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Electoral College candidate manifestos 2025
Iain Brunt
Tell us a bit about yourself
I graduated from the RVC in 2017 and work in an independent equine practice in the South West. My main focus is clinical work, particularly lameness and internal medicine, but I’ve also become increasingly interested in how the profession can adapt to future challenges. I enjoy finding practical ways to make everyday work more sustainable; whether through better use of technology, clearer communication, or stronger support for new graduates. Over the past few years, I’ve helped train and mentor several younger vets practice, which has been one of the most rewarding parts of my career. I’m particularly interested in how we can retain and develop talent in the profession, ensuring that young vets feel supported, valued, and confident in their work.
Why do you want to be on the Electoral College?
I believe the strength of the BVA depends on the integrity and openness of its leadership selection. Serving on the Electoral College would be an opportunity to help ensure that process remains fair, balanced, and reflective of the full breadth of our profession — from recent graduates to long-established practitioners. Having seen both the challenges and opportunities faced by young vets in independent practice, I want to bring a grounded, forward-looking voice to the table. I care deeply about the future of our profession and believe that thoughtful, transparent leadership is essential to maintaining trust, engagement, and progress across the veterinary community.
What makes you the best candidate/why should members vote for you?
I would bring a combination of hands-on clinical experience, a genuine understanding of the realities of practice life, and a strong interest in innovation and professional development. I’ve worked closely with new graduates and seen first-hand the importance of supportive leadership and clear communication in shaping their early careers. My experience mentoring young vets has reinforced my belief in fairness, inclusivity, and accountability, qualities I would apply consistently in the Electoral College process. I am not aligned with any corporate or divisional interests and would approach the role independently and objectively. Above all, I want to help ensure that those representing our profession are selected through a process that is rigorous, transparent, and genuinely representative of the diverse voices within UK veterinary practice.
Jack Conway
Tell us a bit about yourself
I am a 1 year grad small animal and exotic veterinary surgeon based in Kent. I am a previous AVS president who has sat on BVA council and knows and appreciates the vision and role of the BVA. Outside of work I look after my cats and play video games. I am shortly relocating to Norfolk to take up a further exotics and small animal role.
Why do you want to be on the Electoral College?
Having previously served on the BVA Council, I’ve gained a strong appreciation for the important role the Electoral College plays in selecting and supporting the Association’s leadership. I believe that a broad perspective is valuable in shaping the future direction of the BVA. In particular, I feel it’s important that the voices of younger vets are represented in these discussions, helping to ensure that our leadership reflects the full breadth and diversity of our profession.
What makes you the best candidate/why should members vote for you?
I have been an active part of BVA since 2018 and have seen how each President has left their mark and further advanced the BVA. While I haven’t been a vet for long, the BVA isn’t just for practicing long serving MRCVS, it’s for students, for new grads. I believe with my experience as part of BVA and my relative inexperience as a one year new grad, I bring fresh eyes into helping advance the BVA
Richard Sanderson
Tell us a bit about yourself
I am an in-practice vet who runs a GP, referral and OOH clinic. I am an RCVS Advanced Practitioner, and am a Regional Thought Leader for Idexx. I hold certificates or awards in Veterinary Practice Management and in Leadership and Management. I have spoken at conferences like BVA Live, BSAVA Congress as well as London and New York Vet Shows. I am a proud father of a beautiful 2 year old girl.
Why do you want to be on the Electoral College?
I think I can help and would enjoy the opportunity.
What makes you the best candidate/why should members vote for you?
I don’t know if I am the best candidate, but I do know I am passionate about our profession and our vocation. I think I am a good judge of character and work hard to be the best I can for my patients.
Judy Scrine
Tell us a bit about yourself
An equine vet by vocation since the age of 3, and having been in clinical practice since 1991, I had to step away from my equine clinical director role due to injury in 2022. With the opportunity to dedicate myself to more philanthropic roles within the profession, I'm passionate about sustainability, addressing the retention and recruitment issues currently being faced, and the effect adverse social media has on members of the profession. With over two decades in a leadership role, I very much enjoy mentorship, education, charity and committee roles; enabling and inspiring people to be the best they can be. Veterinary sustainability is a major focus for me. Both the equine community and equine veterinary practice are relatively unexplored spaces from a sustainability perspective, so we have a huge potential to make a significant difference, placed as we are at the interface between animals, people and environment. Wellbeing of our vet teams is an oft overlooked but very important part of that sustainability agenda. I embrace the opportunity to be involved with the election process; picking the right people to support BVA members and to help shape the future of the profession in these difficult, challenging times.
Why do you want to be on the Electoral College?
I would consider a continuing role on the Electoral College to be an honour. It would allow me to play a small part in ensuring the best candidate for the officer team of the BVA is selected. I thoroughly enjoy this role and feel that I am well placed for it.
What makes you the best candidate/why should members vote for you?
I have been privileged to serve as a BVA Electoral College member for the last three years, and have been involved with the ongoing evolution of the officer team election process to make it as robust, fair and objective as possible. This to ensure we make the best choice from the always excellent presenting candidates for the BVA and for the profession as a whole. The bar is indeed set high. So, I feel I'm well placed to continue the role in terms of my familiarity with it, and the fact that I am more than happy to commit the time and to the careful consideration required. Via my involvement in many veterinary organisations, the fact that I've been qualified well over thirty years, and have remained fully immersed in the profession throughout, in multiple varying roles, I've been awarded excellent networking opportunities which will hopefully afford me a good overview of the profession, rather than a blinkered one. Most importantly I've thoroughly enjoyed being part of the Electoral College, so partly responsible for selecting the best officer team, and would be honoured if the BVA members might consider me the best candidate.
Ronnie Soutar
Tell us a bit about yourself
As a 1980 Edinburgh graduate, I’ve had a long and varied veterinary career. This has included clinical work in mixed and companion animal practice, including single-handed for a while, and managing in independent, corporate and academic settings. My main focus, however, has been in aquaculture and I currently head a small vet team within one of Scotland’s principal salmon farming companies. I was a Trustee and Board Chair of Scottish SPCA and have a particular interest in the links between animal welfare, human wellbeing and sustainable profitability.
Why do you want to be on the Electoral College?
Membership of BVA has been important to me throughout my career and I believe the Association is a crucial force for the good of our profession. I'm at the stage in my career where I want to be able to give something back to the profession I love and I believe that membership of the Electoral College would be an excellent way to make a contribution.
What makes you the best candidate/why should members vote for you?
As well as having been President of Scottish Branch, I have been lucky enough to get to know most of our recent Presidents and count several of them as personal friends. I think I have a good understanding of the pressures of the role and of what makes a good representative of and spokesperson for our profession. I believe I now have the knowledge, experience and time to help choose our future Presidents and would welcome the opportunity to do so.