CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

The International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services (IAFMHS) is seeking nominations for various positions to join the Board of Directors as well as for non-directorshp positions.

If you or someone you know would be interested in contributing to the development of the association and supporting its ongoing initiatives, we strongly encourage you to consider submitting a nomination or letter of intent. This is a valuable opportunity to get involve and help shape the future direction of IAFMHS.

Letters of Intent/Nominations and CV are to be submitted to iafmhs@sfu.ca by 6 October 2025. Self-nominations are welcome and encouraged. 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President-Elect (1 position) 

The President-Elect will serve in this role for a term of no longer than two years (2025-2027), immediately followed by a two-year term as President (2027-2029), and then a two-year term as Past President (2029-2031). President-Elect nominees should have served on Board of Directors or on Advisory Board, including Special Interest Group chair. 

The President-Elect must carry out the duties of the President during the President’s absence. In the absence of the President, or in the event of the President’s inability to act, the President-Elect shall perform the duties of the President and, when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the President. The President-Elect shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned by the President or by the Executive Committee.

The President presides at all meetings of the society and of the directors. The President is the chief executive officer of the society and must supervise the other officers in the execution of their duties. The President shall perform all duties incident to the office of President and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Executive Committee from time to time. 

Secretary (1 position) 

The Secretary will serve in this role for a term of three years (2025-2028). The Secretary must, with the assistance of the association administrator, conduct the correspondence of the society; issue notices of meetings of the society and directors; keep minutes of all meetings of the society and directors;  have custody of all records and documents of the society except those required to be kept by the treasurer;  have custody of the common seal of the society; maintain the register of members. The Secretary shall in general perform all duties incident to the office of secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned by the president or by the Executive Committee.

Treasurer (1 position) 

The Treasurer will serve in this role for a term of three years (2025-2028). The Treasurer must, with the assistance of the association administrator, keep the financial records, including books of account, necessary to comply with the Society Act, and render financial statements to the directors, members and others when required. The Treasurer shall have charge and custody of and be responsible for all funds of the society, receive and give receipts for monies due and payable to the society, deposit all such monies in the name of the society in such banks or other depositories as shall be selected by the Executive Committee of the society, prepare an annual financial report and a budget for the upcoming year for the society, and in general perform all duties incident to the office of treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned by the president or by the Executive Committee.

Member-at-Large (1 position)

The Member at Large (MAL) is a Director of the IAFMHS and sits on the Board of Directors with the President, President-Elect, Past President, Treasurer, Secretary, and the other members at large. The MAL serves a term of three years (2025=2028). Directors may meet at the places they think fit to conduct business, adjourn and otherwise regulate their meetings and proceedings, as they see fit, and may hold meetings, in whole or in part, by telephone, telephone conference call, video conference or through such other electronic media as may be agreed to in advance between the directors.

Those wishing to stand for office should be members in good standing of IAFMHS. President-Elect nominees should have served on Board of Directors or on Advisory Board, including Special Interest Group chair. Self-nominations may be submitted. The Nominations Committee will be chaired by Past President, Dr. Tonia Nicholls.


NON-DIRECTORSHIP POSITIONS

Scientific Committee Co-Chair for 2026-2027 IAFMHS Conference  (1 position)

Scientific Committee Co-Chair will work with the previous SC Chair, Dr Chris King, for the 2026 conference, and then go on to assist the incoming Chair the scientific committee for the 2027 conference. This is a two-year commitment (2026-2027). Typical deadlines in which co-chairs have increased workloads include: November through December, when soliciting conference submissions, assigning reviewers, making selections; and March through June when building the program schedule and during the IAFMHS Conference itself.

Early Career Professional Representative  (up to 2 positions)

The ECP Representative will serve in this role for a term of three years (2025–2028). The ECP Rep sits on the Advisory Board and serves as a liaison between early career members and the IAFMHS Board of Directors, advocating for the interests and professional development needs of early career professionals. Responsibilities include organizing initiatives relevant to early career members (e.g., networking sessions), supporting ECP engagement at the annual conference, and contributing to ECP-related communications. The ECP Representative is expected to attend Board meetings as an Ex-Officio member (virtually or in person) and participate in ongoing strategic planning for the association.


