Companion collection - Interviews

Professor Susan Rhind is deputy head of school at the Royal (Dick) College of Veterinary Studies, Edinburgh. She was educated at Lockerbie Academy before being admitted to the Glasgow veterinary school, from which she graduated in 1990.

Janey Lowes was named Vet of the Year 2016 in the Animal Heroes awards competition run by the RSPCA and the Daily Mirror newspaper.

Julian Earl was forced to retire from practice after a cycle-race accident left him with horrific head injuries. While he may no longer wield a scalpel, he can still spin a yarn, as Cows in Trees, his book of veterinary anecdotes, confirms.

Paul Mahoney is a veterinary surgeon employed with Idexx Laboratories as part of their Teleradiology team.

Vernon Hill is the ebullient US entrepreneur who has upset the balance of the UK’s retail banking sector. But as well as launching the first new name on the High Street for more than a century, he is an advocate for the Kennel Club’s veterinary science awards and is a generous supporter of veterinary interests on both sides of the Atlantic.

Megan Knowles-Bacon has a talent for making things disappear – handkerchiefs, playing cards, administrative problems facing veterinary practice – by day she works at the RCVS headquarters at Horseferry Road and in her spare time she is a keen magician and the first woman to hold a senior role in The Magic Circle.

David Doughty joined BSAVA as its Governance Consultant at the end of 2015. A physicist and engineer by training, David has been involved with a number of businesses, particularly in the IT sector, and was one of the first people in the country to become a Chartered Director. David discusses why he took on the role at BSAVA, his veterinary experiences and his aspirations at BSAVA.

Jerzy Gawor is a Polish vet who because President of FECAVA. He’s the first practitioner from eastern Europe to fill the role.

Simon Luxmoore did his MBA at Bath and is Chief Executive of the Royal Aeronautical Society. This interview follows his appointment as Chairman of the Kennel Club.

Debra Bourne is an experienced writer, editor and researcher and studied veterinary science at Cambridge.

In 2013 Nick Bexfield became Associate Professor in Small Animal Medicine and Oncology at the University of Nottingham. He is also Chair of the Scientific Programme Committee for the BSAVA Congress.

Simon became companion’s editor in 2015.

John Bonner interviews Nicola Beaney who works at the Pet Emergency Treatment Service (PETS) at Newnham Court Veterinary Hospital in Maidstone. She was one of the first to be awarded the BSAVA Small Animal Medicine Certificate.

Mathew has worked as a small animal vet since qualifying in 2007 and is now studying for a Diploma in Garden Design. How does he find the time?

Caroline Yates studied Russian at Exeter and while working as a metal trader in Moscow volunteered her language skills to the IFAW. She’s worked in animal welfare ever since.

Martin Alder is Editor of Veterinary Record and In Practice.

After a period in general practice James Anderson moved to the University of Glasgow Veterinary School where he is now responsible for direction the veterinary professional programme. He has broad clinical and research interests.

Colonel Neil Smith is President of the RCVS, Director of the Army Veterinary and Remount Services, Head of the RAVC, and the Queen’s Honorary Veterinary Surgeon.

Koen Van Rompay works as an HIV/AIDS researcher at the California National Primate Research Center and is founder of Sahaya International, a charity supporting women and children in developing countries.

Mark is President of the British Association of Homeopathic Veterinary Surgeons and has co-authored a number of books on alternative medicine.

Arlo Guthrie’s eclectic career has included everything from cake factory worker to commercial pilot and PR consultant. It was the latter that brought him to the company that set up VetNurse.co.uk and VetSurgeon.org.

Virginia McKenna is a highly successful stage and screen actress. Since starring in Born Free she has devoted herself to the Born Free Foundation.

Mark was born in Portland, Oregon, grew up in Saudi Arabia and went to vet school in Budapest. He currently runs the CPD programme at The College of Animal Welfare where he is Short Course Manager.

Mike Guilliard is one of the few practitioners to have been granted fellowship of the RCVS.

Kimberly originally studied Animal Science and Chemistry at Texas A&M University. Later she became a vet at Edinburgh and after a period in equine referral and small animal practice now works as Clinical Development Manager and in-house vet for BCF Technology.