View all veterinary jobs
Questions will be collated and shared with candidates, who will each be able to answer one question of their choice.
This year's election is for three available elected places on RCVS Council.
The candidates are:
Th candidates’ biographies and statements are all available on the College website.
Questions must be emailed to vetvote26@rcvs.org.uk by Wednesday 25th February 2026.
www.rcvs.org.uk/vetvote26
Mr Makepeace was removed from the Register in 2024 after being convicted of assaulting his ex-partner in 2022.
He then submitted a character reference to the RCVS which purported to come from his partner, stating they were “still happily together”, and forged her signature.
It also found he sent offensive, insulting, abusive and threatening WhatsApp messages to his ex-partner between December 2022 and January 2023.
The committee said removal was the only proportionate sanction, citing the public interest, deterrence, and maintaining confidence in the profession and regulatory process.
During the restoration hearing, the committee was also told that since removal Mr Makepeace had continued to hold himself out as a vet, including emailing a practice seeking work experience with the opening line: “I’m a vet”.
The committee found the email used deliberate and careful wording and was a calculated attempt to mislead, omitting his removal from the Register and creating a distorted impression of no disciplinary concerns.
It concluded the email and lack of transparency with potential employers were further examples of dishonesty alongside the earlier forgery, and found the conduct misleading and dishonest.
The committee accepted Mr Makepeace understood he had assaulted his ex-partner, but was not convinced he understood the impact of previous manipulative and coercive behaviour.
It found nothing to suggest he would be of harm to animals, but concluded he was more likely to put his own interests first, including through recent communications stating he was a vet.
Kathryn Peaty, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “While the Committee recognises Mr Makepeace’s desire to advance his career and that his prospects would be enhanced by restoration of his name to the Register, that is not a factor relevant to his application.
"The Committee’s obligations and duties are to ensure that the interests of animal welfare are properly protected by ensuring that those whose names are on the Register are properly trained, knowledgeable and experienced in the treatment of animals and that public confidence in the standards of the profession is maintained.
“The Committee cannot restore someone to the Register who is not fit by virtue of their repeated dishonest and unacceptable conduct, without insight into the impact of the lack of probity by a vet."
https://www.rcvs.org.uk/veterinary-professionals/conduct-and-guidance/concerns-for-veterinary-professionals/disciplinary-committee-hearings
Fifteen candidates stood in the 2026 election and 6,289 veterinary surgeons (15.8% of those eligible) cast a vote.
Voter turnout compares with 19% in 2025, 19.7% in 2024, 16.7% in 2023 and 18.6% in 2022.
The winning candidates were: Ian Battersby FRCVS with 2,205 votes, Neil Smith FRCVS with 1,620 votes and Lara Wilson MRCVS with 1,598 votes.
Their four-year terms will start at the RCVS Annual General Meeting on Friday, 3 July.
Clare Paget, RCVS Registrar and Returning Officer for the election, said: "Thank you to all of this year's candidates for taking the time and effort to put themselves forward for the election, and to all those who voted as well."
"We look forward to welcoming our three new Council members later this year."
The workshops have been co-authored with a workplace wellbeing company called Ultimate Resilience, and will be delivered by two of the company's clinical psychologists: Dr Felicity Baker and Dr Jackie Allt.
The sessions will focus on leadership skills, recognising early signs of stress and burnout, and practising conversations to support colleagues.
The workshops will run for designated groups across the profession during March, April, May and June.
Places are limited to 16 per workshop and cost £150 per person and online places cost £120.
The RCVS is also running a free ‘Work, mental health and mood’ webinar on Monday 30 March, 6.30pm to 7.45pm.
The webinar will cover recognising mood and affective disorders at work, supporting colleagues, reducing stigma, and signposting to help.
Speakers are clinical psychologist Dr Marco Vivolo, veterinary mental health researcher James Glass MRCVS, and wellbeing instructor Emma Sadler RVN.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/managing-mental-health-in-the-workplace-for-everyday-veterinary-leaders-tickets-1981567626112
https://www.rcvs.org.uk/news-and-views/events/mmi-work-mental-health-and-mood-webinar
This is the first ISVPS-awarded certificate programme that has been directly accredited by the College without the prior requirement for a university Postgraduate Certificate (PgC), creating a new, streamlined route to Advanced Practitioner status.
The newly approved ISVPS GPCert combines 10 hands-on practical surgery days with structured online learning, human factors training, and additional active learning activities such as error management training.
Aidan McAlinden, Academic and Content Director at Improve International, said: "Over the last 12 months we have invested significant time and resources to develop an innovative, contemporary, and relevant Soft Tissue Surgery programme that meets the needs of the profession today."
www.improveinternational.com
The CPD events, which are part of the College's Next Steps project, are aimed specifically at returning parents, those coming back from a career break, and individuals moving into management.
