Alexandra Taylor RVN CertSAN ISFM Dip&AdvCertFB
The Cat Nurse
Alex qualified as a veterinary nurse in 1997 and has completed the ISFM feline nursing certificate, diploma, and advanced certificate in feline behaviour. She has a particular interest in feline nutrition, behaviour, and stress related diseases in feline patients.
Alex is currently studying towards gaining her advanced diploma in applied animal behaviour (feline) and is hoping to achieve the Animal Behaviour Technician qualification in the next few years.
She currently works part-time in first opinion practice and also runs her own company ‘The Cat Nurse’ where she offers CPD about feline nursing and behaviour. Alex is a volunteer for her local Cats Protection branch and has been a BVNA Council Member since October 2018, as well as being a member of the International Cat Care Feline Wellbeing Panel.
Dr Marge Chandler DVM, MS, MANZCVS, DACVIM (Small Animal Medicine and Nutrition), MRCVS
Vets Now
Dr Marge Chandler is an independent consultant in small animal nutrition and internal medicine, ClinicaI Nutritionist for Vets-Now Referrals in Glasgow, and lnternal Medicine Specialist for Moorview Referrals in Newcastle.
She has a BS from California State University, an MS (Animal Nutrition) and DVM from Colorado State University (CSU).
After several years in mixed practice, Marge did residencies in small animal medicine and nutrition at CSU and Massey University, NZ.
She is a diplomate of ACVIM (Small Animal Medicine and Nutrition), a member of ANZCVS (SAM), Chair of the FEDTAF Scientific Advisory Committee, founding member of the European Veterinary Nutrition Educators Group, and Co-Chair of the WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee.
Katie McCaul BSc VN ANutR DipNat
The Pet Diet and Raw Feeding Veterinary Society
Katie qualified in 1998 and became Head nurse in a 3 branch mixed practice. Katie's time in practice taught her many skills including running clinics, dealing with company representatives, tricky clients and a team of nurses and vets. She very much enjoyed her role as an NVQ assessor teaching the trainee Vet nurses.
After leaving practice Katie was lucky enough to complete a BSc in Animal Behaviour and Physiology. This taught her about the evolutionary path our domesticated pets had been on and how innate behaviour and physiology are the key to happiness and health. Since university she has taught on the VN degree program, worked with Wiltshire Wildlife trust, and returned to practice part time.
Katie's recent role as research and development manager at a Pet Food Company, has been an education into the pet food industry. Leading her to achieve a diploma in Naturopathy, use diet formulation software and run a research project. She is now a self employed consultant in pet nutrition with world wide commercial and owner clients. Katie is passionate about supporting Veterinary nurses in practice and providing unbiased balance education to enable informed choices for clients.
Matthew Rendle RVN
The Association of Zoo and Exotic Veterinary Nurses (AZEVN)
In 1994 he was made Senior Theatre Nurse. He left in 2003 to pursue his interest in zoo and wildlife nursing at the Zoological Society of London. Matthew left the Zoo in April 2017 to look for new challenges within exotic and wildlife nursing.
Matt has experience in the nursing care for many species from ants to elephants (and most things in-between) and has been fortunate to travel as part of his roles.
Matt has been recognised for his managerial skills and in 2020 was awarded The Bruce Vivash Jones Veterinary Nursing award by the BSAVA, as recognition for outstanding contribution to advancement of small animal veterinary nursing.
He lectures throughout Europe and America to veterinary nursing and veterinary surgeon undergraduates as part of their core modules on topics such as the husbandry and welfare of exotic species and some areas of zoo and wildlife diagnostic imaging and anaesthesia.
Matt has completed a three-year term on the British Veterinary Nursing Association Council, which allowed him to help promote and raise the profile of veterinary nursing in the UK and is currently an elected member of the RCVS Veterinary Nursing council, working on many aspects of progressing and elevating the veterinary nursing profession.
Nicola Lakeman MSc BSc(Hons) RVN CertSAN CertVNECC VTS(Nutrition)
Plymouth Veterinary Group
Nicola works as the Head Medical Nurse at Plymouth Veterinary Group. Nicola graduated from Hartpury College with an honours degree in Equine Science, and subsequently qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2002. Nicola has written for many veterinary publications and textbooks and is the editor of Aspinall’s Complete Textbook of Veterinary Nursing. Nicola is one of the Consultant Editors for The Veterinary Nurse. Nicola has recently gained her Master’s degree in Advanced Veterinary Nursing with Glasgow University.
