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Elections
Elections – ISHS Division Chairpersons
and/or Division Vice-Chairpersons
All ISHS Elections are by invitation and for ISHS members only.
The ISHS elections process is web-based and all communications, invitations, notifications, etc. are exclusively sent by e-mail.
Important: ISHS members are considered responsible for managing their own inbox settings and maintain good practice to ensure desired emails reach them, check their spam folder as legitimate emails can sometimes be mistakenly filtered, systematically mark legitimate emails as ‘not spam’ to train their email provider’s filter, add ISHS to contacts or whitelist, provide a valid and current email address, ensure their inbox has enough space to receive new messages, …
Members in ISHS Divisions whose membership is in good standing will automatically be sent personalised announcements, invitations or instructions related to the election procedure for the Divisions they participate in. Such email notifications are strictly personal and not transferable to other persons.
In order to be eligible to vote one must be a member in the respective Division by the closing date of the voting list which is prior to the start of the election procedure.
Individual ISHS membership is required.
ISHS Members should keep their membership account details updated at all time – including their participation in the Divisions (and Working Groups).
Strict deadlines apply to each of the voting rounds. For the exact deadline refer to the respective invitation letter. Votes or reactions received after the set closing date for each election round will not be considered. Duplicate, blank or incomplete votes are invalid. The voting process is private and confidential.
Each individual member in a Division is entitled to cast one vote in each Division he/she belongs to.
No person can stand for more than one office in the same election.
* Each individual may serve a maximum number of two (2) terms in the role of Division Vice-Chair.
The election process – ISHS Division Chairpersons – consists of the following steps:
Candidate Chairpersons confirm their interest by return email to the ISHS (see invitation message for details), adding two (2) attached files as follows:
* one (1) attached file in MS Word (or similar) format in which they compile the information relative to list items 1-7 and
* one (1) attached file in .pdf format in which they compile the copies, scans, screenshots of the short statements of support mentioned in list item 8.
1. their name and ISHS membership number (individual ISHS membership is required),
2. the name of the Division concerned,
3. a paragraph of their bio sketch limited to 8 lines of text,
4. a record of their past activities, achievements or involvement with ISHS (at least involved as convener, Council member, Working Group Chair, Acta Horticulturae Editor, …) limited to 10 items,
5. a paragraph of their expertise related to the specific Division limited to 5 lines of text,
6. a paragraph of suggestions of activities and motivations for working as Chair of the Division limited to 5 lines of text,
7. The names and membership numbers of at least 5 ISHS members in a minimum of 4 different countries/regions spread over at least 3 continents who support their candidacy with a short written statement or email (note: a short statement is sufficient – no need to request extensive letters of support),
8. a scanned copy of the above mentioned statements of support in which the endorsers each confirm their support of the candidate.
To rule out potential e-mail glitches, the ISHS Secretariat will always confirm receipt of each candidate profile (candidates who did not receive a confirmation of receipt should contact ISHS in time before the given deadline).
The ballot includes the names (+ bio and other details) of those candidates who meet the above minimal requirements.
Division members who are ISHS members in good standing are invited to vote for the candidate Chairpersons in the Divisions they participate in.
The winner is the candidate Chairperson who receives a 50%+1 majority of the votes cast.
– In the event of an indecisive first round, a second voting round among the top 2 or 3 candidates is organised.
– In the event of an indecisive second round, a third and final voting round will be organised among the top 2 candidates.
The election process – ISHS Division Vice-Chairpersons – consists of the following steps:
Candidate Vice-Chairpersons confirm their interest by return email to the ISHS Secretariat (see invitation message for details), adding one (1) attached file in MS Word (or similar) format in which they compile the following information:
1. their name and ISHS membership reference number (individual ISHS membership is required),
2. the name of the Division concerned,
3. a paragraph of their bio sketch limited to 8 lines of text.
To rule out potential e-mail glitches, the ISHS Secretariat will always confirm receipt of each candidate profile (candidates who did not receive a confirmation of receipt should contact ISHS in time before the given deadline).
The ballot includes the names (+ bio) of those candidates who meet the minimal requirements.
Division members who are ISHS members in good standing are invited to vote for the candidate Vice-Chairpersons in the Divisions they participate in.
The winner is the candidate Vice-Chairperson who receives a 50%+1 majority of the votes cast.
– In the event of an indecisive first round, a second voting round among the top 2 or 3 candidates is organised.
– In the event of an indecisive second round, a third and final voting round will be organised among the top 2 candidates.
As a rule, the ISHS Secretariat does not organise elections for Chairs (and Vice-Chairs where applicable) of ISHS Working Groups. Working Group Chairs (and Vice-Chairs where applicable) get elected by simple majority at the time of the business meeting which generally takes place during an ISHS symposium organised under the aegis of the ISHS Working Group involved.
