RCVS showcases veterinary leaders at Royal College Day 2019

Royal College Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) showcased 12 veterinary leaders at its annual Royal College day.

The speakers were based in a variety of roles, disciplines, and career stages, and spoke as part of regulators leadership initiative, which aims to develop everyday leadership skills.

The initiative was launched in April 2018 which was followed by the creation of an online leadership course, developed in conjunction with FutureLearn and the NHS Leadership Academy.

Amanda Boag, RCVS president, said: “Vet professionals are almost invariably all leaders, but we are not always good at recognising and promoting this. The RCVS wants to celebrate leaders from across the vet and vet nursing professions, including both those leading every day in their workplaces, as well as those in traditional leadership roles. We want to highlight our qualities as both people and professionals, and emphasise the need to recognise these qualities and, through that, give us all the confidence to take up leadership roles.

“A few years ago, the RCVS began work with the British Veterinary Association on the Vet Futures project to identify where we are now, and where we want to be in 2030. Leadership development was identified as an area that we have not necessarily been brilliant at as a profession. More worryingly, there was evidence that some vets, particularly younger ones, do not see themselves as leaders, or feel comfortable with that term.”