Claire Speight RVN, A1, C&G Cert VNES
Claire qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2007, gaining the C&G cert of Nursing Exotics in 2009. After this, Claire completed her A1 Assessors qualification, and then Clinical Coach qualification, and trains students within practice.
Claire works as a Head Nurse at a busy first opinion practice, and lectures to veterinary professionals and owners on rabbit health, welfare and care. She has lectured at BSAVA Congress, BVNA Congress and regional events, CAW, Aspire CPD, Excel CPD, Bottle Green Training, The Webinar Vet, and VetNurse Online.
Claire is also a regular contributor to several publications including VNJ and Vetstreams LAPIS and exotic services and editor of the Rabbit Welfare Associations magazine, Rabbiting On.
Jo Hinde RVN
LagoLearn
Jo has worked in the veterinary industry since 2007 and has always had a special interest in rabbits. She owns and runs LagoLearn, which provides rabbit specific CPD in the UK and internationally. She also spends a significant amount of voluntary time working with organisations and charities to highlight animal welfare and is proud have been the President of the British Veterinary Nursing Association in 2020/2021. Jo has received several awards over the years including the Blue Cross Veterinary Nurse of the Year in 2014, an RCVS Innovation Award winner in 2017 and the IFAW Animal Advocate Award in 2017.
Mary Fraser BVMS PhD MResCVR MAcadMEd CBiol FRSB FHEA FRCVS
Girling & Fraser Ltd
Mary has over 20 years' experience in veterinary nursing education/research, teaching at FE and HE levels. She was co-founder of the City & Guilds Certificate in Vet Nursing of Exotics and helped set up the City & Guilds Certificate Vet Nursing in Emergency and Critical Care. She currently leads the Research and Evidence Based Veterinary Nursing Module on the MSc in Advanced Veterinary Nursing Practice at Glasgow University and runs the Advanced Programme in Veterinary Nursing of Zoo, Wildlife & Exotics for Girling & Fraser Ltd. She has published over 80 papers/articles on a variety of vet nursing topics.
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.
Rosie Bescoby BSc (Hons), PGDipCABC, CCAB
Pet Sense
Rosie Bescoby is registered as both a Clinical Animal Behaviourist and Animal Training Instructor with the Animal Behaviour and Training Council. Based in Bristol and North Somerset, Rosie works with dogs, cats and rabbits and their owners. She has worked in rescue, is a guest lecturer for vet nurses, vet students and training & behaviour students, provides staff training for veterinary practices and has worked with various brands including Lily’s Kitchen, Pure Pet Food, Adaptil, Feliway and Zylkene. Rosie is Press & Media Officer for the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors and has been featured in various magazines, on TV and radio.
