Nominations open for BVA Junior Vice President 2020/2021
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has opened nominations for the 2020/21 Junior Vice President (JVP).
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has opened nominations for the 2020/21 Junior Vice President (JVP), with all BVA veterinary surgeon members invited to self-nominate or nominate a fellow BVA member with their consent.
The officer position is open to all BVA member vets who believe that they or their nominee is a strong, talented member of the profession who can contribute to, and represent, the voice of the veterinary profession. BVA welcomes applications from veterinary surgeons with a range of professional backgrounds and experience.
The JVP is an ambassador for BVA and the wider profession, using his or her expertise to provide veterinary and political advice and working closely with the BVA chief executive and policy, media, and membership teams. The role, as with the other officer positions (President and Senior Vice President), is for a one-year term, from BVA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in September to the AGM the following September. The total commitment is therefore three years as a BVA officer, as well as a further three years serving as a past president on BVA Council (four meetings per year).
Current BVA Junior Vice President James Russell said:
“I had been involved with BVA in a number of roles for many years, from the policy group to Council and CPD Committee. But nothing could have prepared me for the excitement and whirlwind that my first few months as Junior Vice President have been.
“My motivation to apply for this position was born out of a recognition of the hugely valuable role that BVA plays in the lives of all members throughout their professional lives. I could recognise how my own practice life, as well as my student experience, had been shaped in part by BVA and felt I wanted to be able to pass on some of that development to others.
“It is a tremendous honour and an exceedingly privileged position to occupy. It is also the most supportive, welcoming and nurturing environment I have had the pleasure to call ‘work’. Thanks to the fantastic staff at BVA, we as officers are enabled to feel prepared for the lobbying, media work, political policy meetings and myriad other engaging and demanding functions we fulfil. If it is something that interests you, I would encourage you to nominate yourself for the next Junior Vice President! I could certainly never have imagined that this person could have been me today.”
Nominations for the next JVP are confidential and will be reviewed by the BVA Electoral College, which assesses nominations and formally selects members for election to BVA officer status. Candidates for JVP and President must be elected by the membership at the AGM at BVA’s Members’ Day to serve the coming year.
BVA members who are interested in applying or nominating a fellow BVA member with their consent to become part of the officer team can find the role description and nomination form HERE. The closing date for nominations is 9am on 13 January 2020.
