Presidential elections
Dr Adrian James stepped down as President in July 2023 after three years in office.
Below you can find out all the information you need about the 2022/23 election which will elect a new President of the College, as well as information on voting and the timetable for the election.
Election process and FAQs
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1 June 2022 | Nominations open |
| 5 August | Closing date for submission of nominations |
| 24 August | Candidates filmed for website at Prescot Street |
| Early September | Announcement of candidates standing for election |
| September | Article in RCPsych Insight profiling candidates |
| 20 October | Hustings |
| November | Online Q&As |
| 14 December | Voting opens |
| Noon 18 January 2023 | Voting closes |
| 19 January | Results declared |
Under our canvassing code for the Presidential election, candidates will be able to communicate with members about their candidacy through:
- a hustings event
- a short video on the College site
- a feature in RCPsych Insight
- their social media accounts
- an online Q&A
- their personal websites
- a short statement published on the website
- emails and phone calls to members.
Please see our canvassing code for the rules on what canvassing is allowed.
If you have any concerns about canvassing, please contact elections@rcpsych.ac.uk.
All Members, Fellows and Specialist Associates are able to vote in Presidential elections.
Voting will open on 14 December.
If you're eligible to vote (please check eligibility section above), you'll automatically be included in the electorate.
The email address that you have registered with us as your default will be given to the Civica Election Services who will send you an email with a link to the voting site. Please ensure that your email address is updated on the Members' Area.
This link will be unique to you and the voting page can’t be found through a search engine. Once you're taken to the site you can read the candidates’ statements and rank the candidates in order of preference.
If you're having issues with your ballot email or you're eligible to vote but haven't received the email, please contact elections@rcpsych.ac.uk.
2020
Candidates: Professor Kam Bhui, Dr Adrian James, Professor Pamela Taylor
Dr Adrian James elected President
Total number of votes cast: 3,346
Voter turnout: 22.9%
2017
Candidates: Dr Peter Aitken, Dr J S Bamrah, Professor Wendy Burn, Professor Rob Poole, Dr James Warner
Professor Wendy Burn elected President
Total number of votes cast: 4,595
Voter turnout: 33.1%
2014
Candidates: Dr Laurence Mynors-Wallis, Professor Sir Simon Wessely
Professor Sir Simon Wessely elected President
Total number of votes cast: 3,012
Voter turnout: 23.0%
2011
Candidates: Professor Dame Sue Bailey, Dr Dabyasachi Bhaumik, Professor Nick Craddock, Professor George Ikkos, Professor Anthony Pelosi, Professor Chris Thompson
Professor Dame Sue Bailey elected President
Total number of votes cast: 3,286
Voter turnout: 26.6%
2008
Professor Dinesh Bhugra elected President unopposed
2005
Candidates: Professor Sheila Hollins, Professor Cornelius Katona, Professor Femi Oyebode, Professor Richard Williams, Dr Tony Zigmond
Professor Sheila Hollins elected President
Total number of votes cast: 3,370
Voter turnout: 33.89%
2002
Candidates: Dr Jeremy Holmes, Dr Anton Obholzer, Dr Mike Shooter
Dr Mike Shooter elected President
Total number of votes cast: 3,308
Voter turnout: 37.2%
1999
Candidates: Professor John Cox, Professor Sir David Goldberg, Professor John Gunn
Professor John Cox elected President
Total number of votes cast: 3,309
Voter turnout: 38.0%
1996
Candidates: Professor Abdol-Hamid Ghodse, Professor John Gunn, Professor Robert Kendell
Professor Robert Kendell elected President
Total number of votes cast: 2963
Voter turnout: 37.0%
1993
Candidates: Dame Fiona Caldicott, Professor Arthur Crisp, Professor James Watson
Dame Fiona Caldicott elected President
Total number of votes cast: 3036
Voter turnout: 44.27%
1990
Candidates: Professor Arthur Crisp and Professor Andrew Sims
Professor Andrew Sims elected President
Total number of votes cast: 2763
Voter turnout: 43.5%
1987
Candidates: Dr Jim Birley, Dr Morgan Enoch, Professor Michael Gelder, Professor Eugene Paykel, Professor Robert Priest
Dr Jim Birley elected President
Total number of votes cast: 2593
Voter turnout: 45.0%
1984
Candidates: Dr Thomas Bewley, Professor Robert Bluglass, Dr Philip Connell, Professor Michael Gelder
Dr Thomas Bewley elected President
Total number of votes cast: 2305
1981
Candidates: Professor Kenneth Rawnsley, Dr Thomas Bewley, Dr John Pollitt, Dr Philip Connell
Professor Kenneth Rawnsley elected President
Total number of votes cast: 2064
Voter turnout: 43.09%
1978
Candidates: Dr William Heaton-Ward, Professor Sir Desmond Pond, Professor Kenneth Rawnsley
Professor Sir Desmond Pond elected President
Total number of votes cast: 2067
1975
Candidates: Professor Max Hamilton, Dr Thomas Main, Professor Sir Desmond Pond, Dr Felix Post, Professor Linford Rees, Professor Sir William Trethowan
Professor Linford Rees elected President
Total number of votes cast: 2081
1971
Candidates: Dr John Howells, Dr Alan Monro, Professor Sir Martin Roth, Dr William Sargant
Professor Sir Martin Roth elected President
Further questions
For any questions about the Presidential election that haven't been answered here, please contact the elections team on elections@rcpsych.ac.uk.