ILA Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is the governing body of the ILA, comprising an outstanding team of accomplished professionals who are responsible for and committed to ensuring the ILA purpose and mission is carried out. The Board has important oversight responsibilities for the growth, sustainability, and financial health of the ILA.

Self-Nominations to ILA’s Board Will Open Soon! 

We are keen to encourage all who aspire to join the Board to review and reflect on their capacity, interest, and commitment to a three-year term of active service. Review the Selection Criteria and Statement of Responsibilities below. The Board application form will be available in late 2025/ early 2026.

Mike Hardy
Mike Hardy
ILA Board Chair
 
Founding Director, Centre for Trust, Peace, and Social Relations, Coventry University, UK
Susan Elaine Murphy
Susan Elaine Murphy
ILA Vice Chair/Secretary

Professor and Chair in Leadership Development, Organisational Studies, University of Edinburgh Business School, UK
Cynthia Cherrey
Cynthia Cherrey
ILA President & CEO, USA
David Altman
David Altman
Chief Research and Innovation Officer, Center for Creative Leadership, USA
Hadeel Anabtawi
Founder, The Alchemist Lab, and Educational Consultant, Jordan
Joanne Barnes
Joanne Barnes
Chair, Board Development Committee; Professor, Division of Leadership & Followership Studies, Indiana Wesleyan University, USA
kehkashanbasu
Kehkashan Basu
Founder-President of Green Hope Foundation and UN Human Rights Champion, Canada
Tasha Coppett
Tasha Coppett
Chair, Membership Committee; Associate Dean for Residential Life, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA
Kathy Guthrie
Chair, Committee for the Advancement of Leadership Programs; Associate Professor, Leadership Studies, Florida State University, USA
Mikinari Higano
Professor & Director, Leadership Development Program, Global Education Center, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan
Kathryn Johnson
Kathryn Johnson
Co-Founder, Center for Global Services Retired CEO, Health Forum, USA
Stefanie K. Johnson
Director, University of Colorado Boulder Center for Leadership, USA
Claire Lachance board
Claire Lachance
President & CEO, ReSurge International, USA
Angelica Board
Angelica Maria Larios Arias
CEO & Founder, ALACONTEC, Mexico
Kevin Lowe
Kevin Lowe
Professor, Business School, University of Sydney
Annika Hilding Norberg
Annika Hilding Norberg
Head of Peace Operations and Peacebuilding, Geneva Centre for Security Policy, Switzerland
Betsy Myers 180x226
Betsy Myers
Founder and CEO, Myers Leadership, USA
Kara Price
Kara R. Price King
Vice President, Site Lead, Pfizer, USA
Danica Purg
Danica Purg
2025 Global Conference Chair; Founding President of IEDC-Bled School of Management and President of CEEMAN, Slovenia
Oliver Seale
Founding CEO, University Leadership Development and Advisory Services (ULeDA), South Africa
Gillian Secrett
Gillian Secrett
Director of Leadership Programmes, University of Cambridge Institute of Sustainability Leadership at University of Cambridge, UK
Carolyn Stefanco
Carolyn Stefanco
ILA Treasurer & Chair, Finance Committee; Retired University President
Founder and CEO, Barét Leadership Consulting, USA
Suze Wilson
Suze Wilson
Massey University, Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand
Michael Yap
Michael Yap
Regional Managing Director, Singapore Hub, Coventry University, Singapore

Emeriti Board Members

Jean Lipman-Blumen
Thorton F. Bradshaw Professor of Public Policy & Professor of Organizational Behavior, Peter F. Drucker and Masatoshi Ito Graduate School of Management, USA
Gill Robinson Hickman
Gill Robinson Hickman
Professor of Leadership Studies, Emerita, Jepson School of Leadership Studies, University of Richmond, USA
Roger H. Sublett
President Emeritus, Union Institute & University, USA
Katherine Tyler Scott
Katherine Tyler Scott
Principal, Ki Thoughtbridge, LLC, USA

