Call for Executive Committee nominations (2021-2022)

Nominations are open for positions on the Executive Committee for Biodiversity Information Standards (TDWG).

This is an opportunity to lead the future of biodiversity informatics and work with an enthusiastic team to improve the quality and interoperability of biodiversity data.

TDWG is an international organization that promotes the digitization, integration, and sharing of information about the world’s biodiversity. TDWG provides a forum where individuals, projects, and institutions who manage biodiversity data can come together to share expertise and promote interoperability by promulgating standards and best practices. TDWG also publishes the Biodiversity Information Science and Standards (BISS) journal where papers on issues related to information technology and biodiversity science can be published. You would be a member of the TDWG Executive Committee, which oversees the work of TDWG: coordinates TDWG Interest and Task Groups, manages the review and ratification of standards, manages the organization’s journal, and organizes the annual meeting. These responsibilities are set forth in the Constitution and detailed further in a supplementary document.

Positions on the Executive are staggered two-year terms, such that no more than half of the committee will be new in any year. Towards the end of every calendar year, TDWG holds elections for terms that are expiring and need to be filled for the coming year. Officers elected this year will serve terms from 2023 through 2024. The open positions and their responsibilities are detailed below, followed by the schedule and procedures for nominations and the election.

General responsibilities

All officers, including Subcommittee Chairs, have voting rights on the Executive Committee, and are expected to participate in the committee’s conference calls, which are generally every two weeks. Executive Committee members are expected to find their own support to attend the annual conference.

Offices open for election

Deputy Chair

The Chair of TDWG holds the post for four years, two as the Deputy Chair and two as the Chair. They preside at meetings of TDWG and at meetings of the Executive Committee. They are responsible for leading TDWG, they seek advice from the Executive Committee and conveners of Interest, Maintenance and Task Groups. They write an annual update to members on TDWG’s status, activities, priorities and vision for the year ahead.

Unless delegated to other Executive Committee members, the Chair represents TDWG at meetings, conferences and other meetings. The Chair also opens and closes presentations at the annual conference.

Secretary

The Secretary is responsible for coordinating the activities of the Executive Committee and for the daily business of Biodiversity Information Standards. They organizes meeting agendas and take minutes. They help to coordinate the review of standards and the organization of Interest and Task Groups. The Secretary acts as a proxy for the Chair during any significant period of unavailability and communication with the Executive Committee is normally through the Secretary.

Functional Subcommittee for Outreach and Communications Chair

The motivation, mission and responsibilities of the Functional Subcommittee are explained on the Subcommittee’s page. The Chair provides leaderships on outreach and communications for the whole of TDWG.

Functional Subcommittee for Funding and Partnerships Chair

The motivation, mission and responsibilities of the Functional Subcommittee are explained on the Subcommittee’s page. The Chair provides leaderships on fundraising and partnerships for the whole of TDWG.

Regional Representatives: North America, Africa, Asia & Europe

Regional Representatives give voice to the members, institutions, and projects in their region, and collectively provide a global perspective to the Executive Committee. As members of the Executive Committee, Regional Representatives have responsibility for the oversight of TDWG and the authority to approve/decline strategic initiatives, budgets, and all aspects of operations and activities. The Executive Committee also approves or declines the formation of Interest and Task Groups, as well as the ratification of standards and best practice specifications produced by Interest and Task Groups.

Nomination procedure

To nominate someone for one of the positions above, first confirm that the nominee is willing to accept the responsibilities of the office. Then work with the nominee to send a brief statement of the nominee’s background and vision (maximum 400 words) to the TDWG Secretary (secretary@tdwg.org). Self nominations are accepted. All nominations must be complete and received before 16 November 2020, extended to the 1st December 2020 for the Deputy Chair, Secretary, Fundraising and Partnerships, North America Representative and Asian Representative.

Election procedure

The TDWG secretariat will post nominees’ statements to the TDWG website and distribute ballots to all institutional and individual members in good standing. In the case of institutional members, we will notify the primary and secondary contacts, but only one ballot response will be accepted. If you are uncertain about your membership status, please inquire with the TDWG Treasurer (treasurer@tdwg.org). Institutional ballots will be weighted as five individual ballots.

Deadline

Nominations are now closed for the Chair of the Functional Subcommittee for Communications and Outreach, Africa Representative and European Representative. Nominations are still open until the 1st December for the Deputy Chair, Secretary, Fundraising and Partnerships, North America Representative and Asian Representative. Ballots will be distributed by email shortly thereafter. The balloting period will be at least 30 days from the date of distribution. Exact date-times will be announced via TDWG announcements and posted here.