New President take the reins of BVA Welsh Branch
14 June 2017
Monmouthshire vet, Sarah Carr, becomes new President of BVA Welsh Branch
BVA Welsh Branch has elected Sarah Carr as its new President at
its AGM, held at Cardiff City Hall on 13 June 2017.
After graduating from
Liverpool Veterinary School in 2004, Sarah went on to spend some time as a
locum vet in her native Somerset before heading out to Morocco to volunteer for
a charity that works with donkeys and mules.
Once back in the UK, Sarah joined
a rural mixed veterinary practice in Monmouthshire, where she gained experience
in farm animal practice, before moving to Abbey Equine Clinic in 2009 to
further develop her skills as an equine vet. Sarah also has a particular
interest in modern equine dentistry and in 2014 passed her BEVA/BVDA exams.
Outside of work, Sarah
runs her own flock of crossbred commercial ewes, which keeps her in touch with
the agricultural sector in Wales.
Sarah said, “I am honoured to be
elected as the President of BVA Welsh Branch. I believe that my experience over
the years in a range of clinical practices and previous veterinary
representative roles have equipped me to represent the profession. I have lots
of ideas for the role and I look forward to working with the BVA Branch team
and veterinary colleagues throughout Wales to best represent their views and
ensure the profession continues to be seen as a valued, evidence-based body on
animal health, welfare and disease eradication.”
Sarah has represented
the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) on BVA’s Welsh Branch
Committees and has been an active member of BVA’s Young Vet Network, organising
socials and CPD for members. Sarah succeeds Neil Paton as BVA Welsh Branch
President, the principal representative of BVA in Wales, for a two-year term.
Congratulating Sarah
on her election, BVA President Gudrun Ravetz said, “I
am delighted to welcome Sarah as President of BVA Welsh Branch and know she
will bring both knowledge and passion to the role. The work of BVA’s Branches
is invaluable in representing the veterinary profession right across the UK.
“Many of Wales’ animal health and welfare successes
could not have been achieved without veterinary input and involvement, such as
the reduction of bovine TB cases, and I know Sarah will continue this
successful joined-up working with Government, farmers, vets and other partners.
“The appointment of Sarah sees four female BVA
Presidents across the UK for the first time ever. Considering women now make up
60% of the workplace, and with an even greater 80-20 female/male split in
veterinary students, it’s a unique moment that we should be proud of. And
supports one of the actions coming out of the BVA/RCVS Vet Futures project,
which is focusing on opportunities for women and other groups who are
underrepresented in leadership.
“I would also like to
take this opportunity to thank Neil for all his hard work during his time as
Welsh Branch President. Thanks to his experience and enthusiasm BVA Welsh
Branch has achieved some very important goals for animal health and welfare in
Wales over the last two years.”
As part of the network
of devolved and specialist divisions, BVA Branches contribute local knowledge
and expertise to BVA’s wider lobbying and representational activities. Recently
BVA Welsh Branch has helped progress a range of issues including briefing Welsh Assembly Members
on bovine TB, responding to the Harris Report on welfare of wild animals in
travelling circuses, and writing to Cabinet Secretary Lesley Griffiths AM
immediately after the EU Referendum to call for the working rights of EU vets
and vet nurses to be maintained.