Being on BVA Council

Walking into the Mary Brancker suite at 7 Mansfield Street for the first time, my trusty imposter syndrome reared its head, as I expected it would. What right did I have to sit amongst these esteemed vets and share opinions, to comment on policy positions and direct, propose or critique the work of our representative association? I had won an election to be here, and this wasn’t my first council, a whole year of online meetings had preceded this thanks to our old friend COVID-19. As is so often the case however, fighting past the intrusive thoughts and getting involved I quickly found the BVA to be a welcoming and enthusiastic group of people, with one thing we all had in common; a passionate drive to help our profession be all it can be.

As I come to the end of my time on BVA council, having served two terms of 3 years, I reflect on all that has happened in our profession since then. The aftermath of COVID left our profession in a difficult place, many vets had been working in difficult conditions to provide essential services to maintain animal welfare. They were then further challenged with a boom in animal ownership coinciding with a workforce shortage as the effects of Brexit became clear. We debated these subjects at length in council, helping the BVA shape its campaigns on good veterinary workplaces and ensuring vital public health roles could be filled.

Throughout all these debates, my role as the representative of the West Midlands, has been to make sure that the voice of the vets at the coalface in our region is heard. Whether it was through talking with colleagues and contacts throughout the region, attending regional clinical clubs and meetings or via emails received from members trying to get a sense of what these issues mean to members. Our profession is full of insightful, thoughtful individuals, many of whom have big contributions to make on these wide-ranging subjects. Being able to help make sure their voices are heard has been a privilege.

It has also been a learning experience for me being asked to comment on the definition of sentience, the welfare needs of fish, cephalopods and decapods and how the CMA would assess our businesses.  These are not things that would have been in my comfort zone before being on council. This work has allowed me to consider so many of the different roles those in our profession hold and how the work of vets in the UK helps to improve animal welfare, human health and our environment in so many ways.

BVA council is a wonderful mix of passionate individuals from all walks of our wonderfully diverse profession. It’s a place where everyone’s voice is heard and listened to, where people learn from each other, debate and disagree whilst becoming and remaining friends. If you are thinking of getting involved in the BVA, if you are wondering if you are the right person to be at the table, I will say to you this; go for it, you will not regret it!