RCVS COUNCIL ELECTIONS
VOTE FOR BENJAMIN KENNEDY
Candidate biography
Benjamin is a small animal and exotic locum vet based in Milton Keynes. He has an interest in invertebrate medicine and researches the application of clinical techniques in these species. He runs Invertivet Bearded Vets, a company that is tailored to facilitating veterinary care, telemedicine, and research for invertebrate and exotic species.
In addition to his veterinary medicine degree Benjamin has a bachelor’s in biochemistry and genetics and a master’s in molecular biology and pathology of viruses. Benjamin is involved in multiple societies. He is part of the steering committee for the Veterinary Invertebrate Society and the British Bee Veterinary Association and was previously a council member of the British Veterinary Zoological Society. Benjamin regularly publishes articles and presents his research at conferences to raise awareness of exotic and invertebrate medicine.
Please find my RCVS profile here:
https://www.rcvs.org.uk/who-we-are/rcvs-council/council-elections/dr-benjamin-kennedy/
Why do you want to stand to be a member of RCVS Council?
I stand for:
- The continuation of an elected element on council for RCVS to ensure effective self-government that reflects the views of the people that are being regulated.
- A sensible, fair, and proportionate disciplinary process.
- A common-sense approach to under care guidelines that reflects the current challenges of veterinary medicine.
I value effective, practical regulation that supports veterinary professionals and the public. As a locum, I have worked across various practices, enabling me to articulate the concerns of diverse veterinary professionals and shape fair, functional policies.
Regulation plays a vital role in maintaining public trust in our profession and ensuring high standards of animal welfare. However, I believe that regulation should be based in common-sense, proportionate, and enable professionals to do their jobs effectively, rather than act as a barrier. I am a strong advocate for self-regulation and believe veterinary professionals are best placed to uphold the standards and responsibilities of our profession.
If elected, I will work to ensure that RCVS decisions are balanced, transparent, and reflective of the realities of veterinary practice, so we can preserve trust, support our colleagues, and ultimately safeguard the welfare of the animals under our care.
What is your understanding of the challenges that locum vets and locum nurses are currently facing?
Given the huge variation in the needs of vets: in private practice, learning institutes, corporate owned practices, independent owned practices, employment, and differing models of ownership… how well equipped do you feel to listen to, and give a voice to, that whole population of vets experiencing such differing challenges?
As a locum vet who has supported over 80 practices, I have worked in diverse clinical settings across both corporate and independent environments – from general practice to referral and specialist centres. This is only one aspect of my career, as I have also undertaken, and continue to conduct, research into invertebrate medicine, regularly collaborating with academics. This research has even led me into various facets of farm medicine through insect farming. In addition, I have volunteered my time with organisations such as the BVZS, BVA, VIS and BBVA. These experiences have afforded me the privilege of engaging with many facets of the profession and establishing a wide range of contacts among vets from various backgrounds.
The variability and diversity of the veterinary experience is one of the reasons I advocate for an elected council. I believe that a good councillors can come from anywhere (to paraphrase Disney’s “Ratatouille”), and I trust my colleagues to identify where experience is needed on the council. We must tread carefully as we modernise our regulator, ensuring that we represent the entirety of veterinary medicine rather than only what is overtly visible.
I would consider a future role as an RCVS councillor an opportunity to represent my colleagues, their concerns, and their expertise. My primary role will be to listen carefully and ensure that their views are effectively represented on the council.
Given the rapid consolidation of veterinary practices by large corporate groups over the last 20 years (now upwards of 60% of the market), what role do you believe the RCVS should play in preserving market competition and ensuring that consumers have genuine choices in their local areas?
Corporisation is not inherently a bad thing! The consolidation of practices into larger groups has happened many times over the last 20 years (and this isn’t unique to the veterinary industry.)
regulating not only individuals but also practices as this would allow the RCVS to meaningfully influence the behaviour of practices where non-vets may have significant authority and influence.
If elected, would you work to reverse proposed changes to an all-appointed council, and seek to maintain democratic elections for RCVS council?
If Elected i would seek to reverse the proposed changes and seek to maintain democratic elections for RCVS council.
I along with other candidates have penned a letter to the Vet Record indicating our stance on keeping democratic elections. There is a need for the RCVS to modernise its governing structure, but this doesn’t mean we should lose an elected component to council, nor does it mean we should move to an all-appointed council.
Publications
Benjamin has published several articles, chapters and other publications on invertebrate medicine which can be found below.
Invertebrate Medicine
Invertebrate medicine is one of Benjamin’s passions and something he can go on about for hours. To find out more then click below.
Associations and Memberships
Council member and webmaster of the British Veterinary Zoological Society

Member of the Steering Committee of the Veterinary Invertebrate Society

Member of the following organisations and societies: