GOVERNANCE, STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE
Turn strategy into action and drive measurable organizational impact.
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LIVE VIRTUAL
Facilitator-led sessions
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21 HOURS
12:30 - 3:30 p.m. ET (9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. PT)
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7 SESSIONS
Starting on Monday, November 2nd
Why This Course Matters
Strategy only matters when it becomes action.
Strong animal welfare organizations need more than a strategic plan. They need leaders who can translate vision into action, align people and resources, navigate change, and turn priorities into measurable results.
This course challenges you to think beyond planning and examine how strategy is actually implemented, measured, evaluated, and continuously improved. You will strengthen your ability to lead strategic initiatives, make evidence-informed decisions, and demonstrate meaningful organizational impact.
What You'll Explore
Seven sessions. From strategy to impact.
Move through the complete strategic leadership cycle—from understanding organizational direction to executing strategy, measuring performance, evaluating impact, and continuously improving organizational effectiveness.
01
Session 1 - Nov 2
Strategic Thinking and Strategic Planning
Explore the foundations of strategic thinking and how organizations assess their environment, anticipate change, and establish meaningful future direction.
02
Session 2 - Nov 9
Developing the Strategic Plan
Turn strategic analysis into direction by identifying strategic issues, priorities, objectives, positioning, and meaningful measures of success.
03
Session 3 - Nov 16
Implementing the Strategic Plan
Bridge the gap between planning and action by creating the structures, responsibilities, resources, and processes required for implementation.
04
Session 4 - Nov 23
Leading Strategic Execution
Translate strategic priorities into operational plans while strengthening alignment, prioritization, resource allocation, decision-making, and accountability.
05
Session 5 - Nov 30
Leading Strategic Initiatives
Apply project and change management tools to strategic initiatives while building buy-in, managing risk, communicating change, and maintaining momentum.
06
Session 6 - Dec 7
Performance Measurement and Organizational Learning
Use KPIs, dashboards, outcomes, and evidence to understand organizational performance, support continuous learning, and make better leadership decisions.
07
Session 7 - Dec 14
Organizational Evaluation and Demonstrating Impact
Evaluate organizational effectiveness, interpret evidence, demonstrate impact, and turn findings into recommendations for continuous improvement.
The Strategic Leadership Cycle
From Strategic Thinking to Organizational Impact
Strategic leadership is an ongoing cycle. Throughout this module, you'll learn how to move from understanding your environment and setting direction to execution, measurement, learning, and continuous organizational improvement.
01
Think
Understand the environment and identify what matters most.
02
Plan
Establish strategic direction, priorities, objectives, and measures.
03
Execute
Turn priorities into coordinated action and lead strategic initiatives.
04
Measure
Use evidence to understand performance, outcomes, and impact.
05
Improve
Turn learning into better decisions and stronger organizational performance.
The goal is not simply to create a strategic plan. It is to build the leadership capacity to continuously translate strategy into action, learn from evidence, and strengthen organizational effectiveness.
Who Should Enroll
Built for Animal Welfare Leaders
This module is for experienced animal welfare professionals who shape organizational direction, lead people or programs, manage strategic priorities, and influence organizational performance.
Executive Directors and CEOs
Senior Leaders
Animal Shelter and Humane Society Leaders
Managers and Supervisors
Program and Operations Leaders
Municipal Animal Services Leaders
Rescue Organization Leaders
Emerging Senior Leaders
This module will be applied to the CAWP if you choose to register for the designation (Certified Animal Welfare Professional Designation).
Meet Your Facilitators
Learn from Experienced Leaders in Strategy and Organizational Leadership
Throughout Governance, Strategic Leadership and Organizational Performance, you will learn from facilitators who bring practical leadership, strategic planning, risk management, governance, and organizational experience to the CAWP learning journey.
Kathrin Delutis, BA, CRM
Consultant, Learning and Resource Centre • Humane Canada
Kathrin brings more than 35 years of senior leadership experience in the charitable, not-for-profit, association, and animal welfare sectors.
A Certified Risk Manager (CRM) with more than 25 years of risk management experience, Kathrin has extensive experience supporting Boards, CEOs, and senior leaders in areas including governance, strategic planning, organizational effectiveness, risk management, and compliance.
As a former CEO and national association leader, she brings a practical, real-world perspective to helping leaders translate organizational priorities into action, navigate change, strengthen accountability, and improve organizational performance.
Session Focus
Kathrin will facilitate Sessions 4–7, focusing on translating strategic priorities into operational plans, leading organizational initiatives, project and change management, performance measurement, organizational learning, evaluation, evidence-informed decision-making, and demonstrating impact.
Strategic Execution
Organizational Leadership
Change Management
Organizational Performance
Evaluation & Impact
David A. Clark
Strategic Leadership and Planning Facilitator
David brings more than five decades of experience in municipal leadership, organizational development, strategic planning, and consulting across government, not-for-profit, and private-sector organizations.
