Jade is passionate about sustainability of the veterinary profession, combining her job at Vets4Pets Woking with being director and communications lead for Vet Sustain. She is also a trustee for British Veterinary Chronic Illness Support. She said: “I am interested in the ‘bigger picture’ and want to cultivate a suste profession suitable for the many people who make it the profession I love.” Jade was described as a “total powerhouse”, and someone who “has a passion for making positive changes on a large scale”.

 

How does it feel to be part of the 30 Under 30?

It has been a great honour to be part of the 30 Under 30. Being part of this talented group of individuals has been a humbling and inspiring experience. It has been very interesting to hear about the journeys other vets, nurses and paraprofessionals are on and what motivates them. 

How has your last year been since you were nominated?

The last year has been very busy for me, I have become a Director of Vet Sustain, which has been a challenging but motivating time. I have also moved to a larger practice which has given me time to pursue and expand clinical interests particularly in behaviour. As of September, I will be starting a Master's in Clinical Animal Behaviour which will strengthen my skill set in this area of medicine. 

What would you say to someone thinking about nominating?

I would say that in a profession filled with 'imposter syndrome' and self criticism which is subject to infrequent markers of success, it is incredibly important to recognise achievement and talent. By nominating a young member of our professional group, we celebrate their success and show their value. 

 

What made you want to pursue a career in veterinary?

Like most people in this profession, I have always had a natural affinity to animals. I also have always enjoyed helping people, as well as solving problems and knew I wanted a vocational job. Veterinary fits all of these and has so many facets to explore; it's impossible to tire of it! 

 

What’s the best thing about your job and the industry?

I love being able to forge lasting relationships with clients and colleagues, I enjoy working with a team who want to see each member succeed and grow and for me they are the most important things about my job. This profession is bursting with talent; we are innovators, advisors, care givers, problem solvers, health providers, but fundamentally advocates for all animals, here to protect their rights and their health. 

 

Have you got any advice for those wanting to join the veterinary profession?

In my opinion, this is one of the most rewarding professions you can be part of. We're not without our flaws, but there is drive and ambition to improve; become more inclusive and supportive of our members. There are so many roles within veterinary, both clinical and non clinical; you can create the career you want. 

 

We know you have a huge passion and interests in social, environmental, and professional sustainability, tell us more about that!

I see sustainability as quite a holistic word encapsulating multiple factors: environmental, social equity and economic. Environmentally, as vets we are advocates for all animals and therefore are in a unique position to drive welfare standards, promote and support biodiversity and educate other professionals and the public. Socially, it is fundamental that our profession becomes more inclusive and allows greater representation across the board. The historic view of vets being white, male, middle class, able-bodied and neurotypical, stifles our profession and starves it of not only talent but also solutions to our current retention situation. Fundamentally, like any other profession, we are businesses and have to be financially viable. Financial growth shouldn't come at the expense of animal welfare, and should not be the sole marker of success in a health care profession but has to be taken alongside social and environmental sustainability. 

How can someone starting in the veterinary profession make an impact sustainability wise?

There are lots of ways you can get involved, depending on where you are and what opportunities are available to you. Education is fundamental to informed decisions, Vet Sustain provides a variety of articles, webinars and CPD (with both free and paid options) including our fantastic new Carbon Literacy course and 'A Veterinary Approach to Sustainable Food and Farming'. Alternatively, if you are in practice or part of a business, I would really encourage you to start or get involved with a green group and join the Investors in the Environment accreditation scheme. They also run a very informative Green Champion course which I very much enjoyed. Of course, there are always changes we can make in our personal lives too, whether it be making sure you recycle properly, to buying from more socially sustainable sources. Jen Gale is a very inspirational member of our profession who has a plethora of resources on becoming more sustainable. 

From a social sustainability angle, educating yourself on other people's experiences and understanding how they perceive and interact with the world will make you a more considerate, kinder and more understanding colleague. I really recommend immersing yourself in the resources provided by BVCIS, BVEDS, BVLGBT+ and reading the BVA Good Workplace Guidelines to encourage social sustainability within your practice and the wider profession. 

And of course, finally, what is your favourite thing about the London Vet Show?

The London Vet Show is a great opportunity to meet up with friends and colleagues old and new, network and enjoy first class CPD (in person!). I enjoy taking a few days out of practice to be inspired and feel refreshed with lots of ideas for how I can improve and grow. 

                                                                            

 

Know someone like Jade that you'd like to nominate for this years 2023 30 Under Thirty cohort? Nominate them here!

Nominations close 28th August at midnight!