Rosemary Smith, chairman of the DMA, said: "These elections are crucial to the future of the DMA. We are looking for new volunteers to take the organisation forward. It's a chance to have a real say in how we approach the significant challenges and opportunities in the industry today."
The launch of the 25-strong advisory council is part of a wider restructure of the association after a strategic review earlier this year.
All senior DMA members are invited to stand for the advisory council. Once elected the council will focus on the strategic issues facing DMA members and the direct marketing industry and will co-ordinate a number of sub groups looking at these specific issues.
As part of the restructure the current DMA board, which has more than 30 members, will step down in October and will be replaced by a smaller executive board.
The new executive board will consist of the chair, the deputy chair, five representatives from the advisory council elected by the members of the advisory council, two representatives from the regional council representatives elected by the advisory council and up to four co-options and the secretariat divisional directors (non-voting).