New RCVS Junior Vice-President and VN Council Chairman

Peter Jinman has been elected Junior Vice-President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and Elizabeth Branscombe will become Chairman of the RCVS Veterinary Nurses Council. Both are due to take up office on RCVS Day in July.

A graduate from the Royal Veterinary College, Peter Jinman set out in practice in Broadway in Worcestershire, and is currently Senior Partner in a four-vet mixed practice in Herefordshire.

Peter has an active veterinary political life and was awarded the OBE in 2004 for services to the veterinary profession. He was President of the British Veterinary Association (BVA) in 2002-3 and currently holds the roles of Chairman of the TB Advisory Group and Vice-Chairman of the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee.

He is a member of both the England Implementation Group for the Animal Health and Welfare Strategy (EIG) and the Vets and Vet Services Working Group.

Elected to RCVS Council in 2005, Peter has been a member of the Disciplinary, Advisory and Public Affairs Committees, and has chaired the Certification Subcommittee and Communication and Consent Working Party. In addition to his RCVS duties, he is currently Chairman of the BVA Ethics and Welfare Group.

“The College has a key part to play in ensuring that the profession is fit for purpose and able to meet tomorrow’s challenges,” says Peter.

“Council needs to clearly define this role so that we can effectively shape and influence debate on issues such as education and regulation. Not only must we ensure that the profession develops to meet the future demands of society, but that we are able to provide the necessary support and advice for all our members.”

Meanwhile, Liz Branscombe has been confirmed as the next Chairman of the Veterinary Nurses Council (VNC).

First elected to VNC in 2006, Liz has been Vice-Chairman for the last year. She qualified in 1986 and has worked in small and mixed animal practice, specialist referral practice and as a senior surgical nurse at the Royal Veterinary College.

Liz has worked at Davies Veterinary Specialists in Hertfordshire since its inception in 1998. There are currently 54 full- or part-time Registered Veterinary Nurses employed at the practice, where Liz is Nurse Training Coordinator, providing both training and support for the nurses.

She is also responsible for organising and directing the continuing professional development programmes for all members of the nursing team.

“We have seen a steady increase in the number of Registered Veterinary Nurses since the launch of the non-statutory Register in 2007: over 70% of our profession are now registered.

"Next year, the Register becomes fully operational and one of our challenges will be to continue to inform and reassure VNs who may still be uncertain about its impact,” she says.