Ethics & Welfare Committee

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.

Alison graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1999 and worked in equine practice where she obtained her RCVS Certificate in Equine Practice. She then completed a Residency in Equine Imaging at Bristol University, obtaining the RCVS Certificate in Equine Orthopaedics during this time. After working back in equine practice, Alison was appointed Clinician Teacher in Equine Orthopaedics at the Equine Hospital in 2009. Alison holds a Diploma in Veterinary Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation. Alison is also one of the treating veterinary surgeons at the Horse of the Year Show and the British Open Showjumping event. She is a keen rider, eventing her own horse on a regular basis.

Sophie has spent the majority of her career in ambulatory practice in Devon and has always had a keen interest in communication and mentoring junior colleagues. Developing myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/chronic fatigue syndrome) in 2020 added a new set of challenges to work in equine practice. Being forced to work part-time, Sophie enrolled on a coaching diploma; this lead to accepting a teaching position at Surrey Vet School. Having been elected on to BEVA council in 2022, Sophie is passionate about supporting the well-being of equine vets and improving equality, diversity and inclusion within the equine profession

Helen graduated from the University of Bristol in 2008, spent two years as an intern at NEH and has been in ambulatory first opinion equine practice ever since. She has a particular interest in lameness, sports medicine and vettings and completed a certificate in equine orthopaedic surgery in 2015. She is an FEI permitted treating vet and was team vet for the British team at the CCI3*-S European Cup eventing championships in 2017 and 2019. Helen is currently a clinical director at Valley Equine Hospital in Lambourn. Outside work Helen is kept busy with her two young daughters and their ponies.

Qualified from Bristol University in 2005 and having discovered a previously unsuspected interest in equine medicine during final year, went out to gain hands on equine experience through spending a month working as a new graduate vet in a SPANA clinic in Morocco. This was followed with 7 years in mixed practice, including first opinion equine ambulatory work and a further period of volunteering for a working equid charity in Egypt. Joined the Donkey Sanctuary in 2012, gaining the CERT AVP in Equine Medicine and eventually becoming the lead vet for medicine. After completing the MSc in One Health in 2023 and cementing a passion for all things One Health both nationally and internationally, started a new position mixing clinical vet work with an advisory role to the Donkey Sanctuary international team. Strong interest in all things welfare, medicine and education, with an enthusiasm for exploring and promoting ways to improve sustainability in veterinary practice.