Key Dates

  • 9 July 2025: Voting rights eligibility deadline
  • 9 January 2026: Call for candidates
  • 9 February 2026 : Deadline to submit applications
  • 30 March 2026: Announcement of candidates and opening of the voting platform
  • 20 April 2026: End of the first round of online voting
  • 24 April 2026: Second round of online voting (if needed)
  • 11 May 2026: The official announcement will be made at the HFA General Assembly (GA) at the Heart Failure 2026 congress

Open positions

Executive Board
  • 1 President-Elect
  • 1 Secretary
  • 1 Treasurer
  • 1 Coordinator of the Basic Science Section
  • 1 Coordinator of the Clinical Science Section
  • 1 Coordinator for the National Heart Failure Societies and Working Groups
Ordinary Board
  • Ordinary Board members (eight positions, including at least one position for Nurses & Allied Professionals)
Nominating Committee
  • 5 Ordinary Committee members

If you have any questions, please get in touch with HFA at hfa@escardio.org

HFA Rules of Governance and Eligibility criteria

HFA Rules of governance

As announced during the HFA General Assembly held in April 2023, rules of governance have now replaced the HFA constitution (validated by the ESC Board on 25 August 2023). ESC Associations rules of governance are included in Annex V of the ESC Bylaws, approved by ESC Board in December 2024. As a result of a 2-year review as approved by the 2022-2024 ESC Board, they were revised and approved by the ESC Board on 28 August 2025.
The HFA election application process and voting will be carried out in accordance with the ESC bylaws.

  • Candidates can apply to only one voting Board position
  • There can be no re-election to the same position
  • Voting HFA Board members may remain on the Board for a maximum period of 6 consecutive years (with the exception of the President who may remain up to 12 years maximum including 6 years as President-Elect, President and Immediate Past President)
  • An HFA Board member may not hold more than three leadership positions at the same time within the ESC. Sitting on an ESC Committee or on the nucleus/board of an ESC Working Group or Council or Association is counted as one leadership position. A candidate who already holds three offices may therefore not stand for election, except if one of its terms of office expires before the new functions start

Eligibility criteria

For all HFA Board members
  • Candidates must be Members or Fellows of the HFA. 
  • Candidates must have settled their membership dues 6 month before the date of the opening of the call for applications, in the present case on 9 July 2025 (23:59 CEST) AND be an HFA member when the voting platform opens (30 March 2026) 
  • Candidates shall be originating from an ESC member Country. 
  • Candidates have to sign the HFA elections statement and candidate code of conduct (via the electronic application form) and must submit their Declaration of Interest (DOI) prior to the start of the elections process (upon an email invitation and if not already submitted as part of another ESC activity). If this requirement is not fulfilled, the candidate will not be accepted. 
Additional criteria for HFA Executive Board
  • All of the general rules and eligibility criteria presented previously for the HFA Board positions apply for the Executive Board.
  • In addition, candidates to the Executive Board must also be:
    • A voting or appointed member of the current or immediately preceding HFA Board
      Or
    • An ex-officio member of the current HFA Board under the condition that he/she held another position (not as ex-officio) in the immediately preceding HFA Board
Additional criteria for HFA President-Elect
  • All of the general rules and eligibility criteria presented previously for the HFA Board & Executive positions apply for the President elect.
  • In addition, candidates to the position of President-Elect must also be:
    • A Fellow of the ESC and a Fellow of the HFA 
Individuals not eligible
  • Representatives and employees from healthcare industry companies are not eligible to HFA Board positions and Nominating committee positions.
  • Members of the current (2024-2026) Nominating Committee cannot be candidates for the elections organised in 2026.

Application Process

Applications are now open and must be submitted by Monday 9 February 2026 23:59 CET.

The list of candidates will be published on 30/03/2026.  

Before applying please

Additional Requirements

  • Proficiency in English
  • An active professional career at the time of taking office

*If you need technical assistance, please contact us at hfa@escardio.org

 

Apply today