His areas of expertise include strategic and business planning, organizational and operational assessments, governance review, problem analysis, negotiation, and meeting facilitation.
David's approach to planning is highly interactive and tailored to each organization. By actively involving employees, leaders, and volunteers in the planning and decision-making process, he helps organizations strengthen the internal knowledge and capacity needed to continue strategic planning and improvement independently.
Session Focus
David will facilitate Sessions 1–3, focusing on strategic thinking and planning, the development of effective strategic plans, and translating strategy into implementation. Drawing on his extensive experience, he will help participants connect strategic planning concepts with the practical realities of their organizations and build the foundations needed to move from strategic priorities to action.
Strategic Planning
Strategic Leadership
Organizational Development
Governance
The CAWP Journey
Your Path to the Certified Animal Welfare
Professional Designation
Build your professional practice across nine specialized modules designed to strengthen leadership and organizational capacity throughout the animal welfare sector. CAWP modules can be completed in a non-sequential order, allowing you to begin with the learning most relevant to your professional practice.
1
Leading People, Culture and Team Performance
5 live virtual sessions
2
Governance, Strategic Leadership and Organizational Performance
7 live virtual sessions • 21 hours
3
Emergency Management, Risk and Compliance
4
Fundraising Methods, Principles and Practices
5
Communications
6
Leading the Organization
7
Professional Practice and Ethics
8
Community Engagement and Partnerships
9
Financial Management and Fiduciary Responsibility
Part of the CAWP Professional Designation
Explore the Full CAWP Professional Designation
Governance, Strategic Leadership and Organizational Performance is one of nine modules in the Certified Animal Welfare Professional (CAWP) pathway. CAWP modules do not need to be completed in numerical order, so this course may be your first CAWP module or one of several you complete as you work toward the designation.
CAWP Program Registration
The one-time CAWP Program Registration Fee is $99 for Humane Canada Members and Associates and $125 for Non-Members.
Once registered, you will receive a 10% discount on every CAWP module as you complete the modules required for the designation.
Visit the CAWP program page for full details about the nine modules, registration benefits, Professional Practice Portfolio, fees, requirements, and the pathway to earning your professional designation.
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Pilot Program Notice
The CAWP Designation is currently being offered as a pilot program. Participant feedback and ongoing evaluation will help shape the program's future development. As the program evolves, some requirements or program elements may be refined. Any significant changes will be communicated to participants.
Read the full pilot program notice ›Enroll in Module 2
Strengthen Your Strategic Leadership Practice
Choose the rate that applies to your Humane Canada affiliation.
Working toward your CAWP designation? Once your CAWP Program Registration Fee is paid, you'll receive a 10% discount coupon that can be applied toward CAWP modules. See registration fee ›
Frequently Asked Questions
If you don't find your answer here, please email Kathrin at [email protected]
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Who is this course designed for?
This course is built for leaders in animal welfare, including CEOs, Executive Directors, Directors, Senior Managers, and supervisors working in humane societies, SPCAs, rescues, and municipal animal services.
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What makes this course unique to animal welfare?
The course covers governance, strategic leadership, and organizational performance topics specific to humane societies, SPCAs, rescues, and municipal services.
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How is the course delivered?
The course is fully online and highly interactive. You’ll participate in discussions, analyze real‑world scenarios, and engage with peers from across the sector to deepen your leadership practice.
The course runs over seven weeks with a weekly session every Monday, from November 2nd to December 14th, from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time. (9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Pacific Time)
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How much time should I expect to commit each week?
Each weekly session is 3 hours long. Most participants will spend 3 - 5 hours per week attending live sessions and reviewing course materials, discussions, and assignments.
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Will the sessions be recorded?
Yes, and you will have access to the recording after every session. We encourage you to make time in your schedule to attend all sessions live, if possible, and make the most of them.
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What is the cost to take this course?
We have pricing tiers for Humane Canada members, Humane Canada associates and the general public.
- Humane Canada members: $595
- Humane Canada associates: $695
- General: $795
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Can my organization pay for my registration?
Yes. Many participants register through their organization’s professional development budget.
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Will I receive a certificate?
Yes. Participants who complete all course requirements will receive a certificate of completion.
This certificate may be applied toward the Certified Animal Welfare Professional (CAWP) designation.
Ready When You Are
Governance, Strategic Leadership and Organizational Performance
Turn strategy into action and strengthen your organization’s performance.
Enroll in Module 2 →Thank you for your interest in this course
We will review your eligibility form and contact you once the review is complete.
Leading People is part of Humane Canada’s evolving professional development program and is expected to form one module within the upcoming Certified Animal Welfare Professional (CAWP) designation or certificate pathway.
Have a question or need more info about this course? Email: Kathrin Delutis at [email protected].
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