Specialist pig vet, Grace Webster, is the new president of the British Veterinary Association (BVA) Scottish Branch.
Currently the senior vice president of the Pig Veterinary Society, Ms Webster was elected by the Scottish Branch at its AGM this month, immediately pledging to maintain the BVA’s “very positive relationship” with the Scottish Government, building recent successes, as well as tackling the challenges that lie ahead.
Ms Webster’s veterinary career has been largely spent in mixed practice in Aberdeenshire, starting out as an assistant, and progressing to partner, and eventually, director level. For the last four years, she has run a specialist pig practice covering much of Scotland while also being a guest lecturer in pig medicine and husbandry at several of Scotland’s universities.
In expressing her delight at becoming BVA Scotland president, she paid tribute to the work done over the last year by senior vice president, Ronnie Soutar, before adding: “I encourage all BVA members in Scotland to contact us and engage with us to ensure we know their views and represent them. We are proud of BVA’s on-going commitment to its members in Scotland and welcome its support for further engagement between our branch and key Scottish stakeholders.”
BVA president John Blackwell, commented: “Association branches are vital in safeguarding animal welfare and representing the views of veterinary surgeons in the devolved nations, where animal health and welfare are the responsibility of the individual nation.
“I am delighted to welcome Grace as President and know that she will help take forward the successes of the last year. Ronnie and Grace, together with Kathleen Robertson as the regional representative for Scotland on BVA Council, will be a team to be reckoned with in the nicest possible way.”