New President for BSAVA
New BSAVA president Andrew Ash
Speaking about his new role, Andrew said: “As a young graduate going into practice I was in awe of the three presidents who had come from my current practice Geoff Startup John Sheridan and Ted Chandler. I never thought that the honour of being BSAVA president would come my way. The opportunity to lead our association even for a short period is one that will define my career. I will endeavour to serve the profession and the association to the best of my ability during this coming year and continue the stewardship of BSAVA with the same determination and character that this position demands. I am looking forward to the challenges ahead immensely.”
“My first involvement with BSAVA was as a student, I think it was my second year at the RVC when I started my membership which has been continuous ever since. In those days JSAP was A5 and congress might have fitted into this building. The association has changed in many ways since then but some things still remain the same, the quest for continuing improvement in companion animal practice, the sharing of knowledge, the friendships and the wonderful celebration of the profession that BSAVA congress alone represents.”
“I am often asked how I find time for BSAVA, the way I see this is that my professional life has been greatly enriched by BSAVA- time well spent. Volunteering is a good thing, a selfless thing and its fun especially with the great people that become involved in our association. I became an active volunteer as a result of some fairly old fashioned press ganging by Mike Jessop who phoned me one evening at the practice, would I like a try out on congress committee. Thank you Mike. Since then I have had the opportunity of working with and learning from a huge number of people both within BSAVA (volunteers and staff) and from the industry. I believe that the relationship between the profession and industry is symbiotic and if we forget this we do so at our peril. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the companies that have supported this BSAVA and our profession this congress.”
Previous BSAVA president Grant Petrie
He also mentioned Grant Petrie’s successful presidential year and everyone else that makes BSAVA what it is: “People are the heart beat of BSAVA, I have had the privilege of working with so many, all different and all equally committed to this association and too long a list to complete here.
“Grant has been a superb leader and spokesman for the association, he has been a passionate advocate of continuing education for the profession, as chair of education, as an Officer and most recently as president. During the next 12 months we will see the launch of our modular Post Graduate Certificate for Vets, our continuing education program for veterinary nurses and much more. Much of the credit for these developments lies with the excellent stewardship that Grant has shown over the past 12 months. He will not be idle as SVP because I plan to lean on him heavily over the nest year. To use the perennial phrase “he will be a hard act to follow”.
Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.
