Electoral College

In this section you can find out more about the British Veterinary Association (BVA), Electoral College, the body of electors who formally select members for election to officer status.

The Electoral College is made up of 7 members, the

  • President
  • Past-President
  • President-Elect
  • 4 Past-Presidents serving on Council

They meet each year to nominate a person for the position of President-Elect.

The procedure begins early in the year and the nomination is put to Council at the December Council meeting.

The Electoral College arranges for an advertisement in The Veterinary Record seeking nominations from any member, group of members or division. About 6 weeks is allowed to receive applications.

Criteria

There is a set of criteria to provide a more even handed basis for selection. Criteria include consideration of, among other things

  • personality
  • attitude
  • involvement in divisions
  • external links
  • public relations experience
  • policy contribution
  • working in a team environment
  • flexibility

Members and divisions making submissions should consider the above as it will assist the College in its deliberations.

Nominations

Nominations are submitted to the President who acknowledges receipt of nominees from members and divisions.

A record of all nominations is kept by the College members. The list is a starting point for the College every year.

Each member of the College can nominate people and applications are received as a result of the advertisement.

A new list of nominees is produced and consideration given to all those proposed.

The selection

The College meets in private session, usually in October to discuss the nominations.

The College is obliged to achieve unanimity on the eventual nominee. In most cases the selection should result in a first, second and third choice person.

The Electoral College's selection is made in private and none of the other nominees are informed of their consideration.

The selected nominee

The President makes an informal approach to the nominee and gives them a brief outline of the commitments and responsibilities.

The nominee is invited to meet the President, another member of the College and the Secretary General to receive a detailed briefing of the role of the Officer Team.

The nomination is submitted to Council members and published in The Veterinary Record.

The President informs the nominating body at the same time as the formal announcement is made.