Jack Pye RVN
Jack began his career in a “first opinion” practice, where he developed a passion for progression. After successfully qualifying in 2018 he decided to pursue a new challenge at a small animal hospital in Norfolk and worked solely in an emergency and critical care setting out of hours; which is an area he enjoys. He is now a full-time locum veterinary nurse.
Jack is particularly keen for continuous personal and professional development, in which he has developed a passion to support other veterinary professionals to grow and enhance their skill sets. He has a specialist interest in ultrasonography and currently is an IMV Imaging ambassador and vet nurse consultant speaker. Alongside this, he also provides inhouse ultrasound training for veterinary professionals.
He regularly shares his experiences and new learnings by engaging with others on his social media platforms @Pye_rvn with the hope of encouraging and supporting others' professional development and skills.
Nicola Lakeman MSc BSc (Hons) RVN CertSAN CertVNECC VTS (Nutrition)
Plymouth Veterinary Group
Nicola works as the Head Medical Nurse at Plymouth Veterinary Group. She 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. She is also one of the Consultant Editors for The Veterinary Nurse.
Nicola has recently gained her Master’s degree in Advanced Veterinary Nursing with Glasgow University.
Meg Richards FdSc RVN, Canine Hydrotherapist
Meg is an RVN and Canine Hydrotherapist working in a busy referral practice in Cornwall.
She is passionate about inpatient care, rehabilitation and emergency and critical care, but also about aiding student learning and revision.
Meg loves imparting knowledge and has found a real love for lecturing and creating revision content, including webinars and revision packs, on her Instagram platform @megthervn.
When not working, you will find Meg exploring the Cornish coastline with her spaniel, Maisie.

Liz Somerville BSc (Hons) PgCert VBM
Loch Leven Equine Practice
Liz Somerville is the Managing Director and one of the founding partners at Loch Leven Equine Practice. The practice has grown from a one vet ambulatory practice to a thriving team of 17 people, working from a purpose-built clinic with full surgical facilities.
In 2018 Liz completed her Post Graduate Certificate in Veterinary Business Management with distinction. She is also a director and board member for the Veterinary Management Group and a director of a new digital membership start up.
Liz is passionate about our people and the veterinary industry and has a particular interest in people, their behaviours and how we can create the right environment for them to thrive.
Kirsty Jones RVN Cert Ed
The College of Animal Welfare
Kirsty qualified as a Veterinary Nurse in 1997 whilst working in a mixed practice in South Wales and studying at Berkshire College of Agriculture. She then progressed to train as an assessor and actively trained and coached members of staff to obtain excellent customer service skills and practical nursing techniques.
After ten years in practice, in 2002, she made the move into Further Education; where she was managing and teaching on courses such as the Veterinary Nursing, Animal Care, Equine and Agriculture. This provided Kirsty with the opportunity to demonstrate and show her strengths in supporting others to achieve their goals in life within the Veterinary Industry.
In 2005, Kirsty gained a certificate in Education and then went on to gain internal verifier and examiner qualifications.
Kirsty joined The College of Animal Welfare as a distance learning tutor in 2012 and in 2022, progressed to Deputy Manager for the Distance Learning School. This role involves working closely with the Head of Distance Learning in supporting over 400 Level 2 learners.
Whatever her role, Kirsty’s only goal has always been to be the best she can be. She finds her current role both challenging and wonderful! She provides educational support to assessors, tutors, employers and students; whilst problem solving and sourcing activities to develop learning in the Distance Learning School.
Iain Price PhD
VDS Training
Iain Price (PhD) is a doctor of neuroscience and now a life and performance coach and experienced trainer with VDS Training.
Iain’s passion is in unlocking and elevating people’s thinking to release them to be the change they need and want to be. He recently co-authored a wellbeing and habits book to encourage and enable people to have greater agency in their own happiness.
When speaking, Iain combines psychology and neuroscience with healthy doses of common sense and ‘real life’.
Iain grew up working on a farm and volunteering in veterinary care on the Welsh borders and in his spare time, he really enjoys long dog walks.