16 People Making a Positive Difference for Vet Women

In the veterinary profession, creating a supportive and inclusive environment for women is more important than ever. With challenges like work-life balance, gender barriers, and the need for diversity, professionals in the field are actively advocating for change. These 16 enterprising women are leading the way and making a real impact in various aspects of veterinary care, from sustainability and leadership to mental health and flexible working. Their work is helping to reshape the profession, making it more inclusive, supportive, and sustainable for future generations.

In this article, we’ll introduce you to these remarkable leaders, share their stories, and explore how they are empowering women in the veterinary industry.

Claire Grigson and Katie Ford – Founders of Vet Empowered

“We believe in stepping past societal stories that tell us what ‘we should, and shouldn’t be doing’, and instead asking ‘What feels like the right decision for me?’”

Katie and Claire are passionate about supporting vets to create a sustainable and fulfilling career path. Through Vet Empowered, they offer transformational coaching and personal development support: helping individuals navigate challenges, reconnect with themselves, and redefine what success means on their own terms. A core belief at Vet Empowered is that every individual is unique, and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach, each career path is as individual as the person walking it.

Read here: Veterinary Woman Champions for Change – Katie Ford and Claire Grigson

Alina Zheleznyakova – Head of Marketing and Communications at NationWide Laboratories

“Taking people on a shared journey is a more sustainable way to change things that need changing.”

Alina empowers women in the veterinary profession by amplifying diverse voices and fostering collaboration. With a background in linguistics and marketing, she uses storytelling to inspire confidence and positive change. She leads initiatives such as internal newsletters, sustainability groups, and interview series showcasing female professionals. By encouraging learning and incremental improvements, Alina helps create a more inclusive and supportive veterinary industry.

Read here: Veterinary Woman Champions for Change – Alina Zheleznyakova

Kerrie Hedley – Chief Operating Officer for XLVets

“We have seen a 103 per cent increase in the number of women business owners within the XLVets community over the last 5 years.”

Kerrie Hedley champions women in veterinary leadership through XLVets and the Veterinary Women in Leadership initiative. Her MBA research into the barriers and enablers to female vets becoming business leaders inspired action, leading to a 103% rise in female business owners at XLVets. She promotes mentoring, career storytelling, and workplace support, believing leadership is for everyone. Future plans include further research to drive progress.

Read here: Veterinary Woman Champions for Change – Kerrie Hedley

Dr. Jyotika Sangle – Deputy Manager, Regulatory Affairs at Zenex Animal Health India PVT Ltd

“Do the work for which your heart craves. Never be afraid to speak up for yourself and others, and never let anyone dim your light.”

Jyotika Sangle is advancing veterinary care in India by bridging vets and regulators, promoting ethical practices, and making treatment more accessible for rural farmers. Overcoming gender barriers, she empowers women and strives for a more inclusive profession.

Read here: Veterinary Woman Champions for Change – Jyotika Sangle

Jess Marshall – Training and Implementation Manager at Vet IT

“You cannot control change, no one can. But you can choose what to do with it. You can stay as you are or you can accept change and see the opportunities.”

Jess Marshall helps veterinary practices improve efficiency through technology. With a background in Equine Science and experience as a practice manager, Jess is dedicated to supporting veterinary teams by tailoring software solutions to their unique needs, aiming to reduce workloads and enhance wellbeing.

Read here: Veterinary Woman Champions for Change – Jess Marshall

Ami Sawran – Clinical Director at Westpoint Farm Vets

“I think being misunderstood or underestimated is a good motivator for wanting to change.”

Ami Sawran is driving change in veterinary practice by improving culture, empowering vets in camelid care, and raising the profile of farm practice. She advocates for inclusivity, leadership, and animal welfare, and holds several leadership roles, including President of SPVS.

Read here: Veterinary Woman Champions for Change – Ami Sawran

Rhian Littlehales – Director of Clinical Governance for Medivet

“I know the support we are providing will help us build a community of diverse and resilient veterinary surgeons.”

Rhian Littlehales is dedicated to making the veterinary profession more inclusive and accessible. At Medivet, she’s improved graduate retention, created clinical communities, and worked with the University of Central Lancashire to support students from diverse backgrounds. Rhian focuses on breaking down financial and social barriers to ensure everyone has the opportunity to pursue a veterinary career.

Read here: Veterinary Woman Champions for Change – Rhian Littlehales

Samantha Lympany-Tier – Feline Behaviour Consultant and Practice Manager

“Everyone is different, and by recognising how we can create change in our own specialised way we can create something robust, and that is bigger than ourselves.”

Samantha Lympany-Tier is passionate about supporting the wellbeing and progression of veterinary care assistants (VCAs) and advocating for animal welfare. She developed an emotional welfare assessment to address patients’ mental states, ensuring more holistic care. Samantha is working to elevate the VCA role, creating development opportunities and fostering a more inclusive, empowered workforce.

