Top L-R: Dr Kate Richards, Dr Melissa Donald and Dr Richard Stephenson. Bottom L-R: Claire Roberts and Matthew Rendle.

Both elections saw a record turnout
 
The results of the 2020 RCVS and VN Councils elections have been revealed.

This year sees Dr Kate Richards, Dr Richard Stephenson and Dr Melissa Donald elected to the three available places on RCVS Council, and Matthew Rendle and Claire Roberts voted into the two available seats on VN Council.

Both elections saw a record number and proportion of the professions turning out to vote this year.

For the RCVS Council election, 8,834 of the 33,857 eligible voters cast votes for up to three of the eight candidates standing in this year’s election for a turnout rate of 26.2 per cent. This compares to 25.5 per cent turnout in the 2019 election and 22.7 per cent in 2018.

The results of the RCVS election are as follows:

Dr Kate Richards – 4,399 votes (ELECTED)
Dr Richard Stephenson – 3,943 votes (ELECTED)
Dr Melissa Donald – 3,807 votes (ELECTED)
Professor Stephen May – 3,121 votes
Dr Kit Sturgess – 2,816 votes
Peter Robinson – 2,642 votes
John Davies – 808 votes
Dr Tom Lonsdale – 535 votes

This year’s VN Council election saw 3,112 of the 18,228 veterinary nurses eligible to take part in the elections cast a vote for up to two of the 13 candidates, making a turnout rate of 17.1 per cent.

While there were no VN Council elections in 2019 and 2018, this compares to a turnout of 14.5 per cent in 2017 and 10.9 per cent in 2016.

The results of the VN Council election are as follows:

Matthew Rendle – 1,028 votes (ELECTED)
Claire Roberts – 839 votes (ELECTED)
Dot Creighton – 511 votes
Jessica Beckett – 468 votes
Racheal Marshall – 384 votes
Lindsey Anne Dodd – 360 votes
Emma Foreman – 324 votes
Samantha Anderson – 302 votes
Cathy Woodlands – 265 votes
Kirsten Cavill – 242 votes
Rebecca Clark – 196 votes
Susannah Phillips – 122 votes
Megan Oakey – 60 votes

“I would like to sincerely thank all those who put themselves forward for election this year, especially the record number of veterinary nurse candidates. I hope that, if unsuccessful this time, they will consider standing again in future years,” commented Eleanor Ferguson, RCVS registrar and returning officer for both elections.

“I would also like to thank all vets and vet nurses who found the time to cast a vote, especially in view of the exceptionally difficult circumstances caused by the pandemic. Despite these difficulties, that there has been another record turnout for both elections is remarkable and only serves to strengthen the College’s governance structure and maintain the professions’ self-regulatory status.

“Many congratulations to all those who were elected this year and we look forward to welcoming them to their places on their respective Councils at our Annual General Meeting later this year.”