An individual serving on a board or committee without representing a specific constituency or geographic area. This individual is selected to provide a broader perspective or specific expertise to the group’s deliberations. For example, a professional with experience in finance might be chosen to participate on a non-profit’s board to offer financial guidance, independent of any particular membership group within the organization.
The inclusion of individuals in this capacity offers several advantages. It can diversify the perspectives considered during decision-making, leading to more well-rounded and informed outcomes. Furthermore, these appointments can fill gaps in skills or knowledge that might be lacking among the other participants. Historically, such positions have been created to ensure representation of underrepresented groups or to bring specialized knowledge to the forefront of an organization’s activities.