Council members
RCVS Council's elected members, Veterinary Schools Council-appointed members, appointed lay members and members appointed from VN Council.
RCVS Council
The RCVS Council is the main governing body of the RCVS, responsible for setting the College’s strategic direction and upholding professional standards across the veterinary profession. The RCVS Council currently consists of 24 members, the Chief Veterinary Officer serves as an ex-officio observer.
Current RCVS Council
13
Elected members (all veterinary surgeons)
3
Appointed members representing the nine UK universities with an RCVS-accredited degree
2
Appointed veterinary nurses
Council meetings
Any member may view the minutes of the Council meetings. Copies dating back to December 1991 are held at the College, and you can make an appointment to visit. Older minutes are stored off-site, so advance notice is required to retrieve them.
The next RCVS Council meeting is on Thursday 22 January 2026.
Find out more
Role of Council Members
Council members undertake the governance of the College, in accordance with the powers and obligations set out in the Charter and the Act.
Council elections
Every year, three or four elected Members of Council complete their terms or begin new ones at the Annual General Meeting, depending on the election cycle.