They offer a blend of practical guidance, peer support, professional networking, and careers expertise.
Tash Goodwin Roberts, RCVS Projects Implementation Manager, said: "Navigating change can be exciting, but it doesn’t come without challenges.
"Our Next Steps project is designed to make those transitions as smooth as possible, to make sure you feel confident in reconnecting with your professional identity."
The events will take place on 12 May, 21 May, and 18 June at the RCVS' offices in London.
Tickets cost £50 for those booking at least six weeks in advance.
https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/rcvs-next-steps-4825743
The standard annual fee has increased to £431 from last year’s £418, which is due for payment on or before Wednesday 1 April 2026.
RCVS Treasurer Tshidi Gardiner MRCVS, said: “This is a small increase in our fees largely in line with current inflation levels.
"The unique set-up of the RCVS means it remains good value for money compared to other professions where separate fees would have to be paid to a regulator and royal college.
“The small fee increase will be used to help deliver both our everyday activities and our new ambitious Strategic Plan, which includes aims such as achieving new legislation, reviewing the Codes of Professional Conduct and supporting guidance, and continuing to support the professions through activities such as the Mind Matters Initiative, RCVS Academy and career development.”
The Privy Council also approved a further 3% increase in the annual renewal fee for 2027/28.
www.rcvs.org.uk/fees
David has been an elected member of RCVS Council since July 2024 and is currently Professor of Bovine Medicine, Production and Reproduction at Bristol Veterinary School, as well as an RCVS-recognised Specialist in Cattle Health and Production and a European Veterinary Specialist in Bovine Health Management.
He said: “The veterinary professions stand at a defining moment.
"The Competition and Markets Authority investigation and hoped for legislative reform will shape the future of veterinary regulation, practice, and professional standards.
"At such a time, the professions and the public need the RCVS to provide steady, confident, and principled regulation and direction, guided by experience, sound judgement, and professional credibility.
"It is a great honour to be elected to this position by my fellow RCVS Council members, and I look forward to working with them, VN Council members and RCVS staff.
"As Junior Vice-President I will bring experience, judgement, and a collaborative, person-centred approach to Council, supporting thriving professionals, promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion, maintaining the highest standards, and ensuring the College regulates transparently and responsibly delivering leadership the professions and public can trust now and into the future.”
https://www.rcvs.org.uk/about-us/councils-and-committees/rcvs-council
It replaces the College’s previous website, which dated back to 2011.
The main change is consolidation of content, with resources previously spread across separate webpages now brought into a single structure.
As part of that, the College says the number of pages has been reduced from more than 1,500 to 600, with content reviewed and rewritten in plain English.
The site has also been redesigned to align with the new RCVS brand and visual identity.
RCVS Council member Linda Ford, who chaired the Website Project Board, said: “This project has been a major undertaking for the College team over the past 18 months… and the 500 or so veterinary professionals and animal owners who have helped us with testing along the way, to ensure the new site works for them.”
https://www.rcvs.org.uk/
The proposals stem from the College's Veterinary Clinical Career Paths (VCCP) project, launched in 2024, which aimed to address the limited career paths open to the 80% of veterinary surgeons who work in general practice.
The proposals were develope by the VCCP working group, comprising advanced practitioners, specialists, rural practitioners, new graduates and representatives from different areas of practice, and headed up by medical GP Professor Nick Cooper.
Professor Tim Parkin, RCVS President and Chair of RCVS Education Committee, said: “The introduction of this speciality training is an exciting progression.
"With change on the horizon in many areas of the profession, we’re delighted that as part of this ongoing evolution we will be able to provide further career opportunities for vets in general practice.
“The proposals were passed unanimously by our Education Committee before going to Council for formal approval, where the document was met with immense positivity and enthusiasm.”
RCVS Director for Education, Dr Linda Prescott-Clements, said: “As a level 8 qualification, this programme will support the development of accomplished leaders and the completion and publication of research and scholarship to help ensure veterinary primary care practice continues to advance.
“Designed to be highly flexible and workplace based, with a strong emphasis placed on support for learners, the modular nature of the programme will allow vets to tailor their learning to their own interests.
“Vets working in general practice are the backbone of the profession and while we understand that not all vets wish to pursue further training, this new programme will provide those looking to develop their career paths in a more structured and supported way with an opportunity to do so.”
The College will begin consulting with the profession on the proposals in the coming weeks, starting with stakeholder groups, before progressing to a full consultation with the wider profession.