WFN Elections 2025: Call for nominations

The World Federation of Neurology announces positions up for election by the Council of Delegates in 2025

On behalf of the World Federation of Neurology, the Nominating Committee invites nominations for the following positions:

1. President of the WFN (2026-2029)

2. First vice president of the WFN (2026-2029)

3. One Elected WFN Trustee (2025-2027)

We encourage all member societies to suggest suitable candidates. Engagement for the WFN and neurology in a global context are expected. Availability, readiness for communication, and experience with international and global societies are required. English is the communication language of the WFN.

I   The president of the WFN

The Term of the current president Prof Wolfgang Grisold, will end on December 31st, 2025. The office of the newly elected president will begin on January 1st, 2026.

The president of the WFN is supported by the board of trustees and the London WFN office structures. The president also has support from the committees and advisors on specific topics. He/she is expected to continue the structure and long-term activities of the WFN, in particular education and global activities, and add his/her vision for the development of neurology worldwide.

The period is four years, and the newly elected president is expected to stay for one year as an advisor as the past president on the board after his/her term ends. 

At the last COD meeting, the delegates approved the creation of a president-elect position, to begin one year before the ending of the president’s 4-year term. The president elect will be an advisor to the board. The election of the first president-elect of the WFN will take place in 2028.

Persons applying for the position of the president should have experience with WFN procedures and the global work of the WFN and have a global outlook. For the time of the presidency, no conflict of interest with other societies is expected.

II   The first vice president of the WFN

The Term of the current first vice president, Prof Guy Rouleau, will end on December 31st, 2025. The office of the newly first vice president will begin on January 1st, 2026.

The first vice president is one of the four officers of the world Federation of Neurology. He/she is an important part of and advisor to the board and is involved in all major decisions. Traditionally, the vice president is involved in the Congresses development of the World Federation of Neurology, the new Neurology Update activity (WNU), their educational part of the World Congress of Neurology, and the WFN educational days.

He/she is also part ex officio in the Permanent Congress Committee (PCC), which is a permanent committee of the WFN to decide on future congresses and developments.

III   An elected WFN Trustee

The term of Prof Chandrashekhar Meshram (India) ends immediately following the COD meeting; he is eligible for re-election.

Elected trustees are members of the WFN trustee board and have voting rights for all decisions. Equally, also co-opted trustees have the same rights.

Each trustee is a trustee under UK charity law and has full responsibility for the WFN. All trustees have special tasks and a personal portfolio. They are involved in short and long-term decisions and also support the WFN in their region. The present trustee participates in many activities such as communication, regional representation, and website activities, among others

General

All applications can only be made electronically and need to be sent to: elections@wfneurology.org

Nominees can only apply for one position.

A nominee must be a member of an eligible WFN member society in good standing, should have a national and international reputation, have made contributions to regional and global neurology, and be committed to the WFN and have no conflict of interest with other societies.

The Nominating Committee will consider all applicants for their suitability for the positions. Gender and geography are considered. The current elected trustees are from 3 regions of the six WFN regions and it is expected to have the participation from as many regions as possible.

A WFN Member Society must submit the name(s) of the candidate(s), together with a statement signed by the candidate of confirmation of his/her willingness to stand for election, provide a brief Curriculum Vitae (a single typewritten page) and letter of support from the Member Society. This has a deadline of Friday 14th February 2025.

The recommendations of the Nominating Committee, jointly with a statement from the applicants, will be published in World Neurology and on the WFN website.

Nominations made after this deadline are possible; in addition to the criteria above, the candidate must also be supported with signatures from a minimum of 5 (five) WFN Member Society Delegates. An explanation for the late application is required. All documents must be received by the London office thirty days prior to the electronic voting beginning. The deadline for additional nominations is 30 days prior to the start of electronic voting.

Please address the nomination documents to the WFN London Secretariat office elections@wfneurology.org, which will scrutinise the applications for completeness and forward to the Nomination Committee for further elaboration. All applications are handled confidentially.

The voting will be electronic, and the results of the vote will be published at the next COD meeting in Seoul by the current president.

For the WFN:

Wolfgang Grisold, WFN President
Laura Druce, WFN CEO