Voting opens for 2026 RCVS Council elections
Vets can vote for up to three candidates for RCVS Council.
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) has opened voting for its 2026 Council elections.
Veterinary surgeons now have until 5pm on Friday, 24 April 2026 to vote for up to three of the candidates to stand a four-year term.
This year there are 15 candidates standing for election. Each candidate has shared a full biography and statement that can be read on the RCVS website.
They were also given the opportunity to answer a question of their choice, chosen from a selection submitted by members of the profession.
The candidates standing for election are:
• Dr Sharon Alston MRCVS
• Mr Ian Battersby FRCVS
• Dr Laura Davies MRCVS
• Mrs Ioana Dobre MRCVS
• Mrs Hannah Eastwood MRCVS
• Dr Villam Hoferica MRCVS
• Dr Benjamin Kennedy MRCVS
• Dr Tom Lonsdale MRCVS
• Dr Rachael McKinney MRCVS
• Miss Alison Price MRCVS
• Dr Peter Robinson MRCVS
• Dr Neil Smith FRCVS
• Dr David Tweedle MRCVS
• Dr Samantha Webster MRCVS
• Dr Lara Wilson MRCVS
The three candidates who receive the most votes will begin their four-year terms on RCVS Council at RCVS’ Annual General Meeting on Friday, 3 July 2026.
Voting emails have already been sent by Civica Election Services (CES), which runs the elections on behalf of RCVS, on Wednesday, 11 March. The email contains a secure link to the voting website, with a pre-filled code that is unique to each individual veterinary surgeon.
As well as an initial email, CES will send regular reminder emails to veterinary surgeons who have not yet voted. Members who have not received a voting email should contain CES directly on support@cesvotes.com and state which election they believe they are eligible to vote in.
As part of the amended RCVS Election Scheme, the RCVS Council election is being conducted entirely online. Where RCVS does not hold a unique email address it has instead sent voting instructions by post.
Image © Shutterstock.com/RCVS
Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
