Vetnet People
Kieron Salmon (Chair of National Council)
My involvement with VETNET LLN began 4 years ago. I had recently been appointed Director of Admissions at Liverpool Vet School, and our Vice Chancellor had just launched a ‘Widening Participation’ strategy, so I was invited to attend a regional meeting. What struck me most was the networking and collaboration enthusiasm between FE and HE providers. Over the next 3 years, under the HEFCE funding umbrella this networking and collaboration grew from strength to strength and resulted in numerous excellent resources.
At the end of the 3-year HEFCE funding period there was slight trepidation as to what would happen with VETNET LLN and all the good work it had done. It was decided to transform it into an association, funded by its members. A national council that consisted of an FE and HE representative from each of the UK regions would run this association. I was elected as the North West representative and at the first national council, elected as chair. I’m thoroughly supportive of the VETNET LLN cause, and more than happy to help steer it through its transition year.
After a very successful annual conference I am pleased and honoured to report that the association has continued gaining strength, and this is all down to the continued enthusiasm and support from its members. I hope you will find something here to entice you to join the association, and I look forward to working with you in promoting vocational learners into veterinary and animal-related professions.
Steve Leonard, BVSc, MRCVS (Honorary President)
"I consider myself very lucky to have the opportunity to work in the veterinary profession. My passion for animal welfare and the natural world has been the driving force behind my career choices. I also understand that I was fortunate to thrive in the traditional academic system allowing me to follow the usual pathway from school, to university and beyond. However over the years I have met many similar passionate people who have struggled to break into careers working with animals despite demonstrating the clear ability and commitment that such jobs require. VETNET LLN provides a framework for those students who possess the vocational ambition for work in this sector to find the route that suits them to achieve their goals."
Paul Probyn (Honorary Secretary)
Paul Probyn is Head of Academic Development at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), which is part of the University of London and the UK’s only stand-alone veterinary school. Together with Jon Parry, the RVC’s Head of Widening Participation and Community Engagement, Paul conceived the original proposal to establish a national lifelong learning network in the veterinary and related professions, and successfully bid to HEFCE for funding to turn this ambition into reality. VETNET LLN was a logical extension of the RVC’s widening participation mission, which had already resulted in the creation of the pan-London AimHigher partnership in Health-related Professions, led by the RVC.
Paul is now a co-opted member of the VETNET LLN Association National Council, working closely with the Association’s officers and the National Office to help ensure that VETNET LLN continues to make the successful transition from HEFCE-funded project to subscription-based association. Prior to joining the RVC in 1995, Paul worked at Queen Mary, the University of Westminster, Kuwait University, and Birmingham City University.
