Following this year’s election for the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Council, three veterinary surgeons have been elected for four-year terms on a voting turnout of 15.8%.
The 2026 election for RCVS Council, the body responsible for the overall governance of the College, had 15 candidates standing for the three available places.
In total 6,289 veterinary surgeons (representing 15.8% of those eligible to vote) cast a vote in this year’s election. This compares to turnouts of 19% in 2025, 19.7% in 2024, 16.7% in 2023 and 18.6% in 2022.
The three candidates elected to RCVS Council are:
- Ian Battersby FRCVS with 2,205 votes
- Dr Neil Smith FRCVS with 1,620 votes
- Dr Lara Wilson MRCVS with 1,598 votes
Their four-year terms will start at the RCVS Annual General Meeting which takes place on Friday, 3 July at One Great George Street in Westminster. Reserve a place at this year’s Royal College Day – the RCVS AGM and events ceremony.
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.
“As with previous years, we went to considerable efforts to ensure that all eligible voters were able to have their say, with six reminder emails being sent during the voting period to those who hadn’t yet voted. We look forward to welcoming our three new Council members later this year.”
As Council members they will attend Council meetings which take place between six-and-eight times a year, and are also required to sit on working parties, boards and committees. These bodies can act with delegated authority on certain matters and make recommendations to Council on the more important and strategic issues.
More information about all of this year's candidates can be found here.