The World Sleep Society election concluded at the in-person membership meeting on September 9, 2025 in Singapore at the World Sleep congress. All individual and society members were eligible to cast ballots. Results were first announced publicly at the Closing Ceremony of World Sleep 2025.
Congratulations to the new Governing Council!
The term of this Governing Council is until September 15, 2027, which is the date of the Closing Ceremony for World Sleep 2027 in Montreal.
Executive Committee (Officers)
President
Thomas Penzel (Germany)
Thomas Penzel graduated from physics (1986), human biology (1991), and physiology (1995) at the University Marburg, Germany. With a team he built up one of the first sleep medicine centers in internal medicine starting in 1982, still being a student. In 2006 he moved to Berlin where he is the director of research of the Interdisciplinary Sleep Medicine Center at the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Germany). In 2001, he received the Bial award for Clinical Medicine in Portugal, in 2008 the Bill Gruen Award for Innovations in Sleep Research by the American Sleep Research Society, and in 2014 the distinguished research award by the Chinese Sleep Research Society. He is involved in Biomedical Engineering and was IEEE EMBC 2019 conference chair, distinguished lecturer and is IEEE fellow. He is president of the German Sleep Society and Vicepresident-elect publications of IEEE EMBS. He is editor-in-chief of the journal Sleep and Breathing, and editorial board member of other journals. He has published over 400 journal papers (Pubmed), 80 book chapters, and edited 18 books.
President-Elect
Peter Cistulli (Australia)
Professor Peter Cistulli is a global leader in sleep and respiratory medicine, with over 35 years of experience spanning clinical innovation, translational research, and organizational leadership. His transformative research into the pathophysiology and novel treatments for obstructive sleep apnea has helped shape international clinical guidelines. His academic activity across research, education, and clinical care has transitioned to the entire clinical and scientific spectrum of sleep health, as well as its public health implications. Currently he is the ResMed Chair Professor of Sleep Medicine at the University of Sydney, Sleep Theme Research Leader at the Charles Perkins Center of the University of Sydney, and Clinical Director, Centre for Sleep Health and Research at the Royal North Shore Hospital. He has served in many leadership positions including President of the Australasian Sleep Association, the International Scientific Committees for multiple World Sleep congresses, a Board Member of Sleep Health Foundation and Associate Editor of SLEEP, and on the editorial board of Sleep and Breathing. Read full page biosketch
Secretary
Fang Han (China)
Dr. Han is the chief of Division of Sleep Medicine in Peking University People’s Hospital in China. Dr. Han’s major research area is the genetic and immunological research on narcolepsy, genetic study on Chinese restless legs syndrome and respiratory control and medicine for sleep apnea. Recently, Dr. Han developed Chinese Restless Leg Syndrome Network and reported the characteristics of RLS in Chinese. He served as the past President of Asian Society of Sleep Medicine, past President of Chinese Sleep Research Society and was the Secretary of World Sleep Society(2019-2022). He also serve as associate editor for Sleep, and associate editor for Sleep and Breathing. He has published 240 papers in sleep area in peer reviewed journals. Read full page biosketch
Treasurer
Dalva Poyares (Brazil)
After completing her medical degree in 1985, Dalva Poyares completed a fellowship in neurology and was a fellow in clinical neurophysiology on electroencephalography and polysomnography. she received a PhD in Neurosciences and Medical Sciences and was a visiting professor in Sleep Medicine and Post-Doctorate at Stanford University. She became a senior professor in the psychobiology department at the Universidad Federal de Sao Paulo in 2007. Currently Dalva Poyares is an Associate Professor at the Universidad Federal De Sao Paulo, Brazil. She has served on the Program Committee for the World Sleep congresses since 2018 and has a research and clinical collaboration with Sleep Disorders Center and Epidemiology Center at Stanford University. Previously, she served as president of the Brazilian Sleep Medicine Association and has authored 245 publications. Read full page biosketch
Past President
Raffaele Ferri (Italy)
Dr. Raffaele Ferri is the Scientific Director of the OASI Research Institute in Troina, Italy, and chairs its Sleep Research Centre. The main scientific activities of Dr. Ferri include Sleep Medicine and the study of neurophysiologic and psychophysiologic mechanisms underlying normal and pathologic aging by means of computer-aided EEG analysis, polysomnographic studies, evoked and event-related potentials, and transcranial magnetic stimulation. Dr. Ferri is Associate Editor of the following scientific journals: Sleep, PLOS One and International Journal of Psychophysiology and is a member of the Editorial Board of the journals Clinical Neurophysiology, Sleep Medicine and Sleep Medicine Reviews; he also contributes as a reviewer to a number of other international scientific journals. Dr. Ferri has authored over 400 scientific papers.
