The council of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) has elected veterinary surgeon Dr. Kate Richards as junior vice-president with immediate effect and, subject to its recommendation in June and ratification at its Annual General Meeting on July 9, 2021, the next RCVS president.
A graduate of Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Richards was a farm vet for 15 years, a partner in a 15 vet practice in Aberdeen.
She then moved to the pharmaceutical industry as a veterinary advisor before joining the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra).
From there, she moved into non-veterinary Senior Civil Service (SCS) roles in several Whitehall departments including the Cabinet Office and the Ministry of Justice.
As a senior civil servant she was principal private secretary to three Secretaries of State for Scotland, handling a diverse policy portfolio and working across Whitehall, including No.10 Downing Street and the Devolved Administrations.
Dr. Kate Richards
Richards election by her RCVS council peers also means that, come July and subject to ratification by RCVS Council, the offices of RCVS president, senior vice-president and junior vice-president will all be held by women for the first time in the College’s 177-year history.
The vacancy in the RCVS officer team arose following Professor David Argyle’s decision to resign from council in March, meaning that council needed to hold two votes in quick succession: One at its scheduled meeting in March for the 2021-2022 junior vice-president position; and one today for the current junior vice-president vacancy.
Speaking following confirmation of her election, Richards said: “I am delighted to be elected junior vice-president.
It’s been an exceptionally challenging year for those in all walks of veterinary life, including students aspiring to join our profession.
“It will be an honour to lead the RCVS as its tenth female president, working with veterinary colleagues as well as reaching out to allied professionals acknowledging that there will be challenges to navigate as well as triumphs to celebrate.”
