Nomination
The call for nominations for available ISTS positions is open until 30th November 2026.
Available Positions
Term: The Symposium President serves a four-year term on the ISTS Board of Directors: one year as Symposium President-Elect, one year as Symposium President, and two years as Past Symposium President.
Responsibilities: The primary responsibility of the Symposium President is to lead the planning, fundraising, organization, and delivery of the International Sea Turtle Society Symposium during their year as Symposium President. The Symposium is the Society's flagship event and brings together sea turtle researchers, conservation practitioners, students, resource managers, and other members of the international sea turtle community.
The Symposium President is responsible for assembling and leading a Symposium organizing team; developing the vision, program, and budget for the meeting; overseeing venue and event planning; and leading efforts to secure sponsorships, partnerships, and other financial support. The Symposium President is expected to raise sufficient funds to deliver a successful Symposium, with a goal of generating at least $50,000 in additional funds to support the ongoing operations of ISTS.
Serving as Symposium President and successfully organizing the International Sea Turtle Society Symposium requires a substantial commitment of time and effort. Prospective candidates should consider whether they have the institutional support, organizational capacity, fundraising ability, and time necessary to successfully fulfill these responsibilities.
The Symposium President Terms of Reference provide the complete description of the responsibilities and expectations associated with this four-year commitment. Prospective candidates are expected to read the Terms of Reference in full before submitting a nomination and should ensure that they understand and are prepared to fulfill the responsibilities described therein.
Experience Criteria: Nominees should have attended at least four ISTS Symposia within the past 15 years. Only past symposia are considered for purposes of this requirement.
Details: Each member of the Board of Directors serve a 4-year term. There are two open positions this year.
Responsibilities: The Terms of Reference outline the role and responsibilities of a member of the Board of Directors.
Experience Criteria: The nominee should have attended at least three symposia within the past 10 years. Note that only past symposia are taken into consideration.
Details: This committee consists of five members who serve 3-year terms. Further details are provided within the Terms of Reference. There are two vacant positions: one ex BoD member and one regular member.
Details: This committee consists of five members who serve 3-year terms. There are four vacant position: two regular members and two Lifetime Achievement Awardee members.
In an effort to maintain diversity amongst the ISTS Award recipients, the committee encourages the membership to nominate Award Committee members with experience, diverse geographical backgrounds, and those who have contributed to sea turtle conservation in different ways
Letter of Support
Two letters of support should be completed following the completion of a nomination. These need to be sent before the application deadline. These should not be completed by the nominee. Only letters of support for the specific year of nomination will be considered. Letters of support should be provided by individuals with personal experience of the nominee’s research/conservation activities and do not need to be current members of the ISTS.
A template for a letter of support can be downloaded here. Once complete, they should be emailed to the Nominations Committee.
Additional Information:
To assist in the nomination process, the Nomination Committee provides the following suggestions for preparing your nominations:
- Provide clear and accurate information.
- Letters of support should explain the relationship between the nominee and the referee.
- Explain how the nominee’s contribution fits within the context of those they work with – often achievements are collaborative, but individuals can still make a significant individual contribution.
- A nominee’s biographical information should not exceed 250 words.
- For nominations to be considered, the application and all supporting documents MUST be received by the deadline; incomplete applications will not be accepted.