Nomination period open for 2017 RCVS and VN Councils elections

We are now accepting nominations from veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses who wish to stand as candidates in next year’s RCVS Council and Veterinary Nurses Council elections respectively.

The nomination period for both RCVS and VN Councils runs up until 5pm on Tuesday 31 January 2017 and, in order to stand, candidates for either Council will need to submit a nomination form, submit a short biography and personal statement and supply a high resolution digital photo.

Each candidate also needs two nominators. For RCVS Council candidates these should be veterinary surgeons who are on the College’s Register but are not current RCVS Council members and for VN Council candidates they must be registered veterinary nurses who are not currently on VN Council.

Dr Chris Tufnell, RCVS President, said: “As someone who has been a member of Council since 2009 I can honestly say that the discussions you have and the decisions you make through both Council and its various committees do have a tangible impact on the future of the profession.

“For example, in my relatively short time as a Council member I have been involved in the review of specialisation in the profession and the setting up of Advanced Practitioner status, the championing of primary care as a valuable discipline in its own right and overseen the delivery of an ambitious Strategic Plan through my position on the Operational Board.

“These are all areas that I never imagined I’d be able to influence from my position as a practising vet in general practice.  So, if you are interested in having a say in issues as varied as CPD policy and how we respond to the challenges and opportunities of Brexit, then please put yourself forward for Council.”

Liz Cox, Chair of VN Council, added: “With the publication of the VN Futures Report in July there is now huge scope for VN Council members, current and prospective, to take forward some of its recommendations, for example, around clarifying Schedule 3 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act and building a structured and varied career path for veterinary nurses.

“As well as VN Futures there is also a lot of important day-to-day work for VN Council members around veterinary nursing education and professional standards and we would really encourage VNs from all areas of practice to put themselves forward as candidates and to have a say on these crucial issues.”

Prospective candidates for either Councils are invited to attend a ‘Meet the RCVS Day’ at the College’s offices in Belgravia House, London, on Wednesday 23 November 2016 where they will have the opportunity to talk to RCVS President Chris Tufnell and Liz Cox, Chair of VN Council, to find out more about the role of the College, its Councils and its committees.

Those interested in attending should contact Emma Lockley, RCVS Events Officer, on [email protected] or 020 7202 0773. Reasonable expenses for travel will be reimbursed.

The election period starts around mid-March and will run until 5pm on Friday 28 April 2017. Ballot papers will be sent to veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses who are eligible to vote in the week commencing Monday 13 March 2017.

Nomination forms, guidance notes and frequently asked questions are available for prospective RCVS Council candidates with equivalent documents for prospective VN Council candidates.