Voting is now open in the 2025 elections for RCVS Council and Veterinary Nurses (VN) Council, with veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses having the opportunity to cast votes for their preferred candidates in their respective elections.
Voting emails were sent by Civica Election Services (CES), which runs the elections on behalf of the College, on the afternoon of Wednesday 12 March. Each email contains a secure link to the voting website, containing pre-filled codes which are unique to each individual veterinary surgeon and veterinary nurse.
Voting emails for veterinary surgeons voting in the RCVS Council election will come from vetvote@cesvotes.com, while those for veterinary nurses voting in the VN Council election will come from vnvote@cesvotes.com.
The Privy Council has agreed amendments to the RCVS Election Scheme meaning that, among other things, the RCVS can hold an online-only election this year rather than sending out paper ballots. The few veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses for whom the RCVS holds no unique email address will be sent a voting instructions letter by post.
For the RCVS Council election, there are 20 candidates including two BEVA members standing this year and veterinary surgeons can cast their votes for up to four of them by 5pm on Friday 25 April 2025. The candidates are:
• Dr Louise Allum MRCVS
• Dr Sam Bescoby MRCVS - BEVA member
• Dr Andrew Clemence MRCVS
• Dr Tshidi Gardiner MRCVS
• Dr Reginald Godwin MRCVS
• Paddy Gordon MRCVS
• Dr Danielle Greenberg MRCVS
• Dr Gerard Henry MRCVS
• Dr Richard Hillman MRCVS
• Dr Benjamin Kennedy MRCVS
• Dr Tom Lonsdale MRCVS
• Dr Darren Partridge MRCVS
• Martin Peaty MRCVS - BEVA member
• Alison Price MRCVS
• Dr Peter Robinson MRCVS
• Dr Jennifer Simmons MRCVS
• Dr Sadie Spencer MRCVS
• Dr Mary Thomas MRCVS
• Mr William Wilkinson MRCVS
• Dr Lara Wilson MRCVS
The full biographies and statements for each candidate are available to read here. Candidates were also given the opportunity to answer a question of their choice submitted by members of the profession. Answers to these questions can be found on individual candidate profiles.
The four candidates who receive the most votes will take up their four-year terms on RCVS Council at the Annual General Meeting on Friday 4 July 2025.
Veterinary nurses will also now have until 5pm on Friday 25 April to cast their votes for up to two of the three candidates standing in this year’s VN Council election. The candidates who are standing in this year’s election includes one BEVA member:
• Bethan Pinhey RVN
• Hannah Welsman RVN
• Lauren Whittaker RVN - BEVA member
The two candidates with the most votes will join VN Council for their three-year terms at the College’s AGM in July. The individual candidate profiles are available to view here where you can also read the candidates’ answers to a question of their choice submitted by the profession.
As well as the initial voting email, CES will also send regular reminder emails to those veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses who have not yet voted in their respective elections.
Any veterinary surgeons or veterinary nurses who have not received their voting email should contact CES directly on support@cesvotes.com stating which election they are eligible to vote in.