ILA Board of Directors Selection Criteria and Statement of Responsibilities

The strength of the ILA Board of Directors is its mix of talents, experiences, perspectives, and expertise. Based on the individual talents of those continuing or concluding their terms, the Board identifies and prioritizes the characteristics sought in new members to comprise a board with: 

  1. Governance and leadership competencies
  2. A balance of relevant professions and sectors
  3. Extensive geographic networks and connections
  4. Cultural, Racial, Geographic, and Generational Diversity

Self-Nominations to ILA’s Board Will Open Soon! 

We are keen to encourage all who aspire to join the Board to review and reflect on their capacity, interest, and commitment to a three-year term of active service. The Board application form will be available in late 2025/ early 2026.

Required Statement of Responsibilities

Each member of the ILA Board of Directors is charged to serve in the best interest of the entire ILA membership, to serve as a leader in motivating support for the organization, and to be objective in reviewing policies and procedures focusing on the mission and vision of the organization.

An ILA Board Member must know the organization’s mission, purpose, and goals and provide leadership and stewardship to keep the organization in fiduciary and legal compliance with today’s standards.

The Director needs to understand current issues, problems and complexities, and the needs of the membership. The Board of Directors is dedicated to ensuring stability and the advancement of the profession.

Only ILA members in good-standing with a demonstrated commitment to ILA may be nominated and elected for board service. Candidates for elected positions must read and agree with the below Statement of Board Member Responsibilities before their nomination can be considered.

The ILA Board of Directors serves as policymakers for the association. Obligations of board service are considerable and extend well beyond the basic expectations of attending meetings. The following is a statement of the individual ILA Board Member’s requirements and expectations.

Requirements/Expectations

A Strong Commitment to:

  1. ILA Member in good standing.
  2. Substantial leadership expertise and being a futurists/future-forward thinker.
  3. Enthusiastically support and align with the ILA’s mission, vision, values, strategic plan, programs, and operations.
  4. Fulfill financial obligations, including attending and funding your own travel (or arranging institutional support ), expenses of in-person Retreat/Board Meetings (2 per year in Spring and Fall), and attendance at the ILA Global Conference.
  5. Annual Board Contribution – a personal annual gift contribution to the ILA
  6. Leverage networks and contacts for the ILA (e.g., with foundations, potential donors or keynotes, journals, and publishers)
  7. Work constructively and collegially with Board members and staff

Financial Oversight:

  1. Understand the role of the Chief Staff Executive in the management of the Association.
  2. Understand the financial aspects of the association and exercise prudence in financial oversight.
  3. Support and defend all policies and programs adopted by the ILA Board of Directors.
  4. Assist in fundraising activities and/or seeking sponsorships/donations/resource development.
  5. Assist ILA in planning its budget and programmatic goals, particularly in risk management, strategy, performance, and planning.

Outreach and Membership:

  1. Serve as an active advocate for ILA, including outreach and partnership building.
  2. Provide, as needed, volunteer support, which may include planning or supporting conferences, workshops, technical trips, or other events/activities.
  3. Assist with recruiting, orienting, and developing ILA board members.
  4. Recruit ILA members and new board members.
  5. Identify and encourage emerging leaders.
  6. Participate in State Section/Student Chapter activities.

ILA Committees and Participation:

  1. Join Committees/special taskforce for the duration of your board term that include committee liaison responsibilities, attending meetings, and demonstrating Board of Director involvement.
  2. Attend and participate in ILA programs and events such as conferences, webinars, and special offerings
  3. Use individual resources and expertise to aid the goals of ILA.

Preferred Skill Sets

  • Member Recruitment
  • Networking
  • Financial Expertise
  • Fundraising & Resource Development
  • Strategic Planning and Monitoring
  • Global and multi-cultural mindset
  • Risk Management
  • Responsive Communication
  • Collaboration
  • Alliance Building