Elections

27 January 2025
Election for the Regional Chairs for the 2025-2029 Term

We are beginning the election of the officers for each of the regions for the 2025-29 executive term: Africa, Asia/Oceania, Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, Latin America and North America. The first step is the election of Chair for each region. To be eligible for election to Chair, an individual needs to have served on the regional committee as a voting (elected or appointed) or non-voting member for at least one term (four years), but no more than two voting terms (eight years). Past Regional Chairs (appointed or elected) are not eligible for election to a second term. The Election Committee contacted all the eligible candidates to ask them if they are willing to run who are listed below.

To be eligible to vote, each Chapter must be up to date with its dues. Each chapter must vote for one candidate for the ballot to be valid. To be elected, the top candidate will receive the highest number of votes. Please note that the current Chair remains as a member of the Committee as Past-Chair.

ILAE‐North America requires different consideration as it only consists of three Chapters. For this reason, a special committee, named the Regional Selection Committee, will be created. It will consist of five members; one from each Chapter (each Chapter determining their own selection process), and the past two chairs of ILAE‐North America, as long as these individuals do not currently hold office on the ILAE Executive Committee, are not members of the elections committee and are not running for election. If no such person is available, then the individual who has most recently served in the ILAE Executive Committee from the region (and is not a candidate) will be included. The chair of the Selection Committee will be the immediate past ILAE‐North America Chair. The role of the Regional Selection Committee is to create a Regional Board by selecting the Chair and four elected members. The Regional Selection Committee is made up of Jackie French (former N America Chair), Sheryl Haut (former N America Chair), Ed Hogan (USA), Simeona Jacinto (Caribbean Chapter) and TBC (Canada).

After election of the Chairs, the nomination and election of the remaining four members of each Regional Committee begins.

Africa

Birinus Ezeala-Adikaibe (Nigeria) Birinus Ezeala-Adikaibe (Nigeria)
Statement
Samson Awili Gwer (Kenya)
Samson Awili Gwer (Kenya)
CV | Statement
Edward Nkingwa Kija (Tanzania)
Edward Nkingwa Kija (Tanzania)
CV | Statement
Zeinab Koné (Mali)
Zeinab Koné (Mali)
Statement
Pierre Mesu'a-Kabwa Luabeya (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Pierre Mesu'a-Kabwa Luabeya (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
CV | Statement
Naluca Mwendaweli (Zambia)
Naluca Mwendaweli (Zambia)
CV | Statement
Victor Sini (Cameroon)
Victor Sini (Cameroon)
CV | Statement

Asia/Oceania

Derrick Chan
Singapore
Derrick Chan (Singapore)
CV | Statement
Dede Gunawan
Indonesia
Dede Gunawan (Indonesia)
CV/Statement
Seung Bong Hong
South Korea
Seung Bong Hong (South Korea)
CV | Statement
Kheng Seang Lim
Malaysia
Kheng Seang Lim (Malaysia)
CV | Statement
Man Mohan Mehndiratta
India
Man Mohan Mehndiratta (India)
CV | Statement
 

Eastern Mediterranean

Reem Abdullah Alyoubi
Saudi Arabia
Reem Abdullah Alyoubi (Saudi Arabia)
CV
Raidah Al Baradie
Saudi Arabia
Raidah Al Baradie (Saudi Arabia)
Statement
 

Europe

Nicola Specchio
Italy
Nicola Specchio (Italy)
CV | Statement

Latin America

Silvia Abente
Paraguay
Silvia Abente (Paraguay)
CV | Statement
image not available
Eduardo Barragán
 
Laura Guilhoto
Brazil
Laura Guilhoto (Brazil)
Statement
Magda Lahorgue Nunes
Brazil
Magda Lahorgue Nunes (Brazil)
 
Juan Carlos Perez Poveda
Colombia
Juan Carlos Perez Poveda (Colombia)
CV | Statement
Walter Horacio Silva
Argentina
Walter Horacio Silva (Argentina)
CV | Statement

North America

Taylor Abel
USA
Taylor Abel (USA)
CV | Statement
Jorge Burneo
Canada
Jorge Burneo (Canada)
CV | Statement
Dave Clarke
Caribbean Chapter
Dave Clarke (Caribbean Chapter)
CV | Statement
Tim Welty
USA
Tim Welty (USA)
CV | Statement

 

1 October 2024
Elections for the Management Committee for the 2025-2029 Term

The most recent round in the elections for the Management Committee for the 2025-29 term ended on 27 September. The candidates with the most votes are Eugen Trinka (Europe), Jo Wilmshurst (Africa) and Kette Dualibi Ramos Valente (Latin America). They have all accepted their election and we would like to congratulate them on their success and wish them a fruitful tenure. In addition, we would like to thank the other candidates who also ran in the election. The full results are listed below:

Candidate Votes Percentage
(Europe) Eugen Trinka 150 16.72%
(Africa) Jo Wilmshurst 129 14.38%
(Latin America) Kette Dualibi Ramos Valente 104 11.59%
(North America) Aristea Galanopoulou 80 8.92%
(Asia & Oceania) John Dunne 73 8.14%
(Eastern Mediterranean) Chahnez Charfi Triki 67 7.47%
(North America) Jaideep Kapur 57 6.35%
(Latin America) Mario Alonso Vanegas 52 5.80%
(Asia & Oceania) Akio Ikeda 51 5.69%
(Asia & Oceania) Manjari Tripathi 38 4.24%
(North America) Barbara Jobst 37 4.12%
(Asia & Oceania) Ding Ding 34 3.79%
(North America) Amza Ali 25 2.79%
Votes tallied: 897
Abstentions: 0

 

The global elections have now ended. The next round will be the election of regional Chairs. Voting will start in January.

