RCVS Council election candidates announced as VN Council nomination period extended
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has revealed the 14 candidates standing in this year’s online election to its council, the regulator’s governing body, as well as extending the election candidate nomination period for the Veterinary Nurses Council.
This year’s election will take place from mid-March until 5pm on Friday 23 and the 14 candidates are:
- Dr Louise Allum MRCVS
- Dr Danny Chambers MRCVS (incumbent)
- John Davies MRCVS
- Dr Matshidiso (Tshidi) Gardiner MRCVS
- Dr Grant Hampson MRCVS
- Elizabeth Law-Bartle MRCVS
- Dr Philip Lhermette FRCVS
- Peter Robinson MRCVS
- Dr Ian Sayers MRCVS
- Dr Huw Stacey MRCVS
- Dr Kit Sturgess FRCVS
- Dr Samantha Webster MRCVS
- Dr Colin Whiting MRCVS
- Will Wilkinson MRCVS
In 2018, changes were made to the college’s governance arrangements, after a Legislative Reform Order changing the size and composition of the council was passed by Parliament.
While the changes mean that, in most years, there will be three elected places available for the candidates, as opposed to six in the years prior to the governance changes, this year the four candidates with the most votes will be starting their four-year terms on the RCVS Council.
This year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the RCVS Council election will also be carried out completely online.
Eleanor Ferguson, RCVS registrar and returning officer for the election, said: “This means that physical ballot papers will not be distributed to veterinary surgeons eligible to vote this year.
“The small number of veterinary surgeons for whom we do not hold an email address will receive a letter with instructions on how to vote online, in addition to their security code to allow them access to their unique voting website. If they need further help there will also be the opportunity for them to call Civica Election Services, who will assist them with casting their vote.”
Ahead of the start of the election, the RCVS is also asking members to submit one question each to the candidates who will then be asked to record a short video of themselves answering two questions of their choice.
Questions can be submitted by emailing vetvote21@rcvs.org.uk or via the RCVS Twitter account (@theRCVS) using the hashtag #vetvote21.
Members have until Wednesday 24 February 2021 to submit their question.
Regarding the VN Council election, the RCVS only received one nomination during the original time-frame this year, the candidate, Susan Howarth RVN, will be automatically re-elected to VN Council for a further three years.
A decision has since been made to keep the nomination period open until 5pm on Sunday 28 February 2021.
If two or more additional candidates come forward in the extended nomination period, then a VN Council election will be run for the one remaining available elected place on the council.
