Royal College Day 2020 speeches: incoming RCVS President Mandisa Greene

Fellow Council members and colleagues, RCVS team, invited guests, and all my family and friends (especially those of you who live in another time zone and woke up exceptionally early for this event) and in particular my mum and dad – good morning, and thank you for being here. I am very grateful for this enormous privilege.

Watch a video of Mandisa's speech

When the College was founded in 1844, it would have been unthinkable that a woman, let alone a black woman, would become President of the institution one day. I am immensely proud of this achievement and, while it clearly demonstrates progress, there is still plenty to do in widening access to our professions.

As it happens, I am also the first RCVS President to be invested at a virtual AGM. It seems I just keep making history!

I want to use the platform I now have (the Presidency, not Zoom), and my passion for veterinary medicine and animal welfare, to inspire others who may think the veterinary professions are ‘not for people like me’. I want to help change their mind set and see that this is something they can achieve.

To help illustrate this, I would like to share with you a very short story…

I met Reanne – a young lady from an Afro-Caribbean background – about 18 months ago. Like me, she always knew she wanted to be a vet, but life didn’t quite take her directly to vet school.

When I met Reanne, she had some hesitancies and worries about vet school. Over a number of conversations with her, I was able to share my experience of vet school, and reassure her about what the journey would be like.

I am happy to say Reanne messaged me last week with the news that she had passed all her first year exams and is well on the way to achieving her dreams.

Having a role model, even simply just talking to someone with similar life experiences and shared goals, really can make all the difference.

I come on board as President during the early stages of our new five-year strategic plan, which our CEO, Lizzie, has expertly driven and nurtured over the past couple of years. Council approved this back in January and we were just starting to put in place operational plans when the virus struck and we all went into lockdown.

There has been some frustration that we haven’t been able to get on with projects within the plan as quickly as we would have liked, but it has still informed our recent work throughout the pandemic.

At its core, are streams of work around how we do things, as much as what we do – which focused on the four Cs of compassion, clarity, courage and confidence – and we have tried to apply all these in our decision making during the pandemic.

Our new plan is forward looking, and includes a people strategy that will develop our talent, diversity, leadership, and culture. It will offer us a framework to take stock of our potential and be ambitious about the challenges ahead.

These challenges include the ongoing pandemic, our upcoming exit from the EU, a potential office move, and our three hugely significant consultations on ‘under care’ and 24/7 cover, our regulatory framework and all the Legislation Working Party’s recent recommendations.

Now, you would think these might be quite enough undertakings for one year, but there are a few other actions within the strategic plan that I am also keen to prioritise over the next 12 months.

Whilst the impact of factors such as EU exit remain unclear, I would today like to signal my ongoing support and admiration for our EU colleagues. I would like them not just to be able to stay and work in the UK, but to also choose to stay here, by demonstrating that we are both a profession and a community that recognises and appreciates their vital contribution.

I also want to say to general practitioner vets who may have long felt unheard, we hear you. During these 12 months, we will work towards improving our engagement with general practitioners and highlight the invaluable contribution of GP vets within our profession.

And, as I’ve said, I also take the Presidential baton from Niall to champion a more diverse and inclusive profession with renewed intention, and look forward to playing my part in our upcoming Diversity & Inclusion Action Plan.

As recent weeks and the Black Lives Matter movement have highlighted, there is more to be done, and we are committed to doing the work necessary. It is essential that we support all members of the veterinary team to work in an environment that is free from discrimination and racism.

Leading our fantastic professions through such times, alongside my fellow council members, an amazing RCVS team, and all our stakeholders and supporters, is such an honour.

There is much to do, but we must continue to forge ahead and aspire to greatness. We shall move forward with clarity and compassion in these times of uncertainty, and with the courage and confidence to tackle the difficult challenges and exciting opportunities ahead.

Thank you.