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Dr Kate Richards set to become RCVS president
Dr Kate Richards.

College may soon have an all-female presidential team for the first time in its history.

Dr Kate Richards has been elected by RCVS Coucil as junior vice president with immediate effect and is set to become president in July.

It means that, come July and subject to ramification by RCVS Council, the offices of RCVS president, senior vice president and junior vice-president will all be held by women for the first time in the College’s 177-year history.

Current RCVS president Dr Mandisa Greene will become senior vice-president, while Melissa Donald will take up the role of junior vice-president. The current senior vice-president Dr Niall Connell was recently elected RCVS Treasurer.

Dr Richards said: “I am delighted to be elected JVP. It’s been an exceptionally challenging year for those in all walks of veterinary life, including students aspiring to join our profession. 

“It will be an honour to lead the RCVS as its tenth female president, working with veterinary colleagues as well as reaching out to allied professionals acknowledging that there will be challenges to navigate as well as triumphs to celebrate.” 

Dr Richards has been a member of RCVS Council for some time, having first been elected in 2015 for a four-year term, and again in 2020. She has previously served as chair of the RCVS Standards Committee and RCVS representative on the UK coordination group for the Federation of Vets of Europe (FVE). 

She is currently vice-chair of the Education Committee and an appointed veterinary member of the Veterinary Nurses’ Council. 

A graduate of Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Dr Richards worked for 15 years as a farm animal vet before moving into the pharmaceutical industry as a veterinary advisor and later joining Defra.

She has held non-veterinary Senior Civil Service (SCS) roles in several Whitehall departments including the Cabinet Office and the Ministry of Justice.

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Defra shares new Sanitary and Phytosanitary guidance

News Story 1
 Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.

The agreement, which will change the movement and trade of animals and related products, could see reductions in checks, paperwork and certification. As well as describing regulatory developments, the advice highlights the importance of animal ID, registration and traceability in disease control and other compliance arrangements.

The guidance can be found here. More detail is expected as negotiations progress. 

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News Shorts
Lords Committee opens Pet Parasite Medication inquiry

The House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee will launch its inquiry into Pet Parasite Medication (PPM) on Wednesday (3 June).

Focusing on treatments containing fipronil and imidacloprid, the inquiry will seek to understand distribution pathways and the impacts of PPM use and non-use on biodiversity and human health. It will also cover current regulation, monitoring, and the potential implications for pets and their owners.

The committee will hear evidence from environmental non-governmental organisations and research institutes. The public can follow the proceedings live on Parliament TV or in person in the Palace of Westminster.