The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has revealed the three finalists vying for Young Vet of the Year 2022 award.
Alison Brough, Kirsty French and Hannah Hunt have been shortlisted for the award, which is supported by Zoetis, and which recognises and celebrates the work, commitment and innovation of vets in the early stages of their career.
The finalists were chosen from more than 100 entrants by the award judges BVA president Malcolm Morley; president of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Melissa Donald; The Lord Trees; and Zoetis national veterinary manager Jonny Lambert.
Last year’s winner of the award, Alex Davies, also contributed to choosing the finalists.
BVA president, Malcolm Morley, said: “With over 100 nominations for this year’s Young Vet of the Year award, it was a tough job to select just three vets for our shortlist.
“These inspiring and dedicated finalists are a credit to the veterinary profession, and we know they have shining careers ahead of them. Congratulations to them all, this is a fantastic achievement, and they should be very proud.”
President of RCVS, Melissa Donald, added: “I am continually amazed at the calibre and scope of the entries which made it an incredible challenge but as they say, the cream always rises to the top and we have three exceptional finalists.”
Alison Brough
Brough (pictured top) has been nominated for making a significant difference to the lives of aquatic animals; for creating strong, positive relationships with clients; and for making a difference through her work as a fish vet.
Raised in a farming family, Alison’s heart was set on becoming a vet from as early as she can remember. In 2017, she realised her ambition, graduated from the University of Liverpool and embarked on several years of farm animal practice.
In 2022, Alison took on the new role of fish vet with Scottish Sea Farms, the country’s second-largest producer of Atlantic salmon, where she is focused on equipping those who work most directly with farmed fish with the skills and knowledge to deliver the best care.
Kirsty French
French has been nominated for excelling at her clinical work as a small-animal vet, co-leading her practice’s environmental strategy and becoming a member of the Vets4Pets sustainability strategy steering group.
French graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2019, afterwhich she began work at Milton Keynes Vet4Pets, where her passion for sustainability has pushed the practice to reduce its carbon footprint, waste and anaesthetic gas usage.
She now lives in Milton Keynes and is currently in the process of completing the Improve International Accelerated Emergency and Critical Care Programme.
Hannah Hunt
From Aberystwyth, Hunt was nominated for her impressive surgical and clinical skills and enthusiasm and positive attitude.
Her dedication to her work as a mixed-animal vet was also highlighted. She tackles farm, equine and small-animal work, and is learning to speak Welsh in order to strengthen relationships with Welsh-speaking clients at her practice in Aberystwyth.
Hunt, who graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2015, has also appeared on national radio giving veterinary advice, and on children’s television to promote being a “big-animal vet”.
She recently got an RCVS certificate in Small Animal Surgery and quickly grasped the skills to perform laparoscopic spay surgery.
