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Voting now open for RCVS and VN Council elections
Successful candidates will commence their term at the RCVS AGM in July.

Vets and vet nurses have until Friday 21 April to cast their votes.

The RCVS Council and VN Council elections are now open. Veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses have until 5pm on Friday 21 April to cast their votes in their respective elections. Voting is entirely online, and instruction emails were sent on Friday 17 March.

For veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses that have not registered a unique email address with RCVS, an instruction letter will be sent in the post.

There are 10 candidates in the RCVS Council election. They are:

  • Professor David Barrett FRCVS
  • Linda Belton MRCVS
  • Dr Martin Chamberlain MRCVS
  • Daniel Doherty MRCVS
  • James Gartside MRCVS
  • Steven Howard MRCVS
  • Tim Hutchinson MRCVS
  • Dr Alice McLeish MRCVS
  • Professor Chris Proudman FRCVS
  • Dr Peter Robinson MRCVS

Candidates’ full biographies and and statements are available to read on the RCVS website. Each candidate has also answered two questions of their choice from those that were submitted by members of the profession.

The three candidates who receive the most votes will commence their four-year term at the RCVS Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Friday 7 July.

There are five candidates in the VN Council election. They are:

  • Sarah Jane Batt-Williams RVN
  • Heather Jane Mathieson Kirkness RVN
  • Katherine Ann Mortimer RVN
  • Matthew Edwin Rendle RVN
  • Simon Peter Williams RVN

The two candidates with the most votes will also commence their three-year term at the RCVS AGM.

Candidates’ profiles are available to read on the RCVS website, as well as the answers to their chosen two questions, from those that were submitted by the profession.

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BSAVA partners with BVA Live 2026

News Story 1
 BSAVA is to partner with BVA Live (11-12 June 2026) to champion clinical research.

The organisation will be supporting BVA Live's Clinical Abstracts programme, showcasing selected abstracts of veterinary research throughout the event.

The clinical abstracts can be on any small animal veterinary subject, and must be based on research undertaken in industry, practice or academia. Abstracts can be presented in poster or oral formats.

Submissions will open on 15th December 2025, and close on 6th March 2026. You can register interest here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Nominations open for RCVS and VN Council elections

The nomination period for the 2026 RCVS Council and VN Council elections is now open, with three veterinary surgeon seats and two veterinary nurse seats available.

Prospective candidates can download an information pack and nomination form from the RCVS website. Individuals can nominate themselves for the elections, with the results to be announced in the spring.

Clare Paget, the recently appointed RCVS Registrar and elections returning officer, said: "If you want to play your part in influencing and moulding how the professions are regulated, and making key decisions on matters of great importance to your peers, the public and animal health and welfare, please consider standing for RCVS Council or VN Council next year."

Nominations close at 5pm on Saturday, 31 January 2026.