First 100 Days: Reflections from Vet Sustain's CEO

As I walk out through the blossom-scented air and hum of bees up the verdant, slightly overgrown trail of the dairy farm near where I live, it’s sometimes hard to imagine that the world will ever change, but I know that big challenges lie ahead. The climate science is clear. This year, for the first time, we crossed a threshold that scientists have warned of for decades: a full year with global average temperatures more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. We are entering what some are calling the "age of consequences." Climate disruption is no longer a scenario modelled in spreadsheets. It is disrupting economies, food systems, infrastructure, and lives. We are not just witnessing ecological breakdown, but a breakdown of imagination. We need both - science and imagination - to solve the key challenges of our time.

There’s a quote on the wall of my office from Sir David Attenborough that says, “No one will protect what they don’t care about; and no one will care about what they have never experienced.” From what I’ve seen in my first 100 days in office, the vets, vet nurses, supply chain partners, academics and educators all care about animals, people and planet - that commitment sits at the heart of the Royal College’s oath. And yet, the weight of the responsibility of being on the frontline of that intersection between animal, human and planetary health is taking its toll on people’s health and wellbeing. I see a growing trend in the stress, overwhelm and burn out people are experiencing across the sector.

"...The weight of the responsibility of being on the frontline of that intersection between animal, human and planetary health is taking its toll on people’s health and wellbeing. I see a growing trend in the stress, overwhelm and burn out people are experiencing across the sector."

At Vet Sustain, I see a clear role we can play in lighting the path to a greater sense of agency and empowerment to deal with this through the community, confidence and knowledge we offer. We all have a role to play in transforming our sector and society. I believe that veterinary professionals are uniquely well placed to catalyse a shift towards placing greater value on Nature and other species.

"I believe that veterinary professionals are uniquely well placed to catalyse a shift towards placing greater value on Nature and other species."

To enable this, we are about to launch our Strategy for the next 5 years around the 6Ws of Veterinary Sustainability - Welfare, Wildlife, Warming, Wellbeing, Water and Waste. We will start by developing 5 Big Ideas as a foundation for this, including: 1) defining the business case for sustainability; 2) developing training and toolkits in biodiversity, nature connectedness and wellbeing; 3) benchmarking emissions based on our carbon calculator; 4) launching a veterinary sustainability roundtable to drive positive change at sector level; and 5) developing bite-sized courses across the 6Ws and species types at grass roots level.

Our Board Directors, cross-industry supporters and growing network of working group experts remain the beating heart that drives all that we do. As Paul Polman said this Earth Day: “The future is not something to predict, it’s something to build.” I look forward to building our vision for the veterinary professions being enabled as leading forces for sustainability with you.

I hope our paths cross soon.

Laura