Opportunities and challenges ahead

After spending a year as Junior Vice President of BVA, one could be forgiven for thinking that stepping into the role of President is a small one. But I’ll be the first to admit to feeling a degree of imposter syndrome. Happily, that feeling pales in comparison to the excitement and anticipation I have for the year ahead.  

I know it’s not going to be easy: although championing vets and giving our profession a voice is undoubtedly a positive, wonderful thing to have the chance to do, our profession is facing a difficult time. From the ban on American XL Bully dogs to the negativity and unfair media reporting following the commencement of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigation, I know the last 12 months have been tricky for many of us.  

With this in mind, my presidential theme of “A Profession That Cares” is poignant. It is through this lens that BVA will continue to support and champion the profession this year. Whether caring for our clients, for animals, our colleagues and even ourselves, vets care very deeply and we need to get better at demonstrating this and showing our empathy and compassion. This year we will reshape the narrative by working even harder to highlight the incredible work vets do, day-in, day-out, to support the welfare of the animals in their care, as well as the important role we play in society. 

Although originally a catalyst for a spike in negativity, the CMA investigation does present us with a wealth of opportunities.  We will ensure the CMA understands fully that while our clients are important to us, the needs of the animals must always come first. We’ll continue to lobby governments and decision makers on the issues that matter most to you, including calling for a new Veterinary Surgeons Act, a permanent solution to the provision of veterinary medicines in NI, the banning of puppy smuggling and measures to improve dog breeding and dog ownership to name just a few. We’ll also be there for our members, keeping you updated on vital changes to legislation, the CMA review and ensuring you have our support and the necessary resources to help you to thrive in your workplaces.  

I’m so looking forward to meeting as many of you as possible during my travels across to UK and to hearing your views and experiences. I’ll be at many of the veterinary society conferences and of course at BVA Congress at London Vet Show in November – I hope to see you there!