Inviting VNGOC members to nominate candidates for the upcoming board elections.

Deadline for nominations is 14th February 2023

The term of the current Board of the VNGOC will expire in March 2023 and the invitation to nominate candidates to serve as Board members is now open. Please read the below official call for nominations by the Election Committee before submitting your nomination.

Only nominations submitted through the electronic Nominations Form will be considered

Call for Nominations

Dear Members of the Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs (VNGOC),

We are writing to invite nominations for the Board positions of Chairperson, Deputy Treasurer, and Deputy Secretary. Individuals may only be nominated for a maximum of two positions. Please see the Terms of Reference for information on specific Board positions. Board members are expected to travel to Vienna at least once a year to attend Board meetings. Please note that Board members will not receive financial compensation for their work and contributions to the VNGOC.

As directed by the membership, the VNGOC nominating committee has reviewed the current make-up of the board and the gaps already existing and created by the upcoming election process. In order to achieve balance, we are especially encouraging candidates who meet one or more of the following criteria to apply:

• Regional representation from Africa, Asia, Middle East, and North America
• Thematic expertise in the areas of policy reform, harm reduction, access to controlled medicines, and recovery/ social re-integration
• Individuals who have current or previous lived experience of drug use, or someone otherwise directly impacted by drug policies
• Gender representation from individuals that identify as ‘female’ or ‘male’

The Nominations Committee will consider all applicants but may give preference to individuals that meet the above criteria in order to present the membership with a recommended slate that would result in a balanced board. However, the Nominations Committee wishes to remind all VNGOC members that they are free to vote on any eligible candidate they feel would best serve regardless of the slate recommended by this committee.

Members of the Board of the VNGOC are elected to serve for a period of two years. Only individuals from VNGOC member organizations in good standing (i.e. paid the 2022 and 2023 membership fees by 14th February 2023 unless exempt) may nominate candidates and be eligible to vote.

The electronic Nomination Form should be completed by no later than 14th February 2023, 11.45 p.m. CET. 
If the nominated candidate is not the Chairperson, President, Chief Executive Officer, Executive Director or equivalent of their organization, they should have the approval of the aforementioned individual. Nominations must be seconded by another member organization that is in good standing. According to the VNGOC Rules of Procedure, Nomination Forms will only be accepted in English and those that are partially or incorrectly completed will be rejected by the Nominations Committee.

We look forward to receiving nominations and thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs Election Committee

Amy Ronshausen (Drug Free America Foundation),
David Borden (DRCnet),
Marie Nougier (IDPC),
Olivia Delair (CSSDP),
Riccardo Villas Boas (FEBRACT)
Sana Ullah Rathore (PYO),
Stacey Doorly Jones (STAND),
Steve Rolles (Transform)
Stig Erik Sørheim (ACTIS)