The Office of an ISHS Division Chair/Vice-Chair
In contrast to ISHS Council Members, who represent the general interests of their country and oversee the governance of the Society, a Chairperson of an ISHS Division is specifically involved with the scientific activities and interests of the ISHS. The Vice-Chair supports the Chair in all aspects of the management of a Division and acts on behalf of the Chair whenever a Chair is not in a position to represent the Division, including representation at the Executive Committee.
* Each individual may serve a maximum number of two (2) terms in the role of Division Vice-Chair.
The Vice-Chair is ex-officio entitled to act on behalf of the Chair whenever a Chair is not in a position to represent the Division. As a rule the Chair and Vice-Chair of a Division should come from different countries.
The future of the ISHS is very dependent on how horticultural scientists worldwide regard our activities as being important to their own work and to the development of their particular discipline. Our structure, activities and publications must relate very closely to the requirements of our current and potential membership and it is essential that our symposia organisation, publications and other activities reflect the very highest scientific standards that the Society can achieve.
The reputation of the ISHS, already high in many areas, depends to a very large extent on the work of the Divisions. To achieve even higher standards, it is vital that they are actively led and are made up of members who will participate positively in all aspects of the programmes that are developed for them. Achieving a range of activities that are relevant to horticultural science must continue to be our aim; and we need to do this by further improving our scientific publications, increasing attendance at symposia, further developing our means of communication, and increasing our membership.
Topics related to the task as Division Chair can be summarized as follows:
- Guiding Working Groups: Each ISHS Division has a number of Working Groups, some of them more active than others. Working Groups are groups of researchers, some members of the Society, others not, and it is these groups that initiate many of our activities. The Chairperson of a Working Group must be a member of ISHS and is elected to the office by the ISHS members on the occasion of a business meeting of the Working Group, usually held every four years. It is important that you oversee the election of the Working Group Chair and make sure that appropriate candidates come forward for election.
- Stimulate the Organisation of ISHS Symposia: As a guide, each ISHS Working Group should organise an ISHS Symposium every three to four years. Formal approval for ISHS support is granted by the ISHS Executive Committee. The Chairperson of the Division will be the key contact for all Working Group Chairpersons and Symposia conveners for the plans, dates and venues for proposed symposia. The Division Chairperson will evaluate and bring these suggestions to the attention of the ISHS Executive Committee. The Executive Committee will deliberate on these proposals based on scientific content and interaction with other ISHS meetings. In case no proposals for future ISHS Symposia are received within periods between Executive Committee meetings, the Division Chairpersons should intervene in the activities of the Working Groups to ensure that a scientific programme is developed.
- Attend the annual meeting of the Executive Committee: With his/her election to the office of the Chair of a Division, the Chair agrees to attend the annual meeting of the Executive Committee, a body of which he/she is automatically a member. The Society recognizes the importance of this task by providing some financial assistance: the level of this amount is decided by the ISHS Council. In case a Chair is not able to attend the meeting of the Executive Committee, he/she is requested to delegate his/her Vice-Chair for that role.
- Compose Division Membership Lists: Each Division must be comprised of ISHS members. The Society strives to appoint as members of the Divisions the most outstanding researchers within the scope of activities and interests of that Division. The Chairperson of the Division should forward names of future Division members and manage, in cooperation with the ISHS Secretariat, the Division membership list.
- Produce Newsletters of the Division: Several Divisions produce excellent newsletters on the activities of the Division and its Working Groups. Chairpersons of Divisions are urged to continue to publish newsletters and to initiate the set-up of new newsletters as appropriate.
- Promote and Represent the Society: Being outstanding researchers in the discipline related to the scope of a Division, the Society feels that it is primarily the Chairpersons of the Divisions who should represent and promote the Society whenever possible; or to delegate this task to the Vice-Chairpersons of the Divisions and to Working Group Chairpersons, as appropriate.
- Liaise with the Board through the Secretariat: The ISHS Board is well aware that the position of Chairperson of an ISHS Division is a time- and energy-consuming task carried out voluntarily in combination with your daily work. The ISHS Secretariat is able and willing to help you with secretarial tasks whenever possible. The ISHS Secretariat will also ensure the dissemination of your reports and communications as required.
The Office of an ISHS Working Group Chair/Vice-Chair
In contrast to ISHS Council Members, who represent the general interests of their country and oversee the governance of the Society, a Chairperson of an ISHS Division or Working Group is specifically involved with the scientific activities and interests of the ISHS.
The reputation of the ISHS, already high in many areas, depends to a very large extent on the work of Divisions and their respective Working Groups. To achieve even higher standards, it is vital that they are actively led and are made up of ISHS members who will participate positively in all aspects of the programmes that are developed for them. Achieving a range of activities that are relevant to horticultural science must continue to be our aim; and we need to do this by further improving our scientific publications, increasing attendance at symposia, further developing our means of communication, and increasing our membership.