Members at Large
Member at Large – Africa
Morenikeji Komolafe (Nigeria)
I am a consultant Neurologist at the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Nigeria and the President of the Nigerian Sleep Society. I was instrumental to the Inauguration of the Nigerian Sleep Society as well as the establishment of the multidisciplinary Sleep research Team in the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile- Ife in the State of Osun, Nigeria. Under my leadership, the multidisciplinary sleep research team has been involved in the annual planning and execution of public awareness campaigns and update lectures on sleep Disorders. I am also the coordinator of the African Sleep Network and we are working towards the establishment of a sleep society for Africa. I have coordinated past Sleep Awareness campaigns in schools, media as well as organized Continuous Medical Educational courses for health professional on sleep disorders, and received the distinguished World Sleep Activity Recognition Award for 2022 and 2023. Read full page biosketch
Member at Large – Asia and Australia
Michael Chee (Singapore)
I have always been driven by a desire to understand and to improve human cognition. I was a neurologist in my early career before morphing into cognitive neuroscientist who gravitated to studying sleep. I have spent the first decade investigating the impact of sleep restriction on human cognitive function through its effects on sustained attention, visual processing, memory, decision making and affect. I have published over 200 scientific papers -most as first or senior author, garnering over 21,000 citations and a Google Scholar h-index of 82. I serve or have served as Handling/ Associate Editor for Sleep, NeuroImage and Curr Opinion in Behavioral Sciences. My research experience covers academic/scientific, clinical as well as industry partnerships. I lead a multidisciplinary and multiethnic, team and have a broad and grounded perspective of the research and the challenge of translating promising ideas into meaningful policy. Read full page biosketch
Member at Large – Europe
Karen Spruyt (France)
Professor Karen Spruyt, PhD, is affiliated with the National Institute of Medicine and Health (INSERM) and the University of Paris – Academic Hospital R. Debré in France. Her research investigates the relationship between children’s sleep and their development, focusing particularly on developmental neuropsychology and somnopathology. Prof. Spruyt holds degrees in Clinical Psychology (Belgium), Child Neuropsychology (Netherlands), and Biostatistics (Belgium/USA). She has held academic positions at the University of Brussels, Belgium, and the University of Chicago, USA. She has also served as a visiting professor in Canada, China, and Brazil. With over 160 publications in SCI journals and four books on pediatric sleep. She serves as Treasurer for the International Pediatric Sleep Society and as Chair of the European Sleep Research Society’s educational committee, where she co-founded the pediatric sleep school. Prof. Spruyt also works closely with the World Sleep Society and World Health Organization to prioritize sleep health on the global health agenda. Read full page biosketch
Member at Large – North America
Najib Ayas (Canada)
Dr. Najib Ayas is a Professor of Medicine at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and Medical Director of the UBC Hospital Sleep Disorders Program. He has over 25 years in clinical practice, research, and leadership in sleep medicine. His expertise spans obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), sleep deprivation, intermittent hypoxia, and the cardiometabolic and cognitive consequences of sleep disorders. His work integrates population epidemiology with mechanistic studies and has resulted in over 160 peer-reviewed publications, 29 000+ citations, and a Google Scholar h-index of 74. Dr. Ayas leads the Canadian Sleep Circadian Rhythm Biobank, a multicenter cohort dedicated to exploring how sleep apnea and circadian disruption impact cardiovascular health, cognition, and molecular biomarkers. Read full page biosketch
Member at Large – South or Central America
Edilson Zancanella (Brazil)
I am Edilson Zancanella, a Sleep Medicine and Otolaryngology specialist from Brazil. I am the current coordinator of the Brazilian Academy of Sleep (ABS) and the Former President of the Iberoamerican Society of Sleep Surgery (SIBECS). I am a professor at University of Campinas (UNICAMP) and I coordinate the Multi-Disciplinary Sleep Service at the IOU of UNICAMP where I am the sleep center’s director. I earned a PhD in home sleep testing. My research in the University focuses on epidemiology of sleep disorders, pathophysiology of sleep apnea and insomnia, COMISA and multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of sleep apnea. I have also worked with implementing safety measures for driving in the trucking industry in my state. Read full page biosketch
Affiliate Society Delegates
Affiliate Society Delegates are elected by the Affiliate Societies General Assembly, which includes all Affiliate Societies of World Sleep Society.
Each Affiliate Society Delegate selects one representative to sit on the Governing Council.
