International Voices are Vital for Impactful Association Leadership

Gisele Roberts, MBA
Former AUTM Board Member
Director, Research and Innovation
Laurentian University

In March of this year, I completed my three-year term on the AUTM Board of Directors, an experience that continues to reverberate through, and have impact on, my professional career. Now that nominations are being accepted for the next Board election, I’ve been reflecting on my experience and how important it is for the AUTM Board to be as diverse as the Membership it represents.
 
As a Canadian Member leading a small office, I initially felt apprehensive and intimidated by the idea of serving on a Board amongst colleagues with incredible qualifications and experiences as tech transfer leaders. Those insecurities were quickly laid aside. Throughout my term I was welcomed, mentored, supported and made to feel that my input was not only valued but also sought out for the perspective I brought as an international Member.
 
In my three years as a Director, diversity for our Board became not just an aspiration but also a necessity for AUTM to serve the needs of a global Membership. I look back on these times as historic ones, as we endured a global pandemic that threatened not only the health of our Association but also the patent rights that enable the successful commercialization of critical technologies. During these turbulent times, AUTM leaned on many voices to not only stay the course but also to grow as an association and adapt to Members’ needs. 
 
I am proud of the work the AUTM Board accomplished during the time that I served, most importantly supporting the development of the 2022-2024 Strategic Plan, which identifies the growth of an inclusive ecosystem as one of its strategic goals—a goal that had previously been envisioned but never defined within our mandate.
 
From my perspective as a Board member, this and other achievements were strongly contingent on our diverse representation and international voices, not only those of the AUTM Board and staff but also those contributed by our committees and volunteers. This collective intelligence helped our Association grow and embrace the unique perspective each Member brings to our profession, regardless of office size, geography or demographics.
 
While my time on the Board has come and gone, I am forever grateful for the opportunity to contribute to a profession I love. I look forward to seeing others step up in the coming years to continue building an Association that fosters a global community of knowledge sharing and belonging.