In the running up to an Annual GDN Meeting, the Immediate Past President will invite participants to submit nominations for  upcoming vacant board positions. A sub-committee of the Board, chaired by the Immediate Past President will present candidates for appointment as director for approval by the Board. The Board will preferably consider Founders, Patrons and Signatories who contribute financially to the Foundation and who contribute to a diverse Board, taking into account: data providers (e.g. institutions); data custodians (e.g. depositories); data owners (e.g. representative student bodies); international membership associations active in the field of education; geographic spread across the continents; and diversity and inclusivity of Board membership as a whole.