RCVS Day 2018 speeches - Amanda Boag, incoming RCVS President

I feel incredibly privileged to be standing here today – I remember very clearly my graduation and thinking “wow they are actually going to let me be a vet”. 20 years later I still feel incredibly proud to be a part of such an important, caring and smart profession.

I have been incredibly lucky to have been presented with all sorts of opportunities in my career to date and would just like to thank my parents who gave me the confidence and rock solid base allowing to take those opportunities, my family who support me day in and day out – it’s not always easy having a wife and mum who keeps disappearing to London and my friends and colleagues who I have learnt so much from and who continue to inspire me  – you know who you are… thank you.

So what for the year ahead…..Stephen, Lizzie and Liz have articulated very clearly some of the important projects the College is working on – projects that will have an influence over our professions for years to come.

Projects take time and a large amount of work to see through and we need to ensure they move forward with momentum. Being vice-president over the last year has only cemented my respect and admiration for all the hard working team at Belgravia House and I look forward to continuing to work closely with them.

"[Diversity] includes ensuring our professions reflect the society we serve and are seen as a great and realistic opportunity for people from all backgrounds and once in the professions making sure we have an open and supportive environment where everyone is given the chance and the support to succeed."

Along with specific projects, though I wanted to highlight a couple of principles which will be prominent in the coming and future years.

Firstly, the importance of diversity. The days (and this day was in 1929) when RCVS Council puts out a statement saying: “The Council of the RCVS … regrets to find that the prospects for success for women in the profession has been greatly exaggerated … and that in competition with men, women will always be at the most serious disadvantage…”  are long gone, but diversity takes many forms and we must not lose sight of these.

This includes ensuring our professions reflect the society we serve and are seen as a great and realistic opportunity for people from all backgrounds and once in the professions making sure we have an open and supportive environment where everyone is given the chance and the support to succeed.

"As we navigate these issues, there will be a diversity of opinion and some challenging conversations ahead. The only certainty is that doing nothing and sticking with 20^th century ways of working is not the future. However the RCVS moves forward on these issues, we will make the best possible – not perfect, but best possible – decisions where all viewpoints are heard. I look forward to the discussions with my fellow council members and, to the wider profession, please do engage with our consultations over the next year."

Secondly, is the inevitability of change and the importance of harnessing it positively for our professions, but more importantly for the public and the animals we care for. This year will of course see the enormous change of Brexit and collaborating with the BVA and others we will continue to speak forcefully about the importance of our professions and animal welfare.

There are also a number of ongoing discussions focussed more specifically in our industry on issues such as evolution of the veterinary nursing profession, how accountability will work in the vet-led team and the changes that telemedicine is already bringing.

As we navigate these issues, there will be a diversity of opinion and some challenging conversations ahead. The only certainty is that doing nothing and sticking with 20^th century ways of working is not the future. However the RCVS moves forward on these issues, we will make the best possible – not perfect, but best possible – decisions where all viewpoints are heard. I look forward to the discussions with my fellow council members and, to the wider profession, please do engage with our consultations over the next year.

On a final note, with a particular visitor to the UK being almost inevitably in our minds with the security outside, let’s remember the importance of always having those debates in a way that dignifies the intelligence of our professions rather than have social media spats that drag us to the bottom of the rhetorical bucket.

Most importantly, let’s recognise and celebrate the fact that although we may at times have differing viewpoints, we all come from the same underlying place of working for the health and welfare of animals committed to our care.

Thank you.