Voting opens in 2019 RCVS Council election

Voting has now opened in the 2019 RCVS Council election with veterinary surgeons who are eligible to vote being able to do so online or by posting their paper ballot.

There are nine candidates standing in this year’s elections, including five existing Council members eligible for re-election and four candidates not currently on Council. They are:

• Dr Linda Belton MRCVS
• Dr Niall Connell MRCVS
• Mr John C Davies MRCVS
• Dr Joanna (Jo) Dyer MRCVS
• Professor Timothy (Tim) Greet FRCVS
• Professor John Innes FRCVS
• Dr Thomas (Tom) Lonsdale MRCVS
• Dr Katherine (Kate) Richards MRCVS
• Mr Peter Robinson MRCVS

Ballot papers and booklets containing candidates’ details and manifestos have been despatched by post to all veterinary surgeons eligible to vote and an email containing a unique link to a secure voting site has also been sent by Electoral Reform Services, which runs the election on behalf of the College. All votes must be cast, either online or by post, by 5pm on Friday 26 April 2019.

This year the College invited all election candidates to produce a video in which they answered up to two questions submitted directly to the RCVS from members of the electorate. These videos have been published on the RCVS Council election webpage and our YouTube channel.

Key themes this year included telemedicine, regulation of paraprofessionals, mental health and recruitment and retention. The list of accepted questions has also been published on the same dedicated RCVS Council election page.

The biographies and statements for each candidate in the RCVS Council election can be found here.

Eleanor Ferguson, our Registrar and Returning Officer for the election, said: “Last year we saw another very strong turnout for the RCVS Council election with over a fifth of the profession casting votes. The turnout was again helped by regular email reminders and the fact the voting website can be easily accessed by just clicking on a link.

“I would like to remind the profession that, following last year’s changes to our governance structure after a Legislative Reform Order was passed through Parliament, you can now only choose up to three candidates. I do hope members of the profession take this opportunity to influence the governance and policies of the RCVS.”

Those who are eligible to vote but have not received either an email or ballot paper should contact Luke Bishop, Senior Communications Officer, on [email protected]