Please submit your Letter of Intent/Nominations and CV by 6 October 2025 to iafmhs@sfu.ca. Self-nominations are welcome and encouraged.

About IAFMHS

The International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services (IAFMHS) was established in 2000 as an international non-profit association, with headquarters in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The goals of the Association can be broadly defined as follows:

1. To enhance the standards of forensic mental health services in the international community
2. To promote an international dialogue about forensic mental health, in all its aspects, including violence and family violence
3. To promote education, training and research in forensic mental health
4. To inform professional communities and the public about current issues in forensic mental health
5. To promote and utilize advanced technologies in the pursuit of the above goals
6. To form informal and formal liaison with organizations having a similar purpose

A primary part of the Association's mandate is to hold an annual conference, providing an arena for information sharing on the latest research, program development, as well as legal, administrative, and ethical matters. As well, the Association publishes the International Journal of Forensic Mental Health.

By-Laws

Click here for our bylaws.

2025 Annual General Meeting

To read our latest minutes from the Annual General Meeting, click here



BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2025-2026





Members At-Large 




EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS
 

Patricia Zapf, Ph.D., IAFMHS Publications Liaison

Vice President, Continuing & Professional Studies, Palo Alto University, California, USA

Michael Daffern, Ph.D., Editor - International Journal of Forensic Mental Health

Professor of Clinical Forensic Psychology, Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science, Swinburne University of Technology,

Consultant Principal Psychologist, Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health (Forensicare), Victoria, Australia

Samantha Zottola, Ph.D., Newsletter Editor

Senior Research Associate at Policy Research Associates, Inc., Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

Mimosa Luigi, Student Board President Representative

MD/PhD Student & Vanier Scholar at McGill University, Canada

Barry Rosenfeld, Ph.D., Conference Committee Chair

Professor of Psychology at Fordham University, New York, USA


PAST PRESIDENTS

Quazi Haque, UK

2021-2023


Anne Crocker, Canada

2019-2021


Barry Rosenfeld, USA

2017-2019


Michael Doyle, UK

2015-2017


Stephen Hart, Canada

2013-2015


Corine de Ruiter, The Netherlands

2011-2013


Ron Roesch, Canada

2009-2011


Caroline Logan, UK

2007-2009


John Petrila, USA

2005-2007


Rüdiger Müller-Isberner, Germany

2003-2005


Derek Eaves, First Elected President

2001-2003

ADVISORY BOARD


Biesmans, Kim Ellen

Chair, Offenders with Intellectual Disability (The Netherlands)


Chaimowitz, Gary (MB, ChB, MBA, FRCP(C))

Past Director (Canada)


Crocker, Anne, Ph.D. 

Past President (Canada)


Cruise, Keith, Ph.D.

Member-at-Large (USA)


De Vogel, Vivienne, Ph.D.

Past Director (The Netherlands) 


Douglas, Kevin, Ph.D.

Past Director (Canada)


Doyle, Michael, Ph.D.

Past Director (UK)


Galietta, Michele, Ph.D.

Member-at-Large (USA)


Glorney, Emily, Ph.D.

Member-at-Large (USA)


Hart, Stephen, Ph.D.

Past Director (Canada)


Lowder, Evan, Ph.D. 

SIG Chair (Mental Health Courts & Diversion Programs), USA


Lantta, Tella, Ph.D., RN

SIG Chair (FMHN), Finland 


McLachlan, Kaitlyn, Ph.D.

Past Director (Canada)


Mikkers, Sandrine 

SIG Chair (Long Term Forensic Psychiatric Care), The Netherlands


Nijdam-Jones, Alicia

SIG Chair (EDI) 


Ogunwale, Adegboyega (FWACP, LL.M)

SIG Chair (Emerging Forensic Systems), Nigeria 


O'Rouke, Suzanne, Ph.D.

Member-at-Large (UK)


Penney, Stephaney, Ph.D.

Chair, (RISC-Team), Canada 


Rosenfeld, Barry, Ph.D.

Past President (USA)


Schaaf, Sarah, Ph.D. 

SIG Chair (EDI) 


Thomson, Lindsay (MB ChB FRCPsych MPhil MD)

Chair, Service Development, Organization, Strategy & Delivery (UK)


Wijma, Hilde

Chair, Long-Term Forensic Psychiatric Care (The Netherlands)


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