Volunteer Board Survivor Representative/Community Advocate

LIVED EXPERIENCE OF ONLINE SEXUAL VIOLENCE PREFERRED!!

Background

The Digital Sexual Violence Support Centre (DSVSC) is a Canadian and federally-incorporated non-profit that provides educational resources, research, and virtual peer support for adult survivors of technology-facilitated sexual violence. The includes adults living in Canada who have faced online sexual harassment, doxxing, intimate image abuse, cyber-stalking, and the creation of sexual deepfake images and videos. The DSVSC is based in Ontario, Canada and operates on a virtual basis.

Board Commitment: 1 year (renewable for up to 2 more years)

Monthly Time Commitment: 3-6 hours (Board meetings, community events, policy research etc.)

Location: Virtual

*****Ability to attend at least 1 in-person community event in the Greater Toronto Area preferred)

Role Summary: The Survivor Representative & Community Advocate serves as a vital bridge between the Board of Directors, the survivor community, and key partners in the violence prevention, digital safety, and victim services sectors.

Drawing on lived experiences and community engagement expertise, this volunteer board member will contribute to the Board's governance decisions, survivor-informed policy discussions, community development initiatives, and partnership building to strengthen the organization’s programs and advocacy efforts.

This role ensures that survivor perspectives are meaningfully included in governance, strategy, and public engagement, helping guide the organization’s commitment to trauma-informed, inclusive, and equity-driven approaches.

Duties:

Survivor Voice and Representation

• Contribute to shaping organizational approaches to safety, accessibility, and empowerment for survivors of sexual and online violence.
• Review and provide input on materials, campaigns, or initiatives from a survivor perspective (e.g., website, resource guides, advocacy tools).
• Provide input to Board decision making using a survivor-informed and anti-oppressive lens
• Help identify community needs, gaps in services, and potential partnerships with community organizations in Canada

Community Engagement

• Identify opportunities for learning exchanges and collaborative resource building with community organizations, survivor advocates and service providers that support survivors of online sexual violence
• Provide suggestions on the DSVSC's 2026 calendar for community engagement
• Attend webinars, symposiums, community events and fundraisers (virtual and in-person, where possible) as a representative of the DSVSC

Survivor-Informed Media Relations

• Co-create trauma-informed guidelines for our media input (e.g. news releases, media releases, articles and position statements)
• Raise awareness of the DSVSC's programs, workshops and fundraisers using your professional network (via email, phone or in-person conversations with your peers/depending on your boundaries)

Board Governance Duties

• Attend and actively participate in all board meetings, strategic planning sessions, and relevant committees (e.g., Community Engagement or Advocacy Committee).
• Review and provide input on key governance documents, policies, and initiatives.
• Uphold fiduciary, ethical, and confidentiality responsibilities as a member of the Board of Directors.
• Participate in board training, evaluations, and development opportunities.

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Desired Skills, Experience, and Qualities

Essential:

• Lived experience as a survivor of sexual violence and/or technology-facilitated violence.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
• Understanding of trauma-informed, survivor-centered, and anti-oppressive approaches.
• Comfort with public speaking, storytelling, or advocacy (with support and boundaries).
• Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Ability to work collaboratively and maintain confidentiality.

Preferred:

• Partial or full completion of a Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Social Services, Psychology, Sexuality Studies, Women and Gender Studies, English Literature or a related field
• Experience in community development, partnership coordination, or public policy engagement.
• Familiarity with the nonprofit, social service, or gender-based violence sectors in Canada.
• Knowledge of intersectional issues affecting adult survivors (e.g., technology, justice, education, digital harms).
• Basic understanding of board governance or willingness to learn.

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Boundaries and Wellness

Survivors serving in this role are never expected to disclose personal experiences publicly or during meetings.

Participation should center on perspective, not personal narrative.

The organization commits to a wellness-oriented governance model, including options to step back from discussions or events as needed.