Solomon Moshé, Elections Committee Chair
Patricia Braga
Angelina Kakooza
Boulenouar Mesraoua
Emilio Perucca
William Theodore
Peter Wolf

 

30 August 2024
Elections for the Management Committee for the 2025-2029 Term

Time has come to elect the ILAE Vice President, Secretary General and Treasurer for the 2025-2029 term. According to the Constitution, all newly elected members of the Executive Committee must be primary members of different countries, and not more than two can come from the same region. In consequence, as Dr. Alla Guekht from the Russian Federation has been elected as the next President, only one more candidate from Europe, but not from the Russian Federation, can be elected. Of all other regions, up to two candidates can be elected.
 
According to our Bylaws, the Election Committee is tasked with compiling a list of up to 15 candidates who have received multiple nominations from Chapters and are eligible and willing to serve. Twenty-nine such persons were identified; of these, 16 declined their candidacy. Below, the final list of 13 candidates representing six regions.
 
From 2 September, Chapters will be asked to vote for five persons from at least three regions on the list. Voting will close on 27 September. The appointment of the three elected officers to the specific offices is the responsibility of the President-elect with advice from the Election Committee.
 
Chapters’ votes are weighted according to their size as follows:

  up to 50 members: 1 vote
  51–150 members: 2 votes
  151–350 members: 3 votes
  351–750 members: 4 votes
  751–1500 members: 5 votes
  above 1500 members: 6 votes


Chapters that do
not collect dues have one (1) vote.

This voting terminates the global elections after which we proceed to the regional elections for the Chair of each region, and afterwards the other committee members.
 
Solomon Moshé, Elections Committee Chair
Patricia Braga
Angelina Kakooza
Boulenouar Mesraoua
Emilio Perucca
William Theodore
Peter Wolf

Elections for the Management Committee 2024-2029 - Jo Wilmshurst Jo Wilmshurst (Africa)
CV | Statement
Elections for the Management Committee 2024-2029 - Ding Ding Ding Ding (Asia & Oceania)
CV | Statement
Elections for the Management Committee 2024-2029 - John DunneJohn Dunne (Asia & Oceania)
CV | Statement
Akio Ikeda 2024Akio Ikeda (Asia & Oceania)
CV | Statement
Elections for the Management Committee 2024-2029 - Manjari TripathiManjari Tripathi (Asia & Oceania)
CV | Statement
Elections for the Management Committee 2024-2029 - Chahnez TrikiChahnez Triki (Eastern Mediterranean)
CV | Statement
Elections for the Management Committee 2024-2029 - Eugen Trinka Eugen Trinka (Europe)
CV | Statement
Elections for the Management Committee 2024-2029 - Kette ValenteKette Dualibi Ramos Valente (Latin America)
CV | Statement
Elections for the Management Committee 2024-2029 - Mario Arturo Alonso VanegasMario Alonso Vanegas (Latin America)
CV | Statement
Elections for the Management Committee 2024-2029 - Amza AliAmza Ali (North America)
CV | Statement
Elections for the Management Committee 2024-2029 - Aristea GalanopoulouAristea Galanopoulou (North America)
CV | Statement
Elections for the Management Committee 2024-2029 - Barbara C. JobstBarbara Jobst (North America)
CV | Statement
Elections for the Management Committee 2024-2029 - Jaideep KapurJaideep Kapur (North America)
CV | Statement

 

4 July 2024
Elections for the Management Committee for the 2025-2029 Term

The nomination round for the Management Committee for the 2025-29 term has concluded. According to our By-Laws, the Election Committee is tasked with compiling a list of up to fifteen candidates who have received multiple nominations from Chapters and are eligible and willing to serve. Twenty-nine such persons were identified; of these, sixteen declined their candidacy. Below, the list of thirteen candidates representing six regions who have agreed to run. Chapters will be invited to vote in the coming weeks.

  • Jo Wilmshurst (Africa)
  • Ding Ding (Asia/Oceania)
  • John Dunne (Asia/Oceania)
  • Akio Ikeda (Asia/Oceania)
  • Manjari Tripathi (Asia/Oceania)
  • Chahnez Triki (Eastern Mediterranean)
  • Eugen Trinka (Europe)
  • Kette Dualibi Ramos Valente (Latin America)
  • Mario Alonso Vanegas (Latin America)
  • Amza Ali (North America)
  • Aristea Galanopoulou (North America)
  • Barbara Jobst (North America)
  • Jaideep Kapur (North America)

 

9 May 2024
Nominations for Management Committee for the 2025-2029 term

After the recent election of Prof Alla Guekht as our next President for the 2025-2029 term, we now proceed to the next stage, the election of the Vice President, Secretary General and Treasurer.

