Voting commences 14 March
The names of the candidates standing in this year’s RCVS and VN Council elections have been announced.
All veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses who are eligible to vote will receive their ballot papers and candidates’ details by post during the week commencing 14 March.
All votes must be cast, either online or by post, by 5pm on Friday, 29 April 2016.
There are eight candidates contesting six places in RCVS Council. These include four existing Council members eligible for re-election and four new candidates. They are:
- Mr Christopher Barker MRCVS
- Ms Amanda Boag MRCVS
- Dr Melissa Donald MRCVS
- Miss Lucie Goodwin MRCVS
- Mr Thomas Lonsdale MRCVS
- Professor Stephen May FRCVS
- Dr Cheryl Scudamore FRCVS
- Dr Christopher (Kit) Sturgess MRCVS
Six veterinary nurses are contesting two places in this year’s VN Council elections and all are new candidates. They are:
- Mrs Stacey Bullock RVN
- Miss Racheal Marshall RVN
- Mrs Wendy Nevins RVN
- Mr Matthew Rendle RVN
- Mrs Samantha Thompson RVN
- Miss Helen Tottey RVN
The RCVS invites veterinary surgeons and nurses to put their question’s to the nominees in this year’s ‘quiz the candidates’. Each candidate will then choose two questions from all those received and produce a video recording of their answers. The RCVS will then publish the videos on their website on Thursday 17 March.
“Last year, all election candidates produced videos for the first time and, with over 3,500 views in total, it seemed a popular way for voters to find out more about the individuals who were standing,” says RCVS chief executive Nick Stace.
“Providing a way for all vets and vet nurses to put their own questions to the candidates is now an integral part of the elections, and one which we hope will continue to encourage people to get involved and have their say.
Veterinary and nurses can email their questions to vetvote16@rcvs.org.uk or VNvote16@rcvs.org.uk. Voters can also post their questions on the College’s Facebook page or on Twitter using the hashtags #vetvote16 or #VNvote16. The closing date for questions is Monday, 29 February.
Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