Read here: Veterinary Woman Champions for Change – Samantha Lympany-Tier

Gunila Pedersen – Small Animal Vet and Master Certified Life Coach

“Change IS possible, no matter how bleak life seems”

Gunila Pedersen offers coaching to help veterinary professionals overcome burnout and rediscover their passion for the profession. After experiencing burnout herself, Gunila became a life coach and now combines her work in emergency vet care with coaching others. Through her coaching, she empowers vets to build emotional resilience, reduce stress, and enjoy their careers again.

Read here: Veterinary Woman Champions for Change – Gunila Pedersen

Perdi Welsh – Director of Veterinary Nursing at the RVC

“I think having a deep understanding of your values, as well as having an appreciation of others’ values, can be incredibly helpful in building a nurturing, collaborative, and supportive community, wherever or whatever your work is.”

Perdi Welsh has spent her career advancing veterinary nursing, focusing on empowering students through clinical governance and leadership. Since Perdi’s first intake of students, her CERTAVN course has helped may RVNs across the UK to create clinical audit reports and knowledge summaries. Perdi feels positive about the future of Veterinary Nursing at the RVC and is eager to shape more growth and development.

Read here: Veterinary Woman Champions for Change – Perdi Welsh

Tara Ryan – Chief Veterinary Nursing Officer at CVS

“It’s always the smallest steps, not the giant leaps that bring positive lasting change.”

Tara supports a global community of over 3,000 veterinary nurses, and is passionate about inspiring them to carve out their own unique paths within the profession. She sees it as her responsibility to help create supportive, fulfilling careers for both vets and nurses. Driven by the passion and progress of her peers, she’s excited to see where the future of veterinary nursing will go.

Read here: Veterinary Woman Champions for Change – Tara Ryan

Katrin Jahn – founder of The German Veterinary Clinic

“I hope that I can inspire the team around me to push through barriers when it comes to patient care.”

Based in Abu Dhabi, Dr Katrin Jahn is transforming veterinary care by prioritising emotional wellbeing through Fear Free® practices. As founder of the German Veterinary Clinic and Trinity Veterinary Behaviour, she leads with compassion, inspires her team to challenge the norm, and empowers others, especially women, to drive change in the profession.

Read here: Veterinary Woman Champions for Change – Dr Katrin Jahn

Racheal Marshall – Head of Nursing Standards at Vets Now

“I feel really passionately that nurses hold the potential to make significant contributions in so many different ways.”

Racheal Marshall champions diversity and development in vet nursing, launching the Vets Now Ethnic Diversity Scholarship and promoting nurse-led practice. She also helps shape CPD as an ECC Congress coordinator and inspires future nurses through STEM outreach.

Read here: Veterinary Woman Champions for Change – Racheal Marshall

Ruby Lambert – ICU RVN at the RVC’s QMHA

“Find something that ignites the spark in you.”

Ruby Lambert champions veterinary nursing by promoting career diversity, supporting colleagues, and encouraging job satisfaction. Her work inspires others to explore new paths and feel empowered in the profession.

Read here: Veterinary Woman Champions for Change – Ruby Lambert

Naomi Oikonomou and Masa Matsunaga – Senior Staff at PetsApp

“Collaboration is key; that and making your content genuine and easy to access.”

Naomi Oikonomou and Masa Matsunaga use their roles at PetsApp to empower the veterinary community through inclusive, impactful content. They champion flexible careers, spotlight diverse voices, and create accessible resources to support and inspire positive change across the profession.

Read here: Veterinary Woman Champions for Change – Naomi Oikonomou and Masa Matsunaga

Alice Moore – Small Animal Vet at Garston Veterinary Group

“We can choose not to allow ourselves to be overcome by guilt and pessimism, and instead wholeheartedly commit to knowing and doing better with every day that passes.”

Alice Moore is a small animal vet and advocate for a more sustainable, flexible future in veterinary care. Based at Garston Veterinary Group, she co-founded their sustainability team and chairs the BVA Policy Committee, where she influences national discussions on workforce equity, responsible pet ownership, and environmental impact. A passionate voice for change, Alice also contributes to initiatives supporting women in leadership and advancing flexible working across the profession.

Read here: Veterinary Woman Champions for Change – Alice Moore

Together, these 16 professionals are contributing to a more supportive, inclusive, and sustainable future for women in the veterinary industry. By sharing their experiences and leading by example, they’re helping to create a profession where diverse voices are heard, flexible working is valued, and individuals are empowered to thrive. Their work highlights the many ways positive change can happen, and the importance of continuing to support and learn from one another along the way.

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