BVA names its Young Vet of the Year for 2025

Now in its second year, the BVA Awards celebrate the professionalism, dedication and achievements of vets and vet teams across the UK and was followed by a reception, sponsored by Lloyd & Whyte.

BVA’s Young Vet of the Year 2025 - supported by Zoetis 

Dr Leah Hunter MRCVS

BVA’s Young Vet of the Year award celebrates inspirational vets in the first stages of their professional career. Mixed practice vet Dr Leah Hunter is this year’s winner, with small animal vet Dr. Jade Urquhart-Gilmore and Farm vet Dr Rosemary Charnley are named finalists.

Dr. Leah Hunter has been awarded the 2025 BVA Young Vet of the Year Award for her extraordinary dedication; compassion; unwavering devotion to her patients; and professionalism in all aspects of her work, both in practice and outside it. After graduating from the University of Edinburgh in 2021, Leah began working as a mixed practice vet at Flett and Carmichael Veterinary Surgeons in Orkney, where she always goes the extra mile for her patients, whether within her practice or out and about in the Orkney countryside and coastline. She has developed a particular interest in small animal dentistry, regenerative farming and sustainability in practice and is passionate about nature and conservation.

She is involved with multiple charities outside of work, becoming an Orkney Nature Festival trustee, a British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) medic and Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme volunteer. Her involvement is not confined to daylight hours or predictable situations as she frequently responds to emergency call-outs for seals, porpoise or dolphins at all hours, often in challenging conditions. It is not uncommon for her to be found on windswept beaches in the dead of night, providing expert care to stranded or injured marine mammals. She has also been involved in providing first aid to stranded whales and dolphins and assisting in their re-floatation or euthanasia when the animals can’t be refloated due to illness and also assisted with 37 pilot whale postmortems on Sanday, Orkney, in 2024 after the most significant mass stranding event in the UK in the last 100 years.  

On being named the winner, Dr Leah Hunter said: “I am incredibly honoured to receive this award; this is an amazing way to mark my first four years in the veterinary profession. I am very humbled to even be nominated, let alone win this award, especially when I know how many amazing and talented young vets there are in the UK. I truly do love the work that I do, island vetting really is unique and I’m grateful to have the opportunity to help make a difference. I wish a huge congratulations to my fellow finalists too, they are inspiring veterinary professionals, and I wish them all the best with their careers.”

The award judging panel - BVA Senior Vice President Dr Elizabeth Mullineaux, last year’s Young Vet of the Year David Charles, Diagnostics National Veterinary Manager Sophie Duguid from Zoetis and RCVS President Tim Parkin – were impressed by all three of the entrants and their hard work, achievements in their careers so far and their dedication and compassion.

BVA President Dr Rob Williams MRCVS said: “A huge congratulations to Leah for winning this prestigious award. Her dedication to pets, farm animals and wildlife is exceptional – not content with giving the highest possible care during working hours, her work outside the walls of her practice is also outstanding. Her empathy for others – whether people or animals – shines through as does her drive to always work her hardest to achieve the best possible outcome in difficult cases. She is a worthy winner of the Young Vet of the Year title.

“Our other finalists, Jade and Rosemary, should also be applauded for their fantastic achievements. They are also outstanding members of the veterinary profession, and we know they have a bright future ahead of them. Congratulations to you both.”

Oya Canbas, Vice President and General Manager UK at sponsor Zoetis, said: “It is both inspiring and humbling to see how young veterinarians are contributing to animal care across a wealth of species with such passion and dedication. This year’s winner, Leah, and each of the finalists, truly demonstrate the exceptional skills and commitment needed to develop and strengthen our industry and improve animal care. Together with BVA, we are delighted to be able to shine a light on their outstanding contributions.”

The awards presented on the day were:

• BVA Young Vet of the Year 2025, supported by Zoetis
• BVA Wellbeing Awards 2025, supported by ManyPets
• BVA Outstanding Service Award (Chiron Award) 
• BVA Advancement of Veterinary Science Award (Dalrymple-Champneys Cup and Medal)
• BVA Animal Health and Welfare Overseas Award (J.Trevor Blackburn Award)

British Veterinary Association President Dr Rob Williams said: “It’s been a difficult time for the veterinary profession, and vets have been feeling the pressure from all sides. Whether working in a small animal practice, as a farm or mixed vet, in a non-clinical role or as a government vet, vets are highly skilled professions who play an invaluable role in society. The BVA Awards is a chance to shine a light on those exceptional vets who really go the extra mile to care for their patients, support the wellbeing of colleagues or make a lasting contribution to the veterinary community. A big congratulations to all of our winners for 2025, you should be incredibly proud of all your achievements.”