NATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD
Broader Purpose
From legal services to thrift stores, lawyer Stephen Bodley is strengthening the Army’s mission
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member of The Salvation Army’s National Advisory Board, Stephen Bodley is the senior vice-president, general counsel and corporate secretary for Sherritt International, a natural resources company. He is responsible for all legal affairs relating to the company, including corporate governance, compliance, risk management, internal audit, and environmental health and safety. Bodley spoke with John McAlister, features editor for Salvationist. How did you get involved with The Salvation Army’s National Advisory Board? A recruiting firm tasked by Andrew Lennox, board chair, asked if I’d be interested in joining the Army’s National Advisory Board. After meeting with Lennox and researching the organization, I felt that this was a great opportunity. Why do you volunteer your time and expertise? I think everyone wants to make a contribution to society and do something meaningful that helps others. There is probably no other organization in Canada or internationally that does more to help people than The Salvation Army. As the father of three children, I want them to see me engage in things that have a broader purpose than just work. From a corporate perspective, I believe that senior management teams benefit from broadening their networks within communities, so participating on this board helps foster that for my company. How has your perspective of the Army changed since becoming a board member? Before joining the board, I had a vague but positive impression of The Salvation Army. When I was asked to join, I did some research and gained a better understanding of the breadth of activity that the Army is engaged in. I was impressed with the international scope of the Army, the significant impact it has on peoples’ lives and the sense of purpose that animates its personnel. 28 I June 2012 I Salvationist
I used to have a biased view of people who work in charitable organizations, thinking that they were well intended but perhaps not the hardest working or the most capable. Having witnessed the level of commitment and the professionalism of the people working for the Army—not just at the senior levels but throughout the organization—my perception has completely changed. Do you think our religious grounding is a deterrent for the public? The Army’s religious grounding, and the sense of purpose that it provides the organization, will always be a core element of the Army and its success. However, the world is becoming increasingly secular, so how the Army fits into it is one of the key strategic questions moving forward. From discussions that I’ve had since joining the board, most members of the public don’t fully understand the Army, and some believe it to be primarily an evangelical organization. Many people also don’t know that the Army delivers services on a completely objective basis regardless of a client’s background, including ethnicity, religious beliefs or sexual orientation. These misconceptions all have the potential to impair the Army’s ability to operate effectively in the face of growing secularization. The Salvation Army can help address these issues through continued improvements in its communication with the public. As a board member, what projects have you been involved in? As a lawyer, I’ve worked as a partner in a Bay Street law firm and as in-house counsel and general counsel of a public company, so I have perspective on the delivery of in-house legal services. I was asked by the board to review the efficiency of the Army’s legal function. I recruited a team of people from the private and public sectors to share their perspectives and spent time working with Bryan Campbell, THQ general legal counsel, and his team to better understand what they do and how they deliver their services. While we suggested a list of things that could potentially be improved,
Stephen Bodley
I believe that the Army is very well served by its internal legal department. I’m also assisting Pina Sciarra, another member of the board, who is leading a review of the National Recycling Operations. We’ve been working with John Kershaw, NRO managing director, and his team, looking at the way in which the thrift stores operate. Sciarra has brought in a group of external advisors with extensive retail, finance and marketing experience to assist in the project. What would you identify as the Army’s strengths? Its sense of mission is very clear and well understood by everyone who works in the Army, whether they’re officers or employees. The quality of its people is also high. The history that underlies the Army gives it the momentum and strength to move forward. And its brand is very powerful. Any areas of weakness? It’s natural for an organization with a long history to be slightly inward-looking. As a result, it can be difficult for the Army to always be strategic in dealing with changes to the external environment. Also, if the Army cannot act quickly enough to respond to those changes, it can diminish the impact of the Army’s mission. That’s why a group such as the National Advisory Board can be helpful to the Army, as we can ask, “Have you thought about this issue?” What leadership principles guide you in your professional life? Integrity is the key principle—if you don’t start with integrity, then you have nowhere to end. Leading by example is important. And also transparency. I think a business leader should strive to be transparent unless there’s a truly compelling reason not to be.