Election Year and Serving IASA and our Communities

Serving IASA and our Communities

Are you passionate about the future of sound and audiovisual archiving? The International Association of Sound and Audiovisual Archives (IASA) will be seeking dedicated members to step forward and help shape the direction of our association by serving on the Executive Board, one of our committees and sections, or helping with our next election.

Why serve?

Serving in IASA leadership is an opportunity to:

• Represent our community of professionals worldwide.
   
• Contribute your expertise to advancing preservation, access, and innovation in sound and audiovisual archiving.
   
• Strengthen your network across institutions and sectors.
   
• Help guide IASA’s programs, partnerships, and priorities at a global level.

Executive Board nominations

This coming year the organization will hold an election for the next IASA Executive Board. We encourage members in good standing who have been involved with IASA to consider nominating themselves or talented colleagues. In accordance with the IASA Constitution, members in good standing will have a secure ballot four months prior to the IASA General Assembly. Please review the criteria for service on the Executive Board. 

Executive Board members commit to a three-year term (six years for President). Candidates should:

• Be IASA members in good standing with professional experience and a strong reputation in the field.
   
• Be able to attend IASA conferences (in-person or virtual) regularly and actively contribute to Board activities.
   
• Secure the support of their home institution or, if applying individually, ensure they can meet the time and resource commitments of the role.
   
• Have sufficient English proficiency to collaborate with colleagues worldwide.
   
• Provide a short biography with their nomination to share with the membership.

For those standing as President, prior managerial experience in an archival institution and strong professional networks are especially valued.

Committees and Sections

If you’d like to contribute but aren’t ready for a Board role, consider joining one of IASA’s committees or sections. Each plays a vital role in advancing our shared mission:

• Ambassador Committee
   
• Discography Committee
   
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee
   
• Organising Knowledge Committee
   
• Technical Committee
   
• Training & Education Committee
   
• Broadcast Archives Section
   
• National Archives Section
   
• Research Archives Section
   

Serving on the Nominating Committee

IASA will soon be creating a Nominating Committee to oversee the 2026 election cycle. Are you interested in serving?

 The IASA Nominating Committee plays a key role in ensuring a fair and transparent election process for the Executive Board. Committee members:

• Receive and process nominations for open Board positions (President, Vice-Presidents, Secretary-General, Treasurer, Editor, Webmanager).
• Verify that nominees meet eligibility requirements, including membership standing and conference participation.
• Confirm that each nomination is secured, including the required proposer, seconder, and nominee signatures.
• Collect candidate statements (up to 500 words) outlining their biography and vision for IASA’s future.
• Circulate ballots to members, oversee the voting period, and validate that only votes from members in good standing are counted.
• Announce election results at the General Assembly and via official IASA communications.

The committee ensures that elections are conducted according to the association’s by-laws and helps facilitate leadership renewal for the 2026–2029 term.

How to get involved

Whether on the Board, a committee, or a section, your involvement helps ensure IASA remains a vibrant, inclusive, and forward-looking community.

If you’re ready to step into a leadership role—or if you know someone who would make an excellent candidate—please consider a nomination when the election cycle begins. Together, we can continue building a strong and resilient future for audiovisual archives worldwide.

And if you’re at the conference - Please find an Executive Board member to talk with!