RCVS Fellowship Board Election results announced

Fellows of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) have voted for new members of the Fellowship Board, which is responsible for the governance of the learned society and ensuring that it meets its strategic aims.

The new Chair of the Fellowship Board has been confirmed as Dr Chris Tufnell FRCVS. As Chair, Chris will lead the Board, which is responsible for setting the criteria for joining the Fellowship across all three of its routes to entry, as well as the process by which applications are assessed.

Elections also took place for the Chair of the Fellowship Science Advisory Panel, and the Fellowship Projects and Engagement Officer, which have been confirmed as Professor Anna Meredith FRCVS and Dr Emma Milne FRCVS respectively.

The Fellowship Science Advisory Panel is responsible for reviewing evidence and providing scientific advice and guidance to the Fellowship and wider profession on topical issues. As Chair, Professor Meredith will oversee the panel’s activities and decisions, whilst the Projects and Engagement Officer, Dr Milne, will be responsible for overseeing and guiding the activities that contribute to the delivery of the Fellowship’s wider objectives. Dr Milne’s responsibilities will also include heading up outreach activities designed to broaden and consolidate the Fellowship’s network to further raise awareness of its work.

RCVS Fellows were invited to vote for candidates in all three categories over the summer with the voting period closing at 5pm on 23 September 2022.

The candidates who stood for election were as follows:

Fellowship Board Chair

• Dr Chris Tufnell FRCVS (Elected)

Science Advisory Panel Chair

• Professor Anna Meredith FRCVS (Elected)
• Dr Christopher Little FRCVS

Projects and Engagement Officer

• Dr Emma Milne FRCVS (Elected)
• Mr Mark Owen FRCVS
• Dr Neil Smith FRCVS

Current Fellowship Board Chair, Professor John Innes (pictured), will hand over the role to Chris Tufnell at the RCVS Fellowship Day at the Royal Institution on Friday 11 November. He said: "Congratulations to all three successful candidates who stood in the Fellowship Board elections this year. I very much look forward to working with them all, however briefly, and I am sure the rest of the Board share that sentiment. I would like to thank all the candidates for standing for election; the Fellowship was fortunate to have the choice of excellent candidates.

“It is certainly a very healthy sign that members of the Fellowship wish to volunteer to work to promote the Fellowship and what it stands for. We had a 53% election turnout which is an encouraging level of engagement. Thank you to all who took the time to vote."

Further information about the role of the Fellowship Board and the Science Advisory Panel can be found on the dedicated RCVS Fellowship webpage.