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RCVS to hold first-ever virtual Annual General Meeting in July

9 June 2020

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) 177th Annual General Meeting will be the first to be held virtually in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the associated government guidance on social distancing.

The Annual General Meeting will take place via a dedicated online platform on Friday, 10 July 2020 starting at 10am when RCVS Council will meet to approve the Annual Report and Financial Statements for 2019, welcome new members on to RCVS and Veterinary Nurses (VN) Councils and say farewell to retiring Council members. The AGM will also be Dr Niall Connell’s final occasion as RCVS President as he passes the reins to Dr Mandisa Greene, who will be invested as President for 2020-21.

The full agenda for the day is as follows:

  • Welcome and opening remarks (10am)
  • Annual Report and Statement of Accounts
  • Answers to members’ questions on the Annual Report
  • Council elections: new members and retirements

BREAK (11 – 11.10am)

  • Council meeting to approve President, Vice-Presidents and Treasurer
  • Address from RCVS CEO Lizzie Lockett
  • Address from outgoing VN Council Chair Racheal Marshall
  • Investiture of new Chair and Vice-Chair of VN Council [TBC]
  • New VNC Chair’s remarks
  • Address from outgoing RCVS President Dr Niall Connell
  • Investiture of new President and Vice-Presidents
  • New President’s remarks
  • AGM closes (approximately 12 noon)

In normal circumstances, the AGM and Council meeting are followed by an Awards Ceremony in which guests and Members are given the opportunity to recognise and celebrate veterinary achievement, including via the RCVS programme of Awards & Honours. However, due to the pandemic, this part of the occasion has been separated from the Council business of RCVS Day and postponed until later in the summer.

Niall Connell, RCVS President, said: “This will certainly be a different kind of AGM from previous years and, while it is a shame that we will not be having our usual Awards Ceremony at the same time, I look forward to marking the achievements of our amazing professions in due course.

“I would, however, like to extend an invitation to all members of the RCVS and our veterinary nursing colleagues to ‘attend’ the event online, as there will still be plenty of interest taking place, including speeches and addresses highlighting the key achievements and milestones of the past year. We will also still be able to answer Members’ questions on the Annual Report & Statement of Accounts that have been submitted in advance.

“I am also particularly proud and delighted that I will be handing over my presidency to Mandisa, who will become the College’s first black President, making it a truly historic occasion.”

Veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses who wish to attend the AGM can do so by registering on our dedicated webpage.  

Questions from Members about the RCVS Annual Report and Financial Statements 2019 should be submitted in advance to Deborah Rowlanes at [email protected], no later than 5pm on Monday, 6 July 2020.

Only questions directly related to the Annual Report and its contents can be answered at the AGM. Answers to similar questions may be collated on the day due to time limitations, however, individual answers to all questions will be published on the RCVS website following the AGM.

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