2025 Slate of Nominations Team
Stay tuned for directions on voting for your Nominations Team members.
Lori Joubert
I took an interest in listening decades ago when I specialized in Listening for my advanced degree in Speech Communications from the University of Washington. Since then, I have practiced, modeled and promoted good listening in several arenas.
I have been a member of the International Listening Society (ILA) for over two decades, serving on its board in different roles including Board Secretary, Board President, Director of Operations and currently serving as DIT Team Chair. One area of focus during my tenure as president was restructuring ILA leadership to strengthen listening among board members, teams and the membership. During this time the ILA embarked on a campaign to better articulate its vision, mission and values of listening, which are critical to the public promotion of listening.
My demonstrated ability to promote a message of connectedness and listening, even while adapting to the difficult circumstances of COVID 19 followed by the ILA’s Executive Director succession planning and digital transformation, allows me the gift of knowing many ILA members that come and go throughout periods of great change and growth.
I am well equipped to work with all ILA members across the globe with a commitment to ILA’s mission, vision, values, policies and procedures.
Thank you for considering this nomination for the upcoming ILA Nominations Team.
Priscilla Leigh
Priscilla Leigh is a Swiss-born, French-raised Ghanaian psychoaudiologist, TEDx speaker and coach living in London. She helps students and young professionals become better communicators and leaders using the science of how the auditory system impacts the mind, behaviour and performance, with a focus on how it affects cognition, communication and inner calm. In short, she hones the power of the ears for eloquence and excellence in leadership.
Letter of Intent
As a psychoaudiologist, I often call myself an "earvangelist.” I'm passionate about the role hearing and listening play in all several aspects of life. I know that without listening, there is no learning, and that without learning, little progress is made in relationships, at work or in our personal goals and pursuits. Even though this is the case, listening is an activity that is often talked about but rarely given the time and space it deserves for maximum benefit. I would be proud to serve as part of the nominations team in service of the worthy endeavour that ILA has undertaken in promoting the importance of this vital skill.
Sheila Bentley
Sheila Bentley, Ph.D., has been a member of the International Listening Association since 1984. She has served on the ILA Board in numerous positions, including President of ILA. She has also presented at every ILA Convention since 1985. She had a consulting business for over 30 years, providing training and coaching in communication (particularly in listening) and leadership to major corporations, education institutions, and various levels of government all over the United States and in several foreign countries. In addition, she served as adjunct faculty at Arizona State University (4 years) and at the University of Memphis (20 years), teaching a variety of graduate-level education courses.
Letter of Intent
I am willing to serve on the Nominating Team for the International Listening Association for 2024-2025. It is important for us to select leaders who are not only knowledgeable in the field of listening, but are committed to making the ILA successful, to growing the organization, and to meeting the needs of our members. I feel that I have a rich history of experience in the ILA at several levels and in both the business and education arenas, and I feel that I have a good awareness of what it takes to be a leader in ILA.
Raquel Ark
Raquel Ark (MA, CPC) is podcast host, speaker, mentor, coach and trainer. She has over 25 years’ in multinational corporations and academia. She is founder of listening ALCHEMY, a communication training and coaching organization including foundational evidence-based listening programs. She is the podcast host for, “listening SUPERPOWER podcast” focused on listening in teams and organizations beyond what we typically consider. Raquel has spoken on the TedX stage, as well as at conventions, organizations and at schools both in person and remote. She was President of the International Listening Association and is currently Past-President. She is a university instructor at Fresenius University of Applied Sciences.
Letter of Intent
I am writing to express my interest in serving on the Nomination Team. I see this as a valuable opportunity to support succession planning that reflects our values and strengthens the ILA over the next 3–5 years.
If selected, I would work closely with the Nomination Team and Executive Board, building on insights gathered by previous teams and listening to member feedback. I am particularly interested in exploring innovative leadership models, such as co-leadership, that integrate listening, community, and collaboration more deeply into how we recruit and support volunteers.
This is an opportunity to reimagine how we foster engagement, ensure that our volunteer leadership can have impact and fun, and align volunteer roles with the evolving needs of our listening organization. I bring experience in leading ILA with its opportunities and challenges, a strategic mindset, and a deep belief that our organization can play a key role in advancing listening as a transformative force.
It would be an honor to contribute to a thoughtful, inclusive nomination process that helps shape the ILA’s future.