Elizabeth Berry, BVSc MRCVS PhD, BCVA President, qualified at Liverpool University in 1986 and has enjoyed a varied career, including five years in mixed practice and time at the Milk Marketing Board (now Genus) providing technical support and running a mastitis consultancy field service. In 1998, she embarked on a PhD in bovine mastitis at the Institute for Animal Health (IAH), Compton, which included registration work for the internal teat sealant OrbeSeal. After gaining her PhD, she remained at the IAH and was involved in running a wide variety of trials for commercial companies. During this period, she also worked for VLA Langford. In October 2021, Elizabeth became president of the British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA).
Congratulations, Elizabeth, on becoming president of the BCVA. You have said that you want the theme for your presidency to be teamwork. Please could you tell us why you chose this theme?
I imagine this will resonate with readers of Veterinary Woman: teamwork has been crucial both for my working and home life. So many of us wear several hats – often at the same time – and certainly as someone with a child I have relied on a network of family, friends and colleagues who are all essential in balancing work and being a parent.
Through all my veterinary roles – in practice and industry – teamwork and building strong relationships with others have been important and key to achieving the best results.
I don’t have all the skills and I never will, but by combining my contributions with others we access the power of collaboration through sharing, learning and evolving. We are always going to be ‘better together’ – with more wins and more rewards.
Of course, every team is different, whether it is on a farm, in the practice, the office, the association, or the government department. And we all perform different roles in those environments. This is one of the very reasons why diversity is so important. If we have learnt anything over recent years, it is that every day can still bring a new challenge – something difficult, or something wonderful. Tapping the potential of teamwork – making it a good place to work and operate within – is always going to reap the best possible results. I see this in action on the BCVA Board: there is a broad range of experiences that the profession benefits from, and we want more of that.
“Tapping the potential of teamwork – is always going to reap the best possible results.“
Do you think that today’s farm vet has different challenges to farm vets of previous decades?
Some areas and priorities have not changed, such as preventing, managing and treating the health issues of the animals in our care. And, importantly, it seems to me that our colleagues on farm – agricultural personnel – still have the same passion, care and ambition for their individual farm.
However, management on farm and farming structures have changed considerably. Herd size has doubled in most dairy units, and we’ve seen incredible progress in genetics and disease reduction. Equally, there’s so much more knowledge around feeding and overall health management and this means animals are more productive – and in some ways this elevates farming sustainability. Of course, there are more controls now: audits, a continuous rash of regulations and all the associated information technology to keep on top of. This can be a challenge for those of us who are not as IT literate as we’d like to be – as my daughter tells me when I find something impossible: “PICNIC” – problem in chair, not in computer!
The role of the farm vet was once viewed as a man’s role, notably through the idealistic anecdotes of James Herriot. Have you experienced gender bias as a farm vet?
Around the time I was studying, the gender split in some colleges was 50:50, but in my year less than 20 per cent were female. When first applying for roles in what were mixed practices – so farm and companion animal practice – there was an impression that some owners were concerned about female vets, particularly working on farm, and perhaps I wasn’t offered interviews on that basis.
The Sex Discrimination Act of 1975 was in play by the time I graduated, but I am not sure that many of my peers would have used it. Legislation is vital, but it takes longer to change hearts and minds.
My take, at the time, was that if the senior vet was unsure about employing a female vet, then maybe this was not the right job for me anyway. When I did land jobs, I have to say all my employers were very supportive.
My recollection is that any concerns from farm clients were normally based on being 162cm and around 50 kg – meaning I was not bringing much physical presence to proceedings. But otherwise, I don’t really recall gender bias on farm. Some small animal and equine clients, ironically often women, would request another vet – and usually male – and this would be expressed as concerns about my inexperience.
So, it would seem that my early experience didn’t involve as much struggle as a result of being a woman in what was then a male dominated profession, yet I know that wasn’t the case for everyone then – as it isn’t now. And whilst we’d all recognise the great progress that has been made in recent decades, we all know there remains disparities, particularly in leadership, ownership and pay. At BCVA, we know we have work to do when it comes to inclusivity and diversity, but I’ve been proud to be a part of a board that has welcomed women in leadership roles, and to be working with colleagues at BVA and RCVS when women are well represented around the table at the most important meetings. This is helping to define what our profession will look like in years to come.
“It is important that we create great workplaces for this generation of vets – from all backgrounds.”
How did you learn to overcome the prejudice you have received for being a female farm vet?
Being comfortable in my own capabilities was always my aim and approach to this. I think my father had a great attitude to raising a daughter, and I also went to an all-girls’ grammar-type school, which assumed we could do what we wanted. Two-thirds of my year went into science subjects, which was unusual then. So, I had a good start.
When it came to work, I think I was always focused on trying to do the ‘job’ to a high standard and to try to make the right diagnosis and treatment. Sometimes, as a new vet, just finding the farm was my major concern! Which might have meant I was too focussed on finding my way around to be aware of any subtle prejudices! My husband tells me I am very northern and direct, so I think if I did sense something negative, I would simply ask if anything “was up” – and probably take it as a concern about my diagnosis or treatment options. My practices were all very supportive and I still keep in touch with colleagues from my first positions. I so lucky in my early career, but, as we’ve talked about already, I know that is not everyone’s experience. It is important that we create great workplaces for this generation of vets – from all backgrounds. I want everyone to know and experience the privilege of working in healthy, supportive environments, just as I did.
This month’s leadership focus includes imposter syndrome – the feeling of incompetence regardless of our education, experience and accomplishments. Is this something that you have ever encountered, despite your clear leadership success?
Clear leadership success? Goodness – my involvement with BCVA has always been about giving something back to a profession I love and contributing what I can as part of a wider team. I have imposter syndrome for sure, and it may be a female thing, or perhaps my male counterparts just don’t admit to it as much, but I still have plenty of inner doubts – and I know I am not alone. I do have a little pep talk with myself every now and then and sharing those insecurities helps. Again, it’s back to the idea of teamwork: understanding that we aren’t alone, and that as part of a team, or even leading a team, we are stronger when we pull together.
It is sometimes assumed that imposter syndrome is only something we encounter when we we’re first starting our career, but it can often continue or become more apparent the more senior we become. Have you experienced this?
Of course – you don’t know what you don’t know – and as you progress in any career some of these unknowns become apparent. Every day can bring new challenges. Within my many different roles I have used my veterinary degree and my experiences from practice, research, regulatory and management. I know that there are areas where I have not necessarily had the experience or knowledge I needed, so I would clarify and find out from those who did.
What would you say are the most important qualities in a leader?
As someone who is very goal orientated, accepting that your desired outcome may not always occur or might not happen in the way you planned – that is a challenge for me. I think it is important to involve others and to utilise everyone’s skills and talents to achieve more. It is crucial to empower others – for their sake, and for the sake of the organisation – that’s how we thrive.
As a final question, what is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
A hard one, but this is a selection:
- Try to keep a sense of humour. It’s an escape valve.
- I like this saying by Maya Angelou: ‘If you don’t like something, change it. If you cannot change it, change your attitude.’
- I also like, when considering a possible difference in opinion: ‘Walk two moons in someone else’s moccasins.’
You may also be interested in:
3 farm vets and 3 Donkeys: an insight into the life of 3 female farm vets
Abigail Erian: Why more females should consider farming