Black Professionals in International Affairs

Announcing the 2027 BPIA Election Cycle

Shape What Comes Next at BPIA

BPIA’s strength comes from members who are willing to step forward, serve and help shape what comes next. Each year, all Board of Directors and committee leadership positions are elected, creating an opportunity for members to bring new ideas, professional experience and a commitment to advancing BPIA’s mission.

Whether you are considering Board service or committee leadership, this page is your central resource for election FAQs, key dates, announcements, candidate information and updates throughout the election cycle. Additional resources, including the 2027 Candidate Bio Book, will be added as they become available.

Why Run for BPIA Leadership?

Leadership at BPIA is an opportunity to:

Shape BPIA’s future and contribute to the organization’s strategic direction.
Turn ideas into impact by leading programs, initiatives and partnerships.
Strengthen your leadership experience through nonprofit governance, team building and organizational management.
Expand your network across BPIA’s community of international affairs professionals, partners and leaders.
Give back to the BPIA community by creating opportunities and helping develop the next generation of leaders.

We welcome candidates who are collaborative, strategic, solutions-oriented and prepared to actively contribute their time, experience and ideas to BPIA.

BPIA 2027 ELECTIONS CYCLE - Announcements

REGISTER HERE

Event Details:

Title: BPIA Board of Directors & Leadership Interest Meeting

Date: Sunday, October 11, 2026

Time: 5:00–6:00 p.m. ET (virtual)

Location: Zoom

Event Description

This session will provide an overview of the upcoming 2027 Elections & Nominating Process and share insights into serving on BPIA’s Board of Directors and in key leadership positions.

BPIA ELECTIONS INFORMATION

Whether you are considering running for office, nominating a candidate, or simply want to learn more about the election process, this meeting is your opportunity to:

Gain a clear understanding of board and leadership responsibilities
Learn about the 2026/27 election timeline and process
Explore how you can contribute to advancing BPIA’s mission through leadership

If you have any questions, please contact us at governance@iabpia.org

Your engagement is essential to shaping the future of BPIA. We look forward to your participation.

This meeting will be recorded.

For questions, email goverance@iabpia.org

Please note that in order to run for a Board of Director role or Leadership position, you need to have been a BPIA Member for the last 6 months as of October 12th when applications open.

Nominations Open October 12

BPIA is pleased to announce the upcoming 2027 Election Cycle and invites eligible members to consider serving in a leadership role within the organization.

The nomination form will officially open on October 12, following our General Interest Meeting on October 11. Members are welcome and encouraged to nominate themselves or another eligible BPIA member for consideration.

Interested in running or learning more? Information regarding available positions, eligibility requirements, the nomination and election process, key dates, and frequently asked questions is provided below.

We encourage all interested members to review the information carefully and join us for the General Interest Meeting before nominations open.

2027 Elections Process Overview

Oversight

The elections process is overseen by the BPIA Governance Committee
Per our bylaws, BPIA holds elections for all leadership positions annually

Terms and Eligibility

The term of all roles runs January–December
All candidates completed an eligibility and suitability review
Board of Director Candidates must be a member in good standing, and be a member for at least 6 months.
Committee chairs are encouraged to be a member for 6 months, but it is not a requirement

Voting

General Body members vote only for the Board of Directors
Committee leadership and advisory council roles are elected exclusively by the Board of Directors
All Board of Directors and Committee Leadership are invited to participate in the candidate meet & greet
Only active General Body members (registered on iabpia.org) may participate in elections
Ballots are sent via our WildApricot voting system, so you must be active in the system to receive it
Voting goes live immediately following the Interest Meeting
Candidates may campaign and share campaign flyers

Timeline

Oct 12 — Nominations Open
Nov 6 — Nominations Close
Nov 18 — Voting Opens
Nov 25 — Voting Closes
Dec 6 — Election results announced at the BPIA Annual Meeting

Support

Memo - Prospective BPIA Board of Directors Informational Packet: Board Requirements, Criteria, Suitability, and Profile [Access Here]
For any voting questions, challenges, or access issues, email governance@iabpia.org
All election and candidate materials are available at iabpia.org/2027-elections

KEY DATES: Full Timeline Overview

October 11: Interest Meeting: Board of Directors and Leadership [Register Here | Access Slidedeck]

Oct. 12 - Nov 6: Board & Leadership Nominations Open [ Access Nomination Form Here]

Nov. 6: Board & Leadership Nominations Deadline

Nov. 7 - Nov. 16: Leadership Review Period

Nov 17: Virtual Candidate Meet & Greet

Nov 18-25: Voting Period

Dec 1: Candidates Notified of Results

Dec 8: Results announced during BPIA Annual Meeting

January: Governance Onboarding of the new Board Members and Leadership & Annual Leadership Retreat

FAQ

QUESTION	ANSWER
Do I have to be a BPIA member to run for a BPIA leadership role?	Yes.
What roles are available?	All BPIA leadership roles are open for elections. To see the listing of Board and Committee chair roles, please view the interest meeting powerpoint.
What are the requirements to run for a position?	All requirements are listed in the Prospective Candidate Memo.
Is there an age limit to who can run?	No.
How long is the term of each position?	All BPIA leadership positions run for one calendar year (from January-December)
Can I run for multiple roles?	No, only one.
Can I run for a Board of Director role and a Committee Chair role?	Yes.
Can I run for the Board of Directors if I have been a member less than 6 months?	No. Candidates running for board of director roles must be a member for at least 6 months.
Is it required that I serve as a Committee Chair to serve on the BPIA Board of Directors?	Not required but suggested.
Is there a minimum professional experience requirement to serve on BPIA leadership?	No, however, demonstrated leadership and professional experience is strongly suggested.
How do we get selected?	Board of Directors (Voting and Non-Voting are elected by the BPIA General Body). Committee chairs are voted on by the incoming board of directors.
Who do I contact if I have questions?	Email goverance@iabpia.org.
Can I nominate someone else for a role.	It is advised to encourage them to submit the nomination form themselves (as the form gets specific)
Can I serve on the elections committee and run for a role?	Yes, but candidates must opt out of any vetting that includes them.
How many years can I hold a position?	There is no term limit, as long as the individual is elected by vote.

KEY DOCUMENTS

Join the BPIA E-newsletter Mailing List
BPIA sends monthly e-newsletter to the BPIA community highlighting upcoming events, job announcement, fellowships, news, and more.

BPIA membership is open to all applicants who support our mission and goals without regard to race, religion/creed, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual preference or identity.

Email
bpiaoutreach@iabpia.org

Mailing Address

BPIA

P.O. Box 55922

Washington, DC 20011