From I very young age I knew I wanted to work for animals (cliche I know). As a child I used to pretend to perform surgery on my pets (poor them). I originally wanted to become a Veterinary Surgeon, but after I start voluntary work at a local practice it was clear my passion was in nursing. Seeing the care and compassion that goes into their work was admirable. From that point on I never even considered another career path.

You first joined at Thanet Vets as an Kennel Assistant. What was it about the practice that made you want to stay and develop your career here?

Quite simply, it was the team and everything they stood for. 17 years in one place is a long time, and I have seen people come and go, but there is still many of us that have been there a long time. When you find an environment that is supportive and caring, celebrates your successes and nurtures your weaknesses into strengths it is not a place you want to leave. There are very few places where colleagues become family, but Thanet Vets is one of them.

You eventually made the move into leadership. Was there a particular moment or experience that made you think, “I’m ready to take that next step”?

Throughout my career it was very clear my passion was in helping our patients, clients and colleagues have the best experience. I realised the I could make the biggest impact in a leadership role. I wanted to make a difference in a positive way, and this gave me an opportunity to do just that.

Looking back over your career with IVC, what would you say has been your biggest achievement?

Becoming a finalist in the first ever IVC Brilliant People We Care award. Even in not winning the award, to have that recognition for the work you do is incredible. To know that somewhere along the way you have added value to someone's experience is a wonderful feeling.

Are there any patients, cases or moments from your clinical career that have stayed with you over the years? What made them so memorable?

There have been so many memorable moments over the years from appearing on ITV news for a dog that had eaten a dessert spoon to the sad moments we say goodbye to patients we have looked after since they were puppies or kittens, but there is on particular client that will always stick with me. This client has been so supportive of the practice for as long as I can remember. When I returned from my Maternity leave in 2025 there was a surprise framed photograph of my daughter and I. She has asked for it to be given to me on my return so I always had a photo of her when I was at work and could look at it during the tough moments. To see that you can build this kind of relationship and trust with your clients is an absolute blessing and I will never forget that simple gesture, it meant so much to me.

What does effective leadership mean to you, and what have you learned about leading people throughout your own journey?

To me this is inspiring my colleagues to be the best they can be. To support them in their roles and give them the tools they need to succeed. To listen and guide them through difficult times and changes with positivity and enthusiasm and to aim to be the best team we can be.

Throughout my career I have learnt so much about myself and my own resilience. I had the opportunity of a lifetime in 2022 to attend the Artemis leadership program in Madrid and met many likeminded people from different countries all working in IVC. I learnt that people are a lot more adaptable than we think and if a team is working together anything can be achieved. I have made mistakes along the way and I am far from perfect and I will always have a lot of learning to do, but I know now that’s OK. I have a team that supports me as much as I support them. I am privileged to work with amazing people that shaped me and continue to shape me into the leader that I am and will be in the future.

When you look at how far you’ve come since joining IVC, what are you most proud of about the career you’ve built?

100% my team, without a doubt. We’ve had challenges over the years, but they have all taken it in their stride. Without their continued support, encouragement and all the hard work they put in daily, Thanet Vets would not be the place it is today. I have had all these amazing opportunities, and I am where I am today because of them and for that I will always be proud and grateful that I get to call them family.