BVA’s work showcased on the global stage

Last month saw one of the highlight’s of BVA’s calendar: the annual International Veterinary Officers Coalition (IVOC) meeting, followed by the World Veterinary Association (WVA) Congress, both held in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan. 

IVOC is a chance for the Officers and CEOs of six veterinary associations to come together to share experiences of what is going on in their countries, to showcase ideas and lessons and to discuss solutions to many of the complex issues which are faced by our global veterinary family.  Members include BVA; the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA); the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA); the New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA); the South African Veterinary Association (SAVA); and the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA), who hosted this year’s meeting.  There was also input from the President of the World Veterinary Association. 

A chance to share BVA successes

BVA CEO David Calpin and I presented BVA’s work on driving environmental sustainability in the UK veterinary profession, highlighting our policy development and position statements in this area; our engagement work with the profession through our Greener Veterinary Practice Webinar series. We also talked about BVA’s internal work to secure the Investors in the Environment Green Award in 2022.  There were follow-up discussions on One Health and climate change and the need to ensure a continued focus on these important issues.  We also presented on the Good Veterinary Workplace policy and resources, such as our guides on talking about pay and the Good Veterinary Workplaces – Taking Action webinar series. 

The meeting was a fantastic opportunity to share the good work BVA has done in these areas and the positive feedback we received from the other Associations made me feel very proud of all the hard work which has gone into creating these resources for our members. 

Learnings from abroad

AVMA presented on the challenges of operating in a complex landscape with many veterinary organisations, showcasing how they best ensure a good engagement with all members of the profession and the myriad of smaller special interest associations.  SAVA presented on the profession’s ongoing challenges with mental health and how best to compassionately support members.  The meeting concluded with a discussion around the role of artificial intelligence in the profession led by CVMA, and how we all need to evolve and adapt in this rapidly changing world, and we shared UK interest in this issue and highlighted that it was the theme of our ‘hot topic’ session at BVA Live.   

It’s fair to say that all the IVOC associations are facing similar challenges, and that many of the daily challenges faced by vets are almost identical on a global level, such as workforce capacity, animal welfare, retention, mental health and how best to tackle climate change.

The meeting included opportunities to network and discuss issues more informally, such as during Taiwanese feasts and a tour of some of Taipei’s top sights such as the Confucius Temple and the Grand Hotel – complete with exiting the latter through the underground escape tunnel!   

I went to WVA Congress, attending their General Assembly, One Health Day and many informative CPD lectures. I also had time for a quick walk in the jungles on the outskirts of the city and was lucky enough to spot the beautiful Taiwan blue magpie and a very large snake a few steps ahead of me crossing the path!  

The whole experience was a fantastic opportunity to share our work and learn from others, and continue the international collaborative work that is so important to our global veterinary community. 

For more information on BVA’s sustainability work and webinar series visit bva.co.uk/greenteamvet.  

For more on BVA’s Good Veterinary Workplaces visit bva.co.uk/take-action/good-veterinary-workplaces.