BCNU 2026 Governance Review

The governance review has several purposes that aim to strengthen BCNU’s ability to serve its members effectively, advance its mission and vision and live its values. The review will:

• Improve the quality and effectiveness of value BCNU provides to members by assessing whether current governance structures and decision-making processes enable timely, clear, and accountable action
• Examine governance structures, processes, and working relationships to identify what supports or constrains effectiveness applying guiding principles, grounded in BCNU’s mission, vision, and values
• Strengthen governance for the long-term by clarifying roles, improving decision-making, and supporting sustainability and continuity over time
• Produce insights and options for improvement, recognizing that any structural or bylaw changes must be approved by Convention

The governance review is guided by the following principles, drawn from BCNU’s mission, vision, and values. These guiding principles inform both the review process and the development of future framework options, ensuring that governance decisions remain grounded in member expectations and the organization’s long-term interests.

• Member voice and representation
• Democratic accountability and transparency
• Respectful and inclusive engagement
• Integrity and ethical stewardship
• Clarity and effectiveness
• Sustainability and future-readiness
• Learning and continuous improvement

Together, these principles ensure that both the governance review process and its outcomes reflect BCNU’s values and support effective representation, leadership, quality of service and value creation on behalf of its members.

This governance review focuses on the design and effectiveness of BCNU’s governance structures and decision-making processes, with the aim of strengthening how the organization serves its members. 

The governance review includes:

• Reviewing roles, structures, and relationships among its members, Council, PEC, committees, and caucuses and networks
• Examining decision-making processes and accountability mechanisms
• Engaging members, Regional Council Members, PEC, and staff, through structured opportunities for input
• Conducting comparative and contextual research using insights from other unions and membership organizations
• Designing engagement opportunities to support member understanding and readiness for potential change
• Focusing on a thoughtful process that considers long-term sustainability

The governance review does not include:

• Addressing individual performance or personal conflicts; the focus is on systems, structures, and recurring patterns
• Leading or managing communications beyond planned engagement touchpoints; BCNU will continue to lead its own internal and member communications
• Guaranteeing changes, as any bylaw or structural amendments will require adoption by the Convention
• Resolving current challenges immediately; it will take time and thoughtful change management for processes and structures to become embedded

Building on the purpose and scope outlines above, the governance review is expected to deliver:

• A shared understanding of BCNU’s governance strengths, challenges, and priorities for change
• Evidence-based insights and options for governance structure and process design
• Clear recommendations for action aligned with BCNU’s mission, vision, values, and strategic direction
• Greater alignment, transparency, and trust building across those participating in governance
• Defined next steps toward Convention consideration and implementation of any changes

Watson Board Advisors, an independent governance advisory firm, is supporting the review process. 

Members are encouraged to share their perspectives through a confidential governance review survey open until April 30