Published at: 11 January 2026
Read our 2025 Trustee highlights here!
Mandisa Greene (BVEDS chair) 2025 wrap-up.
This past year, I’ve spoken to hundreds of students with one core message: seeing someone who’s walked a path you dream of can change everything. Role modelling matters. When young people see possibility in someone who looks like them or has taken an unconventional path, it expands their belief in what’s achievable. From sharing my scenic route to vet school to becoming the first Black President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, I’ve aimed to show that success isn’t linear and that they belong in every room. This year, I spoke at Trinity Leadership Day, reaching 200+ college students navigating A-level decisions. I also visited Thistley Hough Academy, where I encouraged Year 8 students to believe in themselves beyond the report card, and met with student leaders to discuss purpose and potential.
No matter the stage or setting, the goal remains the same: helping young people see themselves in the future they deserve.
Tshidi Gardener (BVEDS trustee) 2025 wrap-up.
My year as a Trustee of BVEDS has been an incredibly affirming and humbling journey. Working alongside such a committed community and feeling genuinely supported while championing wellbeing, equity, and belonging has meant more to me than I can easily put into words. Being voted as the 2025 Wellness Champion at LVS was not just an honour — it reflects what becomes possible when people feel seen, supported, and empowered to lead with care. I am deeply committed to continuing to bring together diversity and inclusion with wellbeing, so that we can drive meaningful, positive transformation in workplace mental health, leadership, and inclusion. Eventually, creating environments where people can perform at their best without sacrificing their well-being.
Theeb – Navaratnam Partheeban (BVEDS treasurer) 2025 wrap-up.
In September 2025, the British Veterinary Ethnicity and Diversity Society, the National Farmers Union and Culture Roots Collective jointly held the AgriFutures Forum in Westminster, London. This event was both unique and a landmark occasion with representation from many different parts of our agricultural sector, ranging from farmers to environmentalists, vets, academics, finance, charities, government and politicians. The topics varied widely and included talks on racism research in the veterinary sector, barriers to land ownership for Black and People of Colour (BIPOC), panels on engaging with ethnically diverse children and communities, and racial diversity within the environmental sector. Interestingly, we also heard from Andrew George, the President of the National Black Police Association, about racial diversity and the Police and David Villa Clarke BEM, a business leader and CEO of Aleto foundation, who shared a lot about his experiences of diversity, including working closely with the Aston Martin F1 team on this. What made this event special was not only that we had over 95% BPOC representation in the speaker lineup at a UK agricultural event, but also that the audience was very diverse. Watch this space for the 2026 AgriFutures Forum.
Issa – Marissa Robson (BVEDS secretary) 2025 wrap-up.
At the beginning of the year, I listened to the book “Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals” by Oliver Burkeman, and it changed my perspective on how much I could realistically achieve in a year. So, 2025 has been a year of deep reflection on what is truly important to me and how I can best utilise my limited time and energy. The 2025 highlight for me was that I had a book proposal approved by a publisher who had approached me to write a series of books on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in the veterinary profession. This first book will focus on race, ethnicity and religion. The book aims to include voices from nurses/vets/students/& other staff from marginalised communities and to provide practical actions for organisations. I’m seeking collaborators for this book so if you are interested in joining one of our chapter working groups please email EDIvetbook@gmail.com for more information.
