Education Committee

James graduated from Edinburgh in 2001. After four years in mixed practice, he transitioned into equine stud practice and now leads the team at Equine Reproductive Services (UK). In 2010 he gained the RCVS Certificate in Stud Medicine and became an honorary lecturer at the University of Liverpool, teaching and examining CertAVP candidates. James continues to perform and publish practice-based research and collaborates widely. He is an Advanced Practitioner in Equine Stud Medicine, a BEVA council member and trustee of the International Equine Reproduction Trust. In 2022, he was awarded an RCVS Fellowship for meritorious contributions to clinical practice.

Bruce Bladon is the Immediate Past President of BEVA. He graduated from Edinburgh University in 1988. After seven years in practice he joined Bristol University as Resident in Equine Surgery. He was awarded the Certificate of Equine Practice in 1992, the Diploma of Equine Soft Tissue Surgery in 1999 and Diploma of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2001 and Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2016. Since 1998 he has worked at Donnington Grove Veterinary Surgery and is a recognised Specialist in Equine Surgery. He has lectured extensively, including to the British, South African, Australian, New Zealand, Dutch, Hungarian, German, French, Italian and Israeli Equine Veterinary Associations, international meetings in Brazil, Canada, Spain and to the European and American Colleges of Veterinary Surgeons. Bruce’s key interests are surgery, especially fracture repair and colic surgery. He is also involved with advanced imaging, particularly MRI. Bruce Bladon was Emergency Services Team Leader at the Rio 2016 Olympics and 2023 Asian Games. Bruce is an eco warrior and drives a zero emissions vehicle. He is a (low level) rugby union referee. He can’t really run under 5 min per km pace anymore and can’t remotely keep up with his son (or wife). He does manage to squeeze in the occasional ski trip, but otherwise is not allowed out, and spends his time either in an operating theatre or looking at black and white images

Gemma graduated from Cambridge University in 2005 and has worked as an equine vet primarily in first opinion ambulatory with a special interest in stud medicine. She worked for an equine practice for over 15 years before making a change in 2024 to work as a private vet for a Thoroughbred breeder and racehorse trainer. She also works part time as a part of the referral team at Equine Medical Solutions and is senior vet and York Racecourse. As a BEVA council member, most of the projects she has worked on has been supporting vets in our profession. Outside of work she spends most of her time attending the hobbies of her two children and enjoys yoga.

Imogen graduated from the RVC, London in 2000 and was awarded the RCVS Certificate in Equine Medicine and Advanced Practitioner status in 2014. She works in first opinion equine practice and mentors new graduates as a VetGDP advisor; she has also been an RVN clinical coach. She is responsible for overseeing veterinary undergraduate rotations in the clinic and examines at the University of Surrey. Imogen is a BEVA council member, sitting on the Education Committee and is current Chair of the Ethics and Welfare Committee. She is passionate about education, improving standards of clinical care and welfare.

Having previously completed a BSc (Hons) in Equine Sports Science, Jenny graduated from Bristol in 2019 and went on to complete a hospital based internship at Langford Vets Equine Referral Hospital. She then worked in first opinion ambulatory practice in Wiltshire, developing her love of teaching, client communication and use of low stress veterinary care techniques. To further scratch these itches, she moved into teaching full time in '24, returning to Bristol Vet School, whilst also providing behaviour modification services to equine clients in her free time. Jenny joined BEVA council in 2024 and is keen to help develop tools and resources that will have a positive impact on the human and equine experiences in clinical practice, encouraging individuals to follow their own unique path to job satisfaction.

Nicky graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2007 and joined The Royal Army Veterinary Corps. She served for 10 years: Firstly, with Military Working Dogs preparing them and their handlers for deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan. Later she served as the veterinary officer for The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery and The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment. After leaving the military Nicky worked in ambulatory equine practices for 2 years before moving to the charity sector. She now works as the Veterinary Director for The Horse Trust charity providing both the onsite veterinary provision for 150 residents, she provides internal and external training in many areas of equine care as well as providing part of the RVC final year rotations. Nicky is the Chairperson for the Board of directors for the British Animal Rescue and Trauma Association (BARTA).

Rosina Lillywhite is currently Head of Centre at VetPartners Nursing School at Liphook Equine Hospital. Rosina started her career in equine nursing in 2003 when she began at Liphook Equine Hospital as a part-time weekend nursing assistant aged 17. She quickly fell in love with the job and became a full-time yard nursing assistant in 2004. In 2009 Rosina started studying for her Equine Nursing Diploma at Hartpury College; part way through this, she changed her role to become part of the clinic nurse team, where she found a particular passion for diagnostics and theatre nursing. In 2012 Rosina qualified from Hartpury College as a registered equine veterinary nurse and formed part of the veterinary team at the 2012 London Paralympics. In 2017 she became Head Clinic Nurse, and in 2019 she helped to open the VetPartners Nursing School based at the hospital; this has been an exciting addition to her role, and she enjoys shaping the nurses of the future. Currently, Rosina is working to produce a new equine nursing textbook to ensure that there are relevant study materials for new student nurses

Safia qualified from Bristol University in 1998 and after a couple of years in mixed practice, did an equine surgical residency Edinburgh University. She stayed on at the University as a Lecturer and then Senior Lecturer in Equine Surgery for a further 9 years. During this time she sat the RCVS Certificate (2002) and then Diploma (2008) in Equine Soft Tissue Surgery, and gained the European College of Veterinary Surgeons Diploma in Equine Surgery (2005). After finally leaving academia in 2012, she spent 5 years working in large private equine hospitals before setting up her own peripatetic surgical consultancy in 2017 providing advice, overground endoscopic and surgical services to practices in the UK and abroad. She has over 90 peer reviewed publications in the veterinary scientific literature and currently sits on the Editorial Consultants Board for Equine Veterinary Journal. Her clinical and research interests focus on the equine upper respiratory tract, equine dentistry, minimally invasive soft tissue surgery (laser surgery and laparoscopy) and imaging of the equine skull. She regularly lectures at CPD meetings and conferences and outside of work is a keen kitesurfer.