RCVS Fellows invited to put themselves forward for positions on the Fellowship Board and Science Advisory Panel

RCVS Fellows can now stand for election for a position on the RCVS Fellowship Board. The vacant positions that need filling are Chair of the Fellowship Board, a Projects and Engagement Officer for the Board and Chair of the Fellowship Science Advisory Panel, which is a subgroup of the Board.

The elected candidates will play key roles in shaping the direction of the Board and the Panel and will help to lead the Fellowship’s ongoing work to improve the diversity of its members, sharing knowledge and promoting the work of the Fellowship in the broadest sense. Each successful applicant will serve a three-year term, starting in Autumn 2022, and will also have the opportunity to stand for re-election after their first term.   

The Chair of the Fellowship Board will take the lead in consolidating the Fellowship’s position as the learned society of the RCVS. They will do this by working alongside other Fellowship Board members to determine the ongoing strategy and objectives of the Fellowship and ensuring it makes progress towards achieving these agreed goals.

The Projects and Engagement Officer will be responsible for helping to raise the profile of the Fellowship’s work and lead on creative and innovative ways to deliver the Board’s long-term strategy. They will also work alongside and collaborate with other members of the Board and RCVS staff to support campaigns and activities that demonstrate the impactful work that the learned society carries out.

The Chair of the Fellowship Science Advisory Panel will be tasked with shaping the future direction of the Panel, notably providing expert-led scientific research for the College, the professions and helping to promote robust debate on veterinary medicine across the veterinary professions.

Dr Cheryl Scudamore, Vice-Chair of the Fellowship Board, said: “I’ve seen first-hand the work that the Fellowship Board and Science Advisory Panel carry out in the name of advancing veterinary standards. This year’s election means that there is now a great opportunity for three more Fellows to join the team of dedicated and passionate veterinary professionals driving the Fellowships activities.

“As well as looking for people who have made significant contributions to veterinary science, we are also hoping to find candidates with ideas for how the Fellowship can improve its ways of working and how we can communicate the achievements of the Board and the Science Advisory Panel to a wider audience. Over the last 12 months, we’ve had successes that we’re proud of, including improvements in the diversity of successful Fellowship applicants, the launch of an online discussion forum for Fellows and our first virtual Fellowship week. It’s never been a more interesting time to take a more active role in the RCVS Fellowship.”  

Professor John Innes, Chair of the Fellowship Board, said: “‘Becoming a member of the Fellowship Board offers the successful applicants the opportunity to help promote all the impactful Fellowship activities that happen throughout the year, encourage knowledge sharing and enable conversations on challenging issues. Standing for any of the available roles is something that all Fellows should consider, regardless of which route to Fellowship they have taken, and their current role.

“We have looked at numerous topics during my time as Chair, from the most recent quality of life series to our environmental projects, and now our renewed focus on vet schools sharing research findings and specialist updates. However, we are always open to new activities and topics to channel Fellowship expertise into, and the new Fellowship Board members will help to guide the direction we take.”

Fellows who are interested in standing for election will need to fill out an online form, which includes a statement that outlines why they should be elected, and have the backing of two other members of the professions.

For more information about how to apply, visit the Fellowship webpage.