Winners revealed for RCVS Awards 2026
RCVS president Tim Parkin will present awards at this year's Royal College Day.
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has officially announced the winners of this year’s RCVS Awards.
The awards will be presented at Royal College Day 2026, taking place at One Great George Street, Westminster on Friday, 3 July 2026.
Among the awards announced is the annual Queen’s Medal. Described by the RCVS as ‘the pinnacle of professional recognition within UK veterinary medicine’, the award is presented to one member a year whose contributions to the sector have significantly advanced the profession and animal welfare.
The 2026 Queen’s Award will be given to Prof Lance Lanyon. Prof Lanyon began his career in 1967 as a lecturer in anatomy for Bristol Veterinary School, before teaching at Tufts University in Massachusetts, USA.
He went on to work at the Royal Veterinary College, where he became principal in 1989.
His nominator, Tim Skerry FRCVS, said: “His extraordinary ability to manage and solve complex problems led to major regeneration of the RVC, developing modern research-led teaching, and increasing student numbers to fill growing needs for UK veterinary graduates.
“In research, Lance’s discoveries are fundamental to all today’s researchers in bone biology/osteoporosis internationally. He changed views and altered understanding profoundly and to the benefit of humans and animals.”
The VN Golden Jubilee Award celebrates veterinary nurses who have made exceptional contributions to their field.
This year’s award will be presented to Samantha Fontaine RVN, senior lecturer in veterinary science and education at the University of Glasgow. She is recognised for her contribution to postgraduate veterinary nursing education and clinical practice, having created the University of Glasgow’s MSc Programme in Advanced Veterinary Nursing Practice.
Her nominator, Dr Mary Fraser FRCVS, said: “Throughout her career, Sam has strived to further develop, highlight and advance the subject of veterinary nursing and the role of the veterinary nurse in practice. She has shown by her own example what is possible, and alongside this has always brought her colleagues with her.”
The RCVS has also announced two Honorary Associateships, which celebrate non-veterinary professionals who have advanced animal health and welfare.
Firefighter Jim Green is the founder and director of operations of the British Animal Rescue and Trauma Care Association (BARTA). He received two nominations recognising his ‘transformative impact’ and his work embedding vet-led decision-making into national guidance.
Dr Rowena Packer will also receive an honorary associateship. Through her role as senior lecturer in companion animal behaviour and welfare science at RVC, Dr Packer was nominated for her research on clinical practice and the debate on animal welfare issues.
Her nominator, Dr Zoe Belshaw FRCVS, said: “Dr Rowena Packer's research and advocacy has driven significant advances in veterinary clinical practice, education, and the wellbeing of companion animals and veterinary staff.
“She leads groundbreaking, clinically relevant studies on brachycephalic disorders, canine epilepsy, the Pandemic Puppy phenomenon, designer crossbreeds and end-of-life decision making, lecturing on these topics at veterinary conferences globally.”
Other winners will include:
• Compassion Award – Dr Robert Campbell, University of Liverpool, for leading confidential group forums to improve wellbeing
• Impact Award – Dr Sean Wensley, for developing BVA’s Animal Welfare Strategy while BVA president
• Inspiration Award – Helen Silver-MacMahon RVN, for her leadership and development roles
• International Award – Dr Sanjay Singh, for leading the vaccination programme for Help in Suffering in Jaipur, India
• Student Community Award – Lharanya Somasundaram, for her involvement with student-led organisation Animal Aspirations at the Royal Veterinary College.
The RCVS will also present its inaugural Collaboration Award to the EVML for Food-Producing Animals scheme. Read the full story: https://mrcvs.co.uk/en/news/24946/RCVS-reveals-winner-of-first-Collaboration-Award
Image © RCVS
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