Could you introduce yourself to our members?
I’m Gemma and I’m a vet, technically a grown-up vet as I graduated more than ten years ago! I’ve spent my career exploring the many roles within small animal practice – senior vet, mentor, clinical director, locum and occasional chaos co-ordinator. I’ve always been drawn to helping others grow, whether that’s clients, colleagues or the profession itself. I joined the VMG in 2022 wanting to contribute to something that reached further than one practice and it’s been inspiring to meet so many thoughtful, passionate people who care deeply about making practice life better for everyone.
Tell us a bit about your day job and what you find most rewarding.
As a veterinary business consultant, I work with forward-thinking practices and people who genuinely want to do right by their teams, clients and, of course, their patients. The best moments are when an idea clicks, when someone realises they really can do the thing they didn’t think they could, or when someone I’m working with reflects on how much they’ve achieved without even noticing along the way. No two days are the same, which keeps me energised, and I love the blend of business strategy and human psychology that makes this work so rewarding.
Do you have a ‘proudest moment’ you could tell us about?
There are so many small wins that make me proud – seeing a team embrace new leadership ideas, or an individual grow in confidence and capability. On a personal level, I get quite nervous about public speaking, so when someone told me a talk I’d given was the most engaging session within a big multi-stream event, I stood a little taller for the rest of the day. It’s something I remind myself of whenever the nerves start up again.
Why did you volunteer to join the VMG board?
I wanted to give something back to a profession that’s given me so much. We’re part of such a caring, compassionate industry, and being involved in an organisation that helps that care translate into good leadership and thriving teams just made sense. It’s also a privilege to work alongside brilliant people – and, yes, occasionally to talk about spreadsheets without too many eye-rolls.
You’re the VMG’s treasurer – what does this involve?
As Finance Director, I keep an eye on our spending and investments – basically making sure we’re being sensible so the VMG can keep doing its great work for years to come. I handle budgets, payments and forecasting – and I do genuinely love a spreadsheet. I sometimes joke that I’m the ‘fun police’, but really it’s about making sure we can fund the fun sustainably.
What one piece of advice would you give to members looking to develop their leadership skills?
‘Leaders are made, not born’ really is true. Leadership isn’t about titles or big gestures – it’s about small, consistent actions like checking in with your team, modelling the behaviours you want to see, and showing genuine appreciation. Keep learning, stay curious, and don’t wait until you feel “ready” – just start and grow as you go and know that we all mess up sometimes. We are human after all.
What do you enjoy doing outside work?
I live in the Oxfordshire countryside, so you’ll often find me walking my Labrador along the Thames – usually with a pub somewhere on the route. I’m a bit of a bookworm and love getting lost in a good story, and I have a soft spot for old-school video games and a strong cup of tea.
