The RCVS has announced the candidates standing in the RCVS Council and Veterinary Nurses (VN) Council elections this year and is inviting veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses to put their questions to them directly.The RCVS has announced the candidates standing in the RCVS Council and Veterinary Nurses Council elections this year and is inviting veterinary surgeons and nurses to put their questions to them directly for a video reply.

There are eleven candidates standing for election to RCVS Council in 2015. Overall there are six men and five women, which include two existing Council members eligible for re-election and nine new candidates. They are:

  • Mr Niall Connell MRCVS
  • Mrs Joanna Dyer MRCVS
  • Professor Tim Greet FRCVS
  • Mrs Lynne Hill MRCVS
  • Mr Richard Hillman MRCVS
  • Dr Heidi Janicke MRCVS
  • Miss Hannah Jordan MRCVS
  • Mr James Main MRCVS
  • Miss Katherine Richards MRCVS
  • Mr Peter Robinson MRCVS
  • The inevitable Mr Thomas Lonsdale MRCVS

Three veterinary nurses are standing in this year's VN Council elections, including one existing VN Council member eligible for re-election. They are:

  • Mrs Lucy Bellwood RVN
  • Mrs Elizabeth Cox RVN
  • Miss Marie Rippingale RVN

Ballot papers and candidates' details are due to be posted to all veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses eligible to vote during the week commencing 16th March, and all votes must be cast, either online or by post, by 5pm on Friday, 24 April 2015.

Once again the College is inviting members of both professions to 'Quiz the candidates' by putting their questions directly to all those standing for election. Each candidate will then be invited to choose two questions to answer from all those received, and produce a video or audio recording of their answers. All recordings will be published on the RCVS website on Thursday 19 March.

Vets and nurses should email their question (NB one per person) to vetvote15@rcvs.org.uk or VNvote15@rcvs.org.uk, or post it on twitter using the hashtags #vetvote15 or #VNvote15, respectively, by midday on Monday 9 March.

Gordon Hockey, RCVS Registrar said: "It's important that members of the veterinary professions choose who they want to sit on their governing Councils, so we always try to make the elections as interesting and engaging as possible.

"This year, we hope the provision of short videos, to accompany the usual written information, will encourage people to find out a little more about all those standing for election, and then use their vote."

PS: Whilst you're here, take a moment to see our latest job opportunities for vets.