At the BVNA AGM during BVNA Congress 2025, current BVNA President Lyndsay Hughes will hand over the Presidential reins to Junior Vice President Sarah Holliday.

In this blog, Sarah outlines her career in veterinary nursing to date, including how wanting to give back to the profession led her to join BVNA Council. Sarah also introduces her Presidential theme for 2025-6 of ‘Compassion and Empathy’ and how this will shape her time as BVNA President.

My time in a career within veterinary nursing has not been linear, but the variety has enabled me to gain extensive experience in both clinical and non-clinical roles in primary care and referral settings. I have worked with different species including British wildlife, exotic pets alongside dogs and cats.

In recent years I have ventured into referral nursing and specialised in veterinary oncology. I am currently the senior medical oncology nurse at AURA Veterinary and gained my veterinary technician specialist status in oncology in 2023. I also have a certificate in feline and canine behaviour and recently gained an award in mentoring and coaching.

Alongside oncology, I am extremely passionate about progressing the veterinary nursing profession and joined BVNA to be part of something bigger than myself – a professional community that not only supports and celebrates veterinary nurses, but also drives positive change within our industry. Joining BVNA Council gives me the opportunity to give something back to the profession and has allowed me to grow extensively as an individual.

During my time on BVNA Council so far, I have had the privilege of working alongside extraordinary SVNs and RVNs, and have been a part of many worthwhile projects. It has enabled me to connect with many like-minded veterinary nurses and help influence the direction of our field in areas such as legislative reform.

As I step into my Presidential role, I strive to be a strong voice for our members; advocating our role as veterinary nurses and continuing the driving force of the association to shape the future of our profession.

I have chosen ‘Compassion and Empathy’ as my BVNA Presidential theme because it’s not only what l believe veterinary nursing is about, but they are also values which have guided me throughout my own career as a veterinary nurse.

These two qualities are at the heart of our profession — they shape how we care for our patients, how we support clients, and even how we work alongside each other.

Working as a veterinary oncology nurse has brought these values into even sharper focus for me. Every day, I see the importance of not just delivering excellent clinical care, but doing so with compassion and empathy. This allows me to meet patients and their families with comfort, trust, and empathy during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

These values aren’t just for others – they are for us too. As a profession, we face emotional and physical challenges every day. When we show compassion and empathy to ourselves and our colleagues, we create a more supportive, sustainable workplace.

I genuinely believe this theme is essential. I chose it because I’ve lived it, seen its impact, and believe it should be at the centre of how we learn, care, and grow as veterinary nurses. I hope to inspire a culture where kindness continues to be at the core of our profession.