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GALA Board Elections

GALA’s strength has always been its community. Our members are passionate professionals who excel at their jobs and share their time and expertise for the good of all. Serving on the GALA Board is a chance to be part of that story. You’ll stretch your leadership skills, build valuable connections, and help shape the future of a very  important part of our industry - GALA.

The experience is both rewarding and inspiring: you give back to your peers while also growing in ways that only service and collaboration can offer.

If you’re ready to grow, connect, and contribute, and you're eager to combine your ambition with some altruism, then we encourage you to submit your candidacy for the GALA Board.

SUBMIT CANDIDACY [BUTTON]

Candidacy

There are three seats available for the 2026-2028 term. Board candidates are self-nominated. Please carefully review the responsibilities and criteria outlined below. When you are ready to submit your candidacy,  log in to your GALA user profile and complete the nomination form. 

GALA's Board should be balanced, diverse, and representative of the association's general membership. We are seeking volunteer leaders from small and large language services companies, technology firms, interpreting agencies, universities, and enterprise localization teams - from around the globe - to join the GALA Board.

Successful Board members have a history of engagement with GALA, a strong commitment to the association’s success, and have personal qualities such as open-mindedness, foresight, collaboration, and integrity.

The GALA Board of Directors is responsible for the strategic direction of the association. The committee convenes monthly (virtually) to discuss the association's goals and priorities. The board is responsible for the following:

  • Deciding matters of association policy, direction, and strategy
  • Identifying and addressing short- and long-term association opportunities, threats, and priorities
  • Establishing and dissolving committees, task forces, and working groups
  • Serving as board liaisons on strategic member committees
  • Providing effective financial oversight
  • Assessing the association’s Executive Director

Board members participate on executive sub-committees such as governance and finance, and as liaisons on member committees such as member programs. During their tenure, board members should be prepared to devote time to GALA-related activities including: 

  • Regularly scheduled virtual board meetings
  • Annual in-person board meeting (in conjunction with GALA's annual conference)
  • Other potential face-to-face meetings often co-located with major industry events
  • Participation in member engagement initiatives and committees
  • Leadership on specific association initiatives

Board members devote 3-8 hours per month to GALA volunteer work, including subcommittees. The term of office is three years: 01 January 2026 through 31 December 2028.
Submitting Your Candidacy

Candidates are self-nominated. You will need an active GALA user account to submit your candidacy. Please update your user account before completing the nomination form because many fields will auto-populate.

You will be asked about your leadership experience, your GALA engagement, and your thoughts on the role of GALA. Your responses on this form will be published as part of your candidate materials.

The GALA team will review your nomination to ensure you meet the eligibility qualifications. We will reach out with any questions and notify you when you are accepted as a candidate and next steps.

Eligibility Qualifications
  • Minimum 3 years of GALA membership within the last 5 years  (need not be with the same member organization)
  • Senior-level professional with a minimum 8 years of industry experience
  • Employer’s endorsement and support
  • Demonstrable history of engagement with GALA through its programs and services, including prior GALA volunteer experience
  • Commitment to GALA's mission and vision
  • Absence of conflicts of interest (e.g., serving as an officer with a similar non-profit organization, receiving compensation for products or services detrimental to GALA, etc.)
  • Acceptance of association policies 

Review the GALA Board Eligibility, Qualifications, and Duties document and Board FAQ for more information.
Campaigning

GALA supports all candidates during their campaign. We provide campaign guidelines and suggestions  and promote the candidates and the election. Candidates will receive their own candidate page on GALA's website and social assets featuring their responses to the nomination form. Candidates will be announced and statements will be published in November.

GALA does not share the personal information of our voting contacts or any of our mailing lists.

Voting

All GALA member organizations receive a vote in elections. GALA distributes one (1) ballot to the voting contact at each member company. The voting contact casts votes for the number of open seats. The candidates with the most votes are elected.

Elections Schedule
  • Call for Candidates: 15 September - 02 October 2025
  • Candidates announced: 21 October 2025
  • Voting: 04 -14 November 2025
  • Meet the Candidates Livestreams: TBD
  • Results announced: 15 December 2025
  • New term commences: 01 January 2026

For questions about GALA's Board of Directors, submitting your candidacy, or the elections process, please contact us.