RCVS Council elects Kit Sturgess as new Vice-President

At its meeting last Thursday, 5 March, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Council elected Dr Christopher (Kit) Sturgess to be Junior Vice-President of the College for 2020-21. 

Kit (pictured right), who has served on Council as an elected member since 2013, is currently the Chair of the RCVS Finances & Resources Committee and has been RCVS Treasurer for the past three years. He is also a member of a range of committees and project groups across the RCVS including: the Audit and Risk Committee; the PIC/ DC Liaison Committee; the Certification Subcommittee; the Estate Strategy Project Board; the RCVS Knowledge Board of Trustees; and the Advanced Practitioners Panel.

Since 2003 Kit has been working as an internist (he is an RCVS-recognised Specialist in Small Animal Medicine) in private referral practice. In 2006 he became a founding partner in a multidisciplinary referral centre that he saw grow from five to 65 members of staff within five years.

When he is not spending his time in clinics, he pursues other interests within the veterinary profession with a focus on education including as the British Small Animal Veterinary Association’s Education Committee Chair. Kit is also a trustee of Cats Protection and the Wildheart Trust.

His interests include workforce issues, communicating the diverse clinical and non-clinical skills of veterinary surgeons to the general public and government, and facilitating life-long learning through achievable further professional qualifications and effective CPD.

On his election as Junior Vice-President (JVP), Kit says: "It was a great honour to be elected as the next Junior Vice President by my fellow council members. I feel that I can make a positive contribution to the work that the RCVS is already undertaking in ensuring the veterinary team remains healthy and respected. In particular I am keen to look at how the RCVS can help find solutions to our workforce issues - improving retention as well as encouraging and facilitating vets and nurses back into the profession."

In addition to Kit being elected as JVP, the current holder of that office, Dr Mandisa Greene, was confirmed as President for 2020-21 and current President, Dr Niall Connell, was confirmed as Senior Vice-President for this period.

Furthermore, Professor Susan Dawson was voted in as RCVS Treasurer, and she will be formally invested in this role at Royal College Day on Friday, 10 July.

Following several years in practice Susan studied for a PhD in feline virology at the University of Liverpool, gaining her PhD in 1992.  Susan is currently Professor and Head of School at the University of Liverpool and is Chair of the RCVS Mind Matters Initiative. She has worked in the area of infectious disease for over 20 years and her current interests focus on zoonotic infections and public health. She has also previously been Chair of the RCVS Education Committee and has contributed to the RCVS Operational Board, Brexit Taskforce, Graduate Outcomes Working Group and Primary Qualifications Subcommittee.

On her appointment as Treasurer Susan says: “I have been a proud member of the veterinary profession since 1983 and am delighted to be on RCVS Council where, along with our colleagues in Belgravia House, we get the opportunity to make a difference. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time on Council and am very grateful for being given the opportunity to take on the role of Treasurer. With all the things happening in the veterinary professions and beyond, it is an exciting time to take on the treasurer role and I will do my very best to do as good a job as previous treasurers.”

In addition to these appointments, a number of Council members have re-elected to serve as Committee Chairs. Specifically, Professor David Argyle has been elected as Chair of Advancement of the Professions Committee for his second year, Dr Susan Paterson has been elected as Chair of Education Committee for her second year, and Dr Melissa Donald has been elected Chair of Standards Committee for her second year.

Whilst all of these positions were confirmed by RCVS Council, both Kit and Melissa are standing for re-election in the RCVS Council Elections 2020 and the internal appointments mentioned are subject to their successful re-election.

More information on the RCVS Council and its members can be found on the RCVS Council webpage.