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Record number of candidates for VN Council election
A record number of RVNs have put themselves forward for the 2021 VN Council election.
Fourteen candidates will compete for the one available place.

More candidates than ever before have come forward to run in the 2021 RCVS Veterinary Nurses (VN) Council election, the RCVS has confirmed.

The RCVS extended its nomination period to the end of February after receiving just one nomination for the VN Council election - Susan Howorth RVN - who has automatically been re-elected to VN Council for another three-year term.  

Fourteen candidates have since stepped up to compete for the one available place. They are:

  • Samantha Jayne Anderson
  • Kirsten Cavill
  • Rebecca Jane Clark
  • Sophie Louise Connolly
  • Olivia Jade Dunlop
  • Thomas Griffiths
  • Daniel James Hogan
  • Steven David Patrick Johnson
  • Carly Kilby
  • Donna Leigh Lewis
  • Lee Thomas Vaughan
  • Francesca Ware
  • Diana Elizabeth Joyce Wilson
  • Tania Yelland.
     
VN Council chair Matthew Rendle said: “This is quite an astonishing development to go from having just one candidate to a new record, but I am very thankful for the 14 colleagues who have come forward and who are showing a commitment to join VN Council and help drive forward our profession. 

“To my fellow members of the profession, please do make sure to engage with the election and cast your vote. VN Council not only makes important decisions on matters relating to veterinary nursing training & education and registration but, along with the British Veterinary Nursing Association, also helps set the direction of travel for the VN Futures project which is looking at how our profession can be a vibrant, rewarding and sustainable one, now and in the future.”

Voting commence online the week beginning 15 March 2021, when eligible members of the profession will receive an email from Civica Election Services. The deadline closes at 5 pm on Friday, 23 April 2021.

More information about the election and each of the candidates is available at rcvs.org.uk/vnvote21 

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS members invited to question Council candidates

RCVS members have been invited to submit questions to candidates for this year's RCVS Council election.

With 15 candidates standing for three available positions, vets have been invited to submit a question of their choosing before voting starts. These questions will be collated, with each candidate answering one question of their choice.

It is recommended that members read the candidates' biographies and statements before submitting questions. One question per member can be submitted to vetvote26@rcvs.org.uk before Wednesday, 25 February 2026.

The RCVS Council election is due to start in March.

With only two candidates for two positions on the VN Council, there will be no VN Council elections this year. Meghan Conroy RVN and Lauren Hargrave RVN will begin their three year terms at RCVS' AGM in July.