Nominations now open for RCVS and VN Councils 2016
The election period will start around mid-March and run until 5pm on Friday, 29 April 2016.
Nominations are now open for the RCVS Council and VN Council elections 2016, the RCVS have announced.
Six seats will be contested for RCVS council, while two seats are available on VN Council. Successful candidates are expected to serve a term of four years, and will take up their places at RCVS day in July 2016.
The nomination period for both RCVS and VN Councils runs until 5pm on Sunday, 31 January 2016. In order to stand, candidates for each council will need to complete a nomination form, submit a short biography, and a personal statement. They will also need to supply a high resolution digital photo.
Each person will also need to have two nominators who are on the RCVS Register, but are not current Council members. Nominators of VN Council candidates must be registered veterinary nurses who are not currently on VN Council.
Gordon Hockey, RCVS Registrar, says: “We are looking for committed and motivated veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses who are dedicated to their respective professions and who, through the Councils and their various committees and subcommittees, wish to have direct input in decisions relating to how the College sets and advances standards of education and professional conduct. If this sounds like you then please find out more about standing as a candidate.”
Liz Cox, Chair of VN Council, adds: “I would strongly encourage all those want to have a say and play a leadership role in veterinary nursing to stand up and be counted and put themselves forward as a candidate. It is a very exciting time to join VN Council as the new Royal Charter has formalised the Council’s powers to regulate education and our professional standards, meaning that the decisions you make can have a very real impact on the profession.”
The election period will start around mid-March and run until 5pm on Friday, 29 April 2016. All registered veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses who are eligible to vote will be sent ballot papers during this period. The College will also be sourcing questions from the professions to put to the candidates.
Nomination forms and guidance notes for prospective RCVS Council candidates can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/rcvscouncil16.
The equivalent documents for VN Council candidates can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/vncouncil16.
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
