IVC Evidensia has announced that two members of the group have been appointed to two of the councils responsible for regulating the industry.
Matthew Rendle, nursing manager and exotics referral at Holly House Vets, has now been elected as chair of the RCVS VN council, having been on the council for the past four years.
He is the first male veterinary nurse to take that position, and is only one of 300 male VNs out of 18,500 registered in the UK.
Rendle said: “Being a male veterinary nurse in a female dominated profession and being in the position of chair creates me as a role model for male members of the community that are thinking of doing this for a career.”
“I want to help make the profession a better one for future generations of VNs that it was when I entered it.”
Liz Cox, IVC Evidensia’s group nursing advisor, said: “We are immensely proud of Matthew on his appointment as Chairman of RCVS VN council, where he will help lead veterinary nursing into the future.
“It is a testament to all of his dedication and experience within the veterinary nursing world. Not only is he the first male RVN chairman but the 3rd member of the IVC Evidensia group to have held this senior position. What a fantastic achievement for both Matthew and IVC Evidensia.”
Meanwhile, Richard Stephenson, clinical director at Pool House Equine Clinic, has been elected to sit on the RCVS council where he is in the Legislation Working Party, on the Finance and General Resources Committee and the Education Committee.
According to IVC Evidensia, education and legislation within the industry are both subjects that Stephenson “feels strongly” about. He was previously an RCVS chief examiner for the certificate in equine practice and is regularly involved in CPD at Pool House.
Stephenson said: There are lots of proposals at the moment, changes in veterinary legislation, that effect re working vet and, as a full-time vet myself, I am very keen to be involved in the decision process.
“It is imperative that any changes considered work well for vets, practices and the industry as a whole.”
Graham Hunter, chair of IVC Evidensia’s Equine Board and Group Veterinary Advisor said: “I, and all at IVC Evidensia are immensely proud and delighted at Richard’s appointment to RCVS council. We all felt that his successful election and appointment to council was never in doubt after his decision to stand. Richard works tirelessly for Pool House and for IVC Evidensia and I am sure he will do the same, with integrity for RCVS Council.”