Topics related to the task as Working Group Chair can be summarized as follows:
- Guiding Working Groups: Each ISHS Division has a number of Working Groups, some of them more active than others. Working Groups are groups of researchers, some members of the Society, others not, and it is these groups that initiate many of our activities. The Chairperson of a Working Group must be a member of the ISHS and is elected to the office by the ISHS members on the occasion of a business meeting of the Working Group, usually held every four years. It is important that a Chair in office oversees the nomination and election procedure of the Working Group Chair and makes sure that appropriate candidates come forward for election.
- Stimulate the Organisation of ISHS Symposia: As a guide, each ISHS Working Group should organise an ISHS Symposium every three to four years. Formal approval for ISHS support is granted by the ISHS Executive Committee. The Chairperson of the Division will be the key contact for all Working Group Chairpersons and Symposia conveners for the plans, dates and venues for proposed symposia. The Division Chairperson will evaluate and bring these suggestions to the attention of the ISHS Executive Committee. The Executive Committee will deliberate on these proposals based on scientific content and interaction with other ISHS meetings. The Working Group Chair is expected to stimulate applications for future symposia. In case no proposals for future ISHS Symposia are received within periods between Executive Committee meetings, the Division Chairpersons will be entitled to initiate actions that will stimulate activities of the Working Groups to ensure that a scientific programme is developed.
- Produce Newsletters: Several Divisions and Working Groups produce excellent newsletters reporting on their activities. Chairpersons are urged to assist the Division Chairs in their efforts to publish newsletters and to initiate the set-up of new newsletters as appropriate.
- Promote and Represent the Society: Being outstanding researchers in the discipline related to the scope of a Working Group, the Society feels that it is primarily the Chair of a Division who should represent and promote the Society whenever possible. For this the Working Group Chair will assist the Chair of the Division as appropriate in this task. Liaise with the Chairperson of the relevant Division. The ISHS Board is well aware that the position of Chairperson of an ISHS Working Group is a responsible task carried out voluntarily in combination with your daily work. The Chair of the Division remains available at all time to assist you in your task whenever necessary.
Documents
ISHS Elections – Division Chairpersons and Vice-Chairpersons (2026-2030) – results available below
(updated: May 4, 2026 – Chairpersons: final election results).
Elected Chairpersons and Vice-Chairpersons come into office at the IHC2026 (Kyoto, Japan, August 2026) where the result of the elections is to be officially confirmed by the ISHS Council.
2026 Election results – Chairpersons ISHS Divisions (2026-2030):
- Division Greenhouse and Indoor Production Horticulture [DGIP]: Dr. Nazim Gruda
- Division Horticulture for Human Health [DHEA]: Dr. Tim O’Hare
- Division Landscape and Urban Horticulture [DURB]: Dr. John Wesonga
- Division Ornamental Plants [DORN]: Dr. Patricia Paiva
- Division Plant Genetic Resources, Breeding and Biotechnology [DBIO]: Dr. Sandra Correia
- Division Plant-Environment Interactions in Field Systems [DPHY]: Dr. Stefano Musacchi
- Division Postharvest and Quality Assurance [DPHQ]: Dr. Giancarlo Colelli
- Division Precision Horticulture and Engineering [DENG]: Dr. In-Bok Lee
- Division Sustaining Horticulture in a Changing World [DSUS]: Dr. Melinda Knuth
- Division Temperate Tree Fruits [DFRU]: Dr. Luca Corelli Grappadelli
- Division Temperate Tree Nuts [DNUT]: Dr. Giulia Marino
- Division Tropical and Subtropical Fruit and Nuts [DTRO]: Dr. Nicolas Roux
- Division Vegetables, Roots and Tubers [DVEG]: Dr. Ferdinando Branca
- Division Vine and Berry Fruits [DVIN]: Dr. Bruno Mezzetti
2026 Election results – Vice-Chairpersons ISHS Divisions (2026-2030):
- Division Greenhouse and Indoor Production Horticulture [DGIP]: _____
- Division Horticulture for Human Health [DHEA]: _____
- Division Landscape and Urban Horticulture [DURB]: _____
- Division Ornamental Plants [DORN]: _____
- Division Plant Genetic Resources, Breeding and Biotechnology [DBIO]: _____
- Division Plant-Environment Interactions in Field Systems [DPHY]: _____
- Division Postharvest and Quality Assurance [DPHQ]: _____
- Division Precision Horticulture and Engineering [DENG]: _____
- Division Sustaining Horticulture in a Changing World [DSUS]: _____
- Division Temperate Tree Fruits [DFRU]: _____
- Division Temperate Tree Nuts [DNUT]: _____
- Division Tropical and Subtropical Fruit and Nuts [DTRO]: _____
- Division Vegetables, Roots and Tubers [DVEG]: _____
- Division Vine and Berry Fruits [DVIN]: _____