The IUCN World Conservation Congress is the highest organ of IUCN and consists of duly accredited delegates of the Members of the IUCN meeting in session.
One of the functions of Congress is to elect the President, Treasurer, Regional Councillors and Chairs of Commissions, who will make up the IUCN Council. This is the body responsible for the oversight and general control of all the affairs of IUCN.
IUCN Members eligible to vote will vote online to elect the IUCN Council during the Members' Assembly at the World Conservation Congress 2025. The results will be announced during the final Members’ Assembly Sitting.
Council Elections
The Council Elections will be held during the World Congress. They will be held online and more information on the process will be shared with Members in the coming months.
IUCN Council’s Guidance for 2025 Election Candidates
Qualifications for the positions to be elected
Election Officer and Deputy Election Officer
The Election Officer supervises the elections at the World Congress and the counting of the votes in accordance with Rule 74 of the Rules of Procedure of the World Conservation Congress.
The Deputy Election Officer acts in the place of the Election Officer whenever the latter is unable to act as Election Officer, in case of a conflict of interest, or if the Election Officer has the same nationality as any of the presidential candidates and provides support to the Election officer to ensure the integrity of the elections.
On 16 May 2024, on the recommendation of the Bureau and the candidates proposed by the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law, taking into account the Terms of Reference approved by the Bureau of the (Dec B12/4), the IUCN Council appointed Mr David Forman as the IUCN World Conservation Congress Election Officer and Ms Claudia de Windt as the Deputy Election Officer.