RCVS and VN Councils elections get underway
Eligible veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses can place their vote either by post or online.
Voting for the 2020 RCVS and VN Councils elections has got underway, with eligible veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses able to vote either online or by postal ballot.
In a press release, RCVS Registrar Eleanor Ferguson, said: “With all that is happening currently, we are glad to say that we have been able to continue with business as usual as far as the RCVS and VN Councils elections are concerned, albeit with some minor delays on publishing the candidate videos.”
This year there are 13 candidates standing in the VN Council elections, including two existing VN Council members eligible for re-election and 11 members not currently on Council. They are as follows:
- Samantha Anderson
- Jessica Beckett
- Kirsten Cavill
- Rebecca Clark
- Dorothy (Dot) Creighton
- Lindsey Dodd
- Emma Foreman
- Racheal Marshall
- Megan Oakey
- Susannah Phillips
- Matthew Rendle
- Claire Roberts
- Cathy Woodlands
In this year's RCVS Council election there are eight members standing, including three existing Council members and five members not currently on Council. They are:
- John Davies
- Dr Melissa Donald
- Dr Tom Lonsdale
- Professor Stephen May
- Dr Kate Richards
- Peter Robinson
- Dr Richard Stephenson
- Dr Kit Sturgess
Details of all the above candidates together with ballot papers have been posted to all veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses who are eligible to vote. Emails containing links to the secure election voting sites have also been sent to each member of the electorate by Civica Election Services.
Eleanor added: “It is very encouraging that, after a two-year absence, the VN Council elections have come back stronger with a field of 13 candidates, and we hope that this will translate into increased turnout. Likewise with the RCVS Council election, we hope that the year-on-year trend for increased turnout will continue.”
All votes, either by online or by post, must be cast by 5pm on Friday 24 April 2020. Contact details, biographies and manifestos for each candidate can be found at rcvs.org.uk/vetvote20 and rcvs.org.uk/vnvote20
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.
