Executive Director 101 Lab

Lab Outline

Executive Director 101 supports first-time, or incoming, executive directors (EDs) with practical skills and knowledge to succeed in their role.​

In this lab we will explore the eight domains of the ED position: Leadership, Governance, Program and Service Management, Human Resources, Fund Development, Financial Management, Community and Public Relations, and Administration.​

Suggested participants: New and incoming executive directors (including other similar roles like CEOs, artistic directors and managing directors) who are looking for some structure and insight to the EDs key responsibilities.

Important note! If you are an executive director with more than 1 year of experience in the role, our Advanced Executive Lab may be a better fit for you.

Returning this November: Executive Director 101 – Indigenous Leadership Cohort is a Lab designed for, and available uniquely to, Indigenous non-profit leaders in BC, in partnership, including co-facilitation, with Indigenous Perspectives Society. Special bursaries to cover up to 80% of participation fees are available through our Bursary Application, with support from Vancity and Vantage Point.

Indigenous Cohort Cost:
Regular fees of $649 Non-Member and $584 Member apply with an encouragement to apply for a bursary to cover up to 80% of these costs if you would need this support to access the program.

Regular Cost: $649 Non-member | $584 Member​

Meet Our Facilitators

Rachelle Dallaire

Fall 2025 – Indigenous Cohort

Rachelle is Montagnais Innu, Ojibway, and French. Originally from lower Quebec. She brings more than 15 years of management and leadership experience to her work as Indigenous Perspectives Society’s Executive Director. Rachelle has extensive front line service experience that informs her leadership from her early work with at risk communities including women in the sex trade, corrections, and the homeless community. As an inter-generational trauma survivor, she brings a lot of passion to developing Indigenous Perspectives Society’s Reconciliation from an Indigenous Perspectives training offerings, which include Cultural Perspectives Training, developed to support the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions Calls to Action.

Maria Turnbull

Fall 2025 – Indigenous Cohort

Maria Turnbull brings 25 years of leadership experience in staff and director roles within the non-profit sector, both here in Canada and in the UK. With a BA in International Relations and MBA, Maria is a skilled facilitator and consultant in board governance, organizational development, and management. She has consulted for hundreds of non-profit organizations, across a vast range of subsectors, including foundations, academic institutions, health system partners, associations, and cooperatives.

Maria is current Board Member and Governance Committee Chair with the Bowen Island Health Care Foundation and former Chair of Potluck Café Society and the Bowen Island Montessori School. Maria lives on Bowen Island (Nex̱wlélex̱m) where she lives with her husband and two teenage sons and occasionally finds time for her other passions – skiing, cycling, travelling, and sailing.