Presidential Elections

This page contains everything you need to know about elections for the College’s President and how you can get involved by voting.

There are three candidates competing to become the next President – read more about their vision for the College or see their speeches from the first ever College hustings event.

Darllen y dudalen hon yn Gymraeg

1 June 2019 Nominations open
9 August Closing date for submission of nomination documents
15 August Candidates filmed for website at Prescot Street
19 September Announcement of candidates standing for election
23 September Article in RCPsych Insight profiling candidates
3 October Hustings event at Prescot Street (evening event)
November Online Q&As
11 December Voting opens
8 January 2020 Voting closes
9 January Results declared

Under the new canvassing code for the Presidential election, Council agreed that candidates will be able to communicate with members about their candidacy through:

  • A hustings event at Prescot Street
  • 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, and
  • Emails and phone calls to members.

Please read the new canvassing code in full (PDF)

All Members, Fellows and Specialist Associates are able to vote in Presidential elections.

If you are eligible to vote (please check eligibility section above), you will automatically be included in the electorate. The email address that you have registered with us as your default will be given to the Electoral Reform Services who will send you an email with a link to the voting site. Each link is unique so can’t be shared with others and the voting site can’t be found through a search engine. If you are having issues with your ballot email or you are eligible but have not received the email, please contact elections@rcpsych.ac.uk.

2017

Professor Wendy Burn elected President

Total number of votes cast: 4,595

Voter turnout: 33.1%

2014

Professor Sir Simon Wessely elected President

Total number of votes cast: 3,012

Voter turnout: 23.0%

2011

Professor Dame Sue Bailey elected President

Total number of votes cast: 3,286

Voter turnout: 26.6%