Strengthening continuity, clarity, and long-term impact

After more than two years of operation, Intersect and its committees have matured from a foundational governance structure into a more stable, better understood, and more coordinated system of committees, working groups, and subject matter experts.

In recognition of this maturity, the Intersect Steering Committee (ISC) and the Board have approved an update to committee member terms:

Starting with the April 2026 elections, committee member terms will move from one year to two years.

This article outlines the decision, the reasoning behind it, the expected benefits, and the safeguards we are putting in place.

 The decision 

Currently, committee members serve one-year terms, with elections held every six months on a staggered basis.

From April 2026, the following changes will apply: 

•  Members elected in April 2026 will serve until April 2028. 
•  Elections will shift from twice per year to once per year (April), maintaining staggered continuity. 
•  October will remain focused on Board elections and Annual Members Meeting preparation. 
• Members whose terms are to end in October will be asked to extend until April 2027. If they choose not to, the seat will remain vacant until then. All October seats will be up for election in April 2027.

 

Why this change 

 The decision reflects both operational experience and feedback from members. 

 1. Intersect and committees have matured 

Intersect’s committees now operate with clearer scopes, structured workflows, and defined collaboration patterns. New members join with a stronger understanding of expectations and responsibilities than was possible in the early formation phase.

As committees mature, longer terms support deeper contribution.

 

2. Continuity and effectiveness 

One-year terms were increasingly seen as too short for members to fully onboard, meaningfully contribute, and see strategic initiatives through to completion.

Many committee workstreams span multiple quarters and increasingly align with long-range planning, including the 2030 Vision and multi-year budget cycles.

A two-year term provides sufficient time to move from strategy to execution to measurable outcomes.

 3. Reduced voter fatigue 

Currently, committees hold elections twice per year, often overlapping with Board elections and other governance activities.

This overlap has reduced participation, increased confusion, and added operational complexity.

Moving to annual April elections simplifies governance cadence and creates clearer focus points for members.

 4. Lower operational overhead 

Elections require significant coordination across staff, committees, election administrators, and communications teams.

Reducing the frequency lowers administrative overhead and allows more energy to be directed toward committee impact rather than process management.

 5. Strong member support 

 Current data does not indicate that a longer commitment discourages applicants. In fact, feedback suggests: 

•  Many current members support longer terms 
•  Some contributors hesitated to apply because one year felt too short to justify the onboarding effort 

 

Benefits of two-year terms 

 Strategic stability 

 Committees can plan multi-quarter or multi-year initiatives with confidence that leadership and context will remain consistent. 

 Deeper expertise 

 Members have more time to build domain knowledge, strengthen cross-committee collaboration, and mentor newer contributors. 

 Clearer governance rhythm 

•  April: Committee elections 
•  October: Board elections and Annual Members Meeting 

 This separation improves clarity and participation. 

 Stronger institutional memory

 Two-year terms support reduced onboarding churn, better documentation continuity, and greater accountability for long-term deliverables. 

 Safeguards  

 Extending terms also introduces valid concerns. We are addressing these directly. 

 1. Concern: fewer opportunities for new contributors 

Response:
Committee elections will take place annually in April, with Board elections continuing in October, meaning members will still see two election periods each year.

Participation pathways are also being expanded through:

•  Easier access to working groups 
•  Improved onboarding and member support 
•  A clearer Subject Matter Expert (SME) pathway supported by tracked participation 

 Committees aren’t the only way to contribute, and working groups and SME roles remain active entry points. 

 2. Concern: inactive or underperforming members holding seats longer 

 Response:
Accountability is maintained through: 

•  A stronger application process with clear responsibilities 
• Greater visibility of participation data
•  A dismissal and replacement policy (already in use) 
•  Flexible committee sizing to maintain resilience 

 Member feedback and available data do not indicate that longer terms discourage applicants. 

3. Concern: committee fatigue

 Response:
Fatigue exists in any governance system. Mitigation includes: 

•  More flexible committee sizing 

• Clearer replacement processes
•  Structured onboarding to distribute workload 

 The intention of longer terms is sustainability, not increased burden. 

 4. Concern: perception of power consolidation 

 Response:
To reduce concentration risks: 

•  Participation data will be visible in the application process 

•  Active contributors will have greater visibility 
•  Replacement policies remain in place where duties are not fulfilled 

 Transparency and accountability remain central. 

 Looking ahead 

Intersect’s governance model continues to evolve as the organisation matures.

Moving to two-year committee terms reflects a shift from early formation to long-term impact, while maintaining openness, accountability, and clear pathways for participation.

As always, member feedback remains essential, and structures will continue to be refined to balance continuity, accessibility, and effectiveness.

April 2026 marks the beginning of this next phase.