This part of the election takes place in 2 steps: 1) nomination of candidates and 2) voting. Chapters have been invited to submit 5 names of persons coming from at least 3 regions (Africa, Asia/Oceania, Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, Latin America, North America) that they propose for these offices. The deadline for submissions is 5th June 2024.

In the nomination, each Chapter has 1 vote. The Election Committee will, from the received proposals, compile a list of up to 15 candidates who have received the most nominations, are eligible and willing to serve, and represent a regional distribution that ensures that the above rule on regional participation will be complied with. 

According to the Constitution, ‘each of the newly elected Management Committee (MC) members must be primary members of different Chapters’. Therefore, since the President-elect is from the Russian Chapter, no more primary members of that Chapter can now be elected. Also, no more than two of the newly elected members of the MC shall come from the same region. Therefore, no more than one European can now be elected whereas from each of the other regions up to two MC members can be elected.

Additionally, the Constitution states that ‘No member of the Executive Committee can serve more than two terms as an elected officer, unless elected as President. Therefore, those who are ineligible and cannot be nominated are:

  # of terms
Giuliano Avanzini 

4

Ed Bertram 

2

Martin J Brodie 

2

Roberto Caraballo 

2

Helen Cross

2

Jerome Engel 

3

Alla Guekht 

2

Marco Medina 

2

Nico Moshé 

3

Emilio Perucca 

4

Edward H. Reynolds 

3

Francisco Rubio-Donnadieu 

4

Tatsuya Tanaka 

2

Sam Wiebe 

3

Peter Wolf 

4

 

Solomon Moshé, Elections Committee Chair
Patricia Braga
Angelina Kakooza
Boulenouar Mesraoua
Emilio Perucca
William Theodore
Peter Wolf

 

Presidential Election 2025-2029, Runoff Round

Dr Alla Guekht has been elected ILAE President, 2025-29 after the runoff round was concluded on 1 May 2024. The results are as follows:

Candidate Votes Percentage
Edward H Bertram, III 93 42.66%
Alla Guekht 125 57.34%
Votes tallied: 218
Abstentions: 1

 

Out of the 127 Chapters, 111 voted while a further 7 were ineligible owing to non-payment of dues. The remaining 9 Chapters were eligible but did not participate.

It gives us great pleasure to inform you that Prof. Guekht has accepted her election as President for the next term. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank Prof. Edward H. Bertram and Dr Roberto Caraballo for running. We are sure that they, along with all of our members, will join us in congratulating Prof. Guekht on her election and wishing her a productive and successful tenure as President.

Solomon Moshé, Elections Committee Chair
Patricia Braga
Angelina Kakooza
Boulenouar Mesraoua
Emilio Perucca
William Theodore
Peter Wolf

 

25 March 2024

The elections for the ILAE President for the 2025-2029 term have concluded. Dr. Edward H Bertram and Dr. Alla Guekht received the highest number of votes and were also tied in the number of votes received. According to the By-Laws, we will conduct a run-off between Dr. Bertram and Dr. Guekht which will start on 1 April and conclude on 1 May. All 127 Chapters will be invited to participate once again. The third candidate, Dr. Roberto Caraballo, received fewer votes and is therefore not eligible to participate in the next round. The Elections Committee thanks him for his participation, willingness to run and interest in the Presidency. The number of votes received per candidate are:

Candidate Votes Percentage
Edward H Bertram, III 74 36.45%
Roberto Horacio Caraballo 55 27.09%
Alla Guekht 74 36.45%
Votes tallied: 203
Abstentions: 1

 

 

29 January 2024

From the list of eligible people, ILAE is pleased to announce the following candidates are running for ILAE President for the 2025-2029 term.

Ballots will be sent out on 29 January 2024 to each of the ILAE’s Chapters. Only Chapters that are up to date with their dues will be eligible to vote. Voting will conclude on 22 March. Chapters’ votes are weighted according to their size using the following gliding scale:

  up to 50 members: 1 vote
  51–150 members: 2 votes
  151–350 members: 3 votes
  351–750 members: 4 votes
  751–1500 members: 5 votes
  above 1500 members: 6 votes


Chapters that do
not collect dues have 1 vote.

Following the election of the President, we begin the process to elect the 3 members of the Management Committee.

ed photo 2023 Edward H. Bertram, III
CV | Statement
roberto photo 2023 Roberto Horacio Caraballo
CV | Statement
alla photo 2023 Alla Guekht
CV | Statement

A message from the ILAE Executive Committee

The nomination for election to any ILAE office is based on previously discussed and approved eligibility criteria, and on what an individual has contributed to the mission and vision of the ILAE. The ILAE is not involved in national or international politics but is an organization striving for a world where no person’s life is limited by epilepsy; an organization based on the principle of inclusion of all health professionals who support people with epilepsy no matter where they live in the world and an organization that promotes the overarching principle of medical neutrality.

Historical Elections Information

Past elections results