Ahead of its annual congress next month, the Veterinary Management Group will welcome new members to the board, including a mix of senior veterinary professionals and veterinary nurses, bringing some fresh perspectives to the team.
The VMG’s vision is to create a “happy and healthy veterinary world where all benefit from excellent leadership and management.” For veterinary professionals, the VMG offers opportunities for continuous learning, career development and networking, and aims to empower and equip veterinary leaders to learn, share and grow.
Among the new directors is Helen Mason. A certified Team Coach, Helen specialises in Women’s Leadership and Working Parents and focuses on building trust and improving team performance.
“I firmly believe that the world is better served by more women in leadership and our sector is no exception. One significant barrier for women aspiring to leadership roles is the challenge of balancing career and motherhood. As someone who has navigated this firsthand, I know how tough it can be. My goal is to contribute insights from both my personal and professional experiences—across coaching and marketing—to both support VMG’s mission of empowering veterinary leadership and continue advancing women’s leadership in the profession.”
Having originally qualified as a vet nurse in Australia, Leah Morley has been working in regional leadership roles in the veterinary sector across the UK and is another new board member. She is passionate about diversity and member of the British Veterinary LGBT+ committee.
“One of my motivations for applying to be part of the VMG Board was my desire to make a difference to the leadership quality within our profession, I’m particularly keen to understand how we can change the perception within the corporate sector of the value being a member of the VMG can bring to the team. I have many passions in life, but one of my biggest drivers is to help the veterinary profession be a place we can all be proud to work in, and leadership is a major factor in this, along with teamwork and a sense of belonging.”
Louise Newman, an inspirational leader and newly appointed director, is a veterinary nurse and team leader at Blue Cross’ flagship animal hospital in London. Named Petplan’s Practice Manager of the Year in 2023, she brings hands-on experience in team management and leadership.
“When I entered the veterinary industry, I assumed my career could only go in one direction and there was a ceiling as to what I could achieve, I was very wrong! I was given opportunities within my organisation (I joined in 2006 as a night nurse) to develop leadership skills and was encouraged to think about what I wanted to achieve, with no barriers put in my place only support and encouragement. This culminated in becoming the first veterinary nurse to take charge of the charity’s flagship hospital in November 2022. I want other veterinary nurses and veterinary support staff to know the skills they have around communication, compassion and ‘getting things done’ are transferable into leadership roles and that there is no limit to what they can achieve! I believe joining the VMG will give me the platform to get this message out and help develop the leaders of the future.”
The other new board members are: Claire Smith, owner of independent clinic Beacon View Vets; Christy Lightley, Head of Marketing at IMV Imaging; James Portsmouth, Principal Referral Vet; and Andrew Whitfield-Roberts, Head Nurse at a White Cross dual site.
VMG President Liz Somerville commented: “We’re delighted to welcome our new board members, who bring us additional valuable skills in key areas such as marketing, communications and change management. Their knowledge and experience will help us better support both our members and the wider veterinary profession as we navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead.”
Liz continued, “VMG Congress 2025 will embody everything we stand for with a particular focus on empowering the next generation of veterinary leaders. We’re looking forward to stimulating discussions on all aspects of veterinary leadership.”
The two-day long congress, spanning the 23rd to 25th April 2025, is at the Crowne Plaza in Stratford-Upon-Avon, and is designed for veterinary leaders, aiming to empower the next generation of leadership. The programme covers a range of topics, including finding practical solutions, developing effective leadership skills, and navigating complex leadership challenges. Speakers include Katie Ford, co-founder of Vet Empowered, Katrin Jahn, founder of German Veterinary Clinic and the online Trinity Veterinary Behaviour consultancy and Helen Silver-MacMahon, co-founder of Being Human Consulting.
Learn more about the programme here: Programme | VMG Congress | Buy VMG Event Tickets Now!
More information on VMG Congress can be found here: Booking And Prices | VMG Conference 2025 | VMG Events
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