Board Leadership Applications
Board Leadership Applications
In every area of the organization, IFT’s volunteer leaders are a driving force in delivering value, creating a culture of inclusion, and bringing our mission, vision, and pillars to life. Serving as a member of the IFT Board of Directors is a possible next step for those who have demonstrated leadership, commitment, effort, and involvement with IFT throughout their membership and are interested in being part of its growth and evolution.
The Board of Directors is comprised of a dedicated group of leaders who generously contribute their time and expertise to further the advancement of IFT’s members, the profession, and the science of food. During a specified time each year, Premier members of IFT have the opportunity to submit an application to serve as a Director on the IFT Board of Directors or in the Office of the President.
IFT Bylaws - Elections
Before applying, please familiarize yourself with Article VIII – Elections of the IFT Bylaws.
Our Candidate Leadership Guide provides details about the responsibilities, expectations, and time commitment, as well as the competencies, experience, and expertise we are seeking in our Board members. Individuals who possess the competencies, experience, and expertise identified in the guide are highly encouraged to apply.
IFT Petition Policy
This policy was approved by the IFT Board of Directors in March 2021.
Any five percent (5%) of Premier Members of the Institute shall have the privilege of proposing a nominee for President-Elect or IFT Board Member by filing a written petition. Please see the Petition Process & Guidelines for information on submitting a petition to challenge the Board of Directors Slate.
Any candidate brought forth by petition must have submitted and completed their nomination and candidate information form through the online process.
Candidates have three weeks from the slate announcement to submit a petition to the CEO.
If there are no eligible candidates through the petition process, the slate presented to the membership by the Leadership Development Committee shall be deemed elected by the petition deadline and communicated to the membership. An eligible candidate is defined as one who submitted and completed their nomination and candidate information form through the online process.
If one or more eligible petitions have been received by the CEO, an election for the contested position(s) only shall be held. Mail or electronic ballots may be used to conduct the election for contested positions.
Nominees (selected by the nomination and the petition process) receiving the greatest number of votes shall be declared elected, provided that a quorum of members (5%) has voted. Tie votes shall be resolved by a majority vote of the members of the Board of Directors.
Leadership Election Campaign Guidelines
If one or more eligible petitions are received by the CEO, an election for the contested position(s) only will be held. Should this take place in 2023, an electronic ballot will be utilized. All candidates on the ballot must adhere to the campaign guidelines listed below.
IFT is committed to ensuring members have access and the opportunity to contribute to their fullest potential. Diversity and inclusion are key to our mission to connect global food system communities to promote and advance the science of food and its application. Therefore, we believe it is critical to attract and engage a diverse population of members and food science professionals to lead IFT through Board service. The Board strives to achieve broad representation of membership demographics and multi-representational factors, including career stage, education, areas of practice type and setting (e.g., academia, government, industry, consultancy), broad global and cultural experience, and diverse special interests and expertise (e.g., food safety, regulatory, engineering, agriculture, sustainability, etc.). Please visit our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion page for more information.
Please contact Charlotte Patterson, Staff Liaison to Leadership Development Committee, for more information or to submit a question.
"Being on the Board of Directors during such an unprecedented time was one of the highlights of my career. It was a rewarding experience to collaborate with a talented, diverse team to successfully address our enormous challenges while creating the path to a bright sustainable future for IFT. It was a truly transformative experience."