RCoA Elections and Appointments

This year there will be six Consultant vacancies and one Anaesthetist in Training vacancy  

• 15 September 2025	Self-nominations open
  13 October 2025	Nomination window closes at 12 noon
  19 November 2025	Ballot emails distributed
  10 December 2025	Ballot closes
  11 December 2025	Results announced
  11 March 2026	Admission of new Council members

  
  Eligibility
  
  Consultant vacancies: these vacancies are open to Fellows by Examination or Fellows Ad Eundem who are listed on the specialist register.
  
  Anaesthetist in Training vacancy: this vacancy is open to Fellows in Training or Anaesthetists in Training who will be registered with the College for training at the time of joining Council in March 2026.
   

  How to stand for election 
  
  Our election will be delivered via our election services provider, Civica.  Visit Civica to find the self-nomination platform - we'll add the URL here when nominations open on 15 September.  You will be asked to submit a 500-word election statement along with the contact details and college reference numbers of three Fellows who support your application. A photograph will be required for the ballot materials, and we recommend that you include an optional two-page CV (please remove personal details such as home address, date of birth, or similar identifiers).
  
  You can begin your application, save it and return to it without losing your work as long as you use the Save for Later button at the bottom of the form. Please note that the election ballot will list candidates in the order that their completed nominations were received. 
  
  We have a clear commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion within the College. These principles are embedded into our values and the way we work. We therefore welcome applications from eligible candidates with a variety of perspectives, experiences and backgrounds.

Council comprises:

• 20 consultant members
• 2 SAS members
• 4 AiT members.
   

Read the role description to learn more about what's involved

If you have any questions about the process or your eligibility, please contact governance@rcoa.ac.uk - we’re happy to help.

Nominations for the Devolved Nation Board vacancies of the Royal College of Anaesthetists opened on 20 January 2025 and closed on Monday 10 February at 12 noon. Successful candidates will take up their position in 2025.

Joining the Devolved Nation Boards provides you with an excellent opportunity to contribute to your College, influence our professional policy, and represent our Members at all stages of their working lives.  

Scottish Board vacancies  

• Two consultant vacancies
• One anaesthetist in training vacancy

Term of office begins in June 2025.

Welsh Board vacancies 

• Two vacancies from the Hywel Dda Health Board. To be eligible for these vacancies you must be a consultant or Specialty, Associate Specialist and Specialist (SAS) Doctor working within this Health Board.

Term of office begins in March 2025.

Northern Irish Board vacancies

• Three consultant vacancies
• One SAS vacancy

Term of office begins in May 2025.

Information for those standing for the Scottish Board 

The Board terms of reference, code of conduct and online application are now available and the deadline to self-nominate is Monday 10 February at 12 noon. If you have any questions, please contact Dr Daphne Varveris, Chair, to discuss the role further and gain insight into the experience of being on the Scottish Board. 

Information for those standing for the Welsh Board 

The Board terms of reference, code of conduct and online application are now available and the deadline to self-nominate is Monday 10 February at 12 noon. If you have any questions, please contact Dr Simon Ford, Chair, to discuss the role further and gain insight into the experience of being on the Welsh Board.  

Information for those standing for the Northern Irish Board 

The Board terms of reference, code of conduct and online application are now available and the deadline to self-nominate is Monday 10 February at 12 noon. If you have any questions, please contact Dr Will Donaldson, Chair, to discuss the role further and gain insight into the experience of being on the Northern Irish Board.  

For anyone applying, please also use our canvassing guidelines which set out the manner in which all candidates for College roles are required to conduct canvassing.   

Timetable  

• Monday 20 January 2025: Nominations open
• Monday 10 February 2025: Nominations close at 12 noon  

If there is a contest for the vacancies, the Chairs will decide on whether an appointment or election process should be used. More details on this will follow on from the call for nominations closing.

All candidates are requested to hold the Board dates for the Devolved Nation Board they are applying for. The dates are as follows: 

Scottish Board

• Tuesday 10 June 2025
• Tuesday 7 October 2025.

Welsh Board

• Tuesday 11 March 2025
• Tuesday 30 September 2025.

Northern Irish Board

• Thursday 22 May 2025
• Tuesday 21 October 2025.

Election to RCoA Council 2024: results announced  

Voting for election to the Council of the Royal College of Anaesthetists closed at 12 noon on Wednesday 4 December 2024. 

The College is pleased to confirm that the following candidates have been elected, with terms of office commencing in March 2025.  

Consultant vacancies (in alphabetical order, four to elect):  

• Dr Helgi JOHANNSSON, Imperial College Healthcare
• Dr Kirsty MACLENNAN, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
• Dr Emily SIMPSON, Mid and South Essex NHS Trust, Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford
• Dr Chris TILL, Blackpool Victoria Hospital 

SAS vacancy (one to elect)  

The College received one self-nomination for the SAS vacancy and therefore the election for the SAS vacancy was uncontested. We are pleased to confirm that Dr Kirstin May from Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was duly elected.  
 
The ballot process was managed by Civica Election Services. The full results can be viewed here.