New President take the reins of BVA Welsh Branch

14 June 2017

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.