ISC2 Board Elections
About Board Elections
Thank you to all ISC2 members who participated in the 2025 Board of Directors election. Voting took place from July 9 to July 23, and we are pleased to announce the newly elected members who will serve on the Board for the 2026–2028 term:
- Laurie-Anne Bourdain, CISSP (Belgium)
- Chitra Dharmarajan, CISSP, CCSP (United States)
- Mari Galloway, CISSP (United States)
- David Mussington, CISSP (United States)
These four individuals were elected by ISC2 members from a slate of five candidates endorsed by the current Board of Directors. We thank all candidates for their dedication to the cybersecurity profession and commitment to serving the ISC2 community.
The election followed a thorough nominations process. The 2025 Open Call for Nominations concluded with 192 applicants who met the basic eligibility criteria. After review against the published Board job description, the Nominations Committee selected 10 individuals for interviews. Following interviews conducted in late March, the Board approved a final slate of five candidates for election.
We appreciate the continued engagement of our members in shaping the future of ISC2 through participation in the Board election.
For more information or questions about the election process, please contact us at bodelections@isc2.org.
Key dates for the 2025 ISC2 Board of Directors Election can be found below:
- January 24 – Open Call for Board Nominations open to eligible ISC2 members
- February 23 – Open Call for Board Nomination closes
- March 28-30 – Interviews to be conducted by Nominations Committee with selected candidates
- April 10 – ISC2 will publish the Board of Director candidates
- July 2 – Voting instructions are distributed to eligible ISC2 members
- July 9 – Board of Directors Election opens
- July 23 – Board of Directors Election closes
- July 30 – Elected candidates are announced
Q: What is the ISC2 Board of Directors election process?
A: Members interested in self-nominating for consideration by the Board can login to their member dashboard to start the process. A link to the application will appear in the member portal as a banner at the top of the Member Home page when the nominations portal is open. As a reminder, associates and candidates of ISC2 are not eligible for the Board of Directors.
The portal for self-nomination is open from January 24 to February 23, after which time the nominations committee will evaluate applications. A link to the application will appear in the member portal as a banner at the top of the Member Home page when the nominations portal is open.
Selected candidates will be interviewed virtually March 28-30. The final candidates selected for members to vote on will be announced on April 10. Further information about the campaign and election process (including the resources available to assist candidates) will be shared with final candidates after they are announced.
Member voting will be open from July 9 until July 23, when eligible members can submit electronic votes via a secure third-party system, which is then independently audited. Elections are determined by a plurality of the votes cast, with a one-member, one-vote system.
Final results will be announced at a special meeting for the members on July 30. Members may also attend this special meeting virtually or in-person and may vote then if they choose and are eligible.
Key dates for the 2025 ISC2 Board of Directors Election can be found below:
- January 24 – Open Call for Board Nominations open to eligible ISC2 members
- February 23 – Open Call for Board Nomination closes
- March 28-30 – Interviews to be conducted by Nominations Committee with selected candidates
- April 10 – ISC2 will publish the Board of Director candidates
- July 2 – Voting instructions are distributed to eligible ISC2 members
- July 9 – Board of Directors Election opens
- July 23 – Board of Directors Election closes
- July 30 – Elected candidates are announced
Q: How does the open call for nominations work?
A: Members interested in self-nominating for consideration by the Board can login to their member dashboard to start the process. A link to the application will appear in the member portal as a banner at the top of the Member Home page when the nominations portal is open. As a reminder, associates and candidates of ISC2 are not eligible for the Board of Directors.
A webinar was held on January 14 to discuss the Election and Open Call Process, which discussed what the nominations committee and Board look for in director candidates. You can watch the watch the Election and Open Call Process Webinar on-demand.
To be considered for an ISC2 Board of Director position, self-nomination applications will need to include:
- Personal background information
- Resume
- Two letters of recommendation
- A completed questionnaire including how you will provide direction and support for the organization’s strategy
When the call for nominations closes, all completed nominations will be provided to the nominations committee for review and scoring. By the beginning of April, the committee will put its recommendations for nominees to the entire Board of Directors, and if approved, then be put forward for members to vote on.
All members who participate in the call for nominations but are not selected will be notified before the slate is announced. Board participation is not just an essential part of our corporate governance but also an important professional development and learning opportunity for many members.
Q: Who is eligible to vote in the Board election?
A: ISC2 members in good standing as of January 24 and remain in good standing through the start date of the election can participate in the Board of Directors election process. Candidates, associates, and fellows of ISC2 are not eligible to vote.
Q: What does the Board look for in candidates?
A: ISC2 wants the cyber security profession to closely represent the global environment in which it operates. As such, we welcome candidates for the Board from all regions of the world as we support diversity and inclusion.
The Board seeks versatile candidates with the following attributes:
- Prior professional experience (not limited to the cybersecurity field) as detailed in the Board of Directors job description
- Prior experience serving on a corporate Board of Directors is strongly desired.
- Business, corporate governance, and strategic planning experience
- International business experience
- Contributions made to ISC2
Q: What are the expectations of Board Directors?
A: Board Directors must:
- Be prepared for and attend four or more in-person board meetings, additional periodic teleconferences, and committee meetings. Board Directors typically devote between 300 and 500 hours per year to Board activities including meetings, travel, and preparation.
- Have a commitment from his or her employer to support the time off from work required to support this commitment.
- Be fully engaged, present and available during virtual and in-person meetings and not distracted by other work demands.
- Be diplomatic and interact with honesty, sensitivity, and tolerance of differing views,
- Exhibit the ability to collaborate as a member of a team
- Be friendly, responsive, and patient in dealings with fellow Board members and ISC2 staff
- Promote the agreed collective Board opinion in lieu of their own personal views
Additional information can be found in the Board Director job description.
Q: Can ISC2 members nominate others for Board election?
A: No. Following the update to the nomination process in 2022, ISC2 members may only nominate themselves for consideration for the Board. If you know a member you think should serve, please direct them to the link in the member portal
Q: Who should I contact if I have other questions about the Board election?
A: Please reach out to bodelections@isc2.org.