Every year, the AESOP Young Academics Network holds democratic elections to welcome new members onto our Coordination Team (CT). This is one of the most important moments in our network's calendar, and it belongs to all of you.
Whether you're considering standing as a candidate or simply want to have your say in who leads YAN forward, this is your opportunity to exercise your democratic voice as a young planning academic. The 2026 elections are expected to take place in the next several months, with exact dates to be confirmed.
Stand for the Coordination Team
We are looking for motivated young planning academics to join the CT for a two-year term. The CT is the heart of AESOP YA. Together with around 80 volunteers worldwide, the CT oversees and drives forward all of YAN's programmes and projects, from our annual conference and PhD workshops to the PlaNext journal, the Conversations in Planning booklet series, our blog, regional ambassadors, and much more. As a CT member, you will collaborate with a large, international, and motivated team, gain practical skills across a wide range of topics, and help shape the direction of one of the largest young academic networks in the planning field.
After one year on the CT, senior members have the opportunity to take on the role of YA Executive Officer (Chair), representing the interests of young academics on the AESOP Executive Board.
Task responsibilities are shared within the team, so you can focus on what you do best or learn something entirely new from others. In return, you'll gain an expansive network of planning practitioners and academics, develop leadership and organisational skills, and play a real role in shaping activities for nearly 2,000 young planners worldwide.
Use Your Vote
Even if you're not standing as a candidate, your vote matters. The CT elections are a crucial moment for young academics to shape the direction of our network. By voting, you help decide who will represent your interests and priorities over the coming years. This is democracy in action, and every voice counts.
How to Get Involved
To be eligible to vote or stand as a candidate, you need to be a registered member of AESOP YA. Registration is completely free and can be done via the AESOP YA website. If you haven't registered yet, now is the perfect time!
For more information about the elections, check out blog posts from former CT Chairs on our website, or get in touch with the current Coordination Team members. Full details on nominations and voting will be shared soon.
Your network needs you, whether as a candidate or a voter. Let's shape the future of AESOP YA together!
