement within two business days. ARIDO will confirm your good standing before your submission goes to the Nominating Committee.
What Happens Next
| Step | Date |
|---|---|
| Nominating Committee applications close | Friday, November 13, 2026, 5:00 p.m. ET |
| Vice-President and Director applications close | Friday, December 4, 2026, 5:00 p.m. ET |
| Nominating Committee reviews and interviews candidates | December 2026 to January 2027 |
| Proposed slate shared with Registered Members | By January 24, 2027 |
| Further nominations from members close | Saturday, February 13, 2027, 11:59 p.m. ET |
| Annual General Meeting | March 25, 2027 (planned) |
Submitting a form does not guarantee a place on the slate, an appointment or election. After the slate is shared, any Registered Member in good standing may nominate a further candidate under By-law No. 6, section 2.09(d). Each further nomination needs the candidate’s written consent and at least three seconders who are Registered Members in good standing, and must be received by Saturday, February 13, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
FAQs
No. Many Directors join the Board for the first time. Directors receive an orientation, and staff support every committee. What matters most is judgment, preparation and a willingness to work as part of a team.
You may be nominated for both Vice-President and Director; complete both forms with the required nomination signatures. You cannot apply for the Nominating Committee and a Board role in the same cycle.
Your experience and perspective are part of why you are valuable, but once on the Board you act in the best interests of ARIDO as a whole, not on behalf of any one group.
Yes, for Vice-President and Director nominations: include a Registered Member nominator and three Registered Member seconders with your submission, as in last year’s process. Nominating Committee applications do not require these Board nomination signatures. Further nominations after the proposed slate are shared also require the candidate’s written consent and at least three seconders who are Registered Members in good standing.
Only the Executive Director and the Nominating Committee. ARIDO staff support the process but do not rank or choose candidates.
Tell us on the form. Conflicts are common and manageable. Directors declare them and step aside from the related decisions.
Yes. Contact Jeremy Vandermeij at [email protected] or 416-921-2127 and we will work with you.
Privacy Note: ARIDO collects the information in these forms to administer the 2027 nominations process. Submissions are kept confidential and shared only with the Executive Director and the Nominating Committee. If you are proposed on the slate, your name and the biography you provide will be shared with Registered Members. Questions about how your information is handled can be directed to the Executive Director.
Ready to lead what comes next?
Choose your role, complete the form and send it our way. We look forward to hearing from you.
