Role models: International Women & Girls in Science Day
Meet some of the amazing women working at our global projects!
International Day of Women and Girls in Science is taking place on 11th February to celebrate the achievements of women and girls in science.
To mark the occasion, we are spotlighting amazing women working at our global projects, which may just get you thinking about your own future! We caught up with them to ask them what advice they would give to young girls interested in the veterinary field.
Did you know that women in the veterinary field hold a diverse range of jobs?
As a vet or vet nurse your role doesn’t have to be in a vet clinic, there are lots of different jobs that you can hold! At WVS, we have women running our outreach projects, working with universities to train veterinary students, or running our Mission Rabies campaigns!
You don’t even need to be a vet or vet nurse to work in the world of animals. There are plenty of other jobs you can have and still work with animals! Keep reading to see what some of the women at WVS do!
Julie, Direction of Animal Welfare Mission Rabies India.
Julie is a registered veterinary nurse and supports with all things animal welfare at Mission Rabies India. Julie oversees vaccination campaigns, holds training on the best way to catch animals for vaccinations, and is continuously working to improve animal welfare within the communities which we work.
“Pursue your passion and study hard! Whether you want to become a veterinary surgeon or a veterinary nurse, it is a career that can lead to so many amazing opportunities at home and abroad. Being able to make a difference to the lives of animals (and their guardians) makes all the hard work worthwhile!”
Erika, Lead Surgeon South America.
Erika is a veterinary surgeon at our clinic in the Galapagos Islands, and also organises our sterilisation campaigns in South America, while working with universities to help train future vets.
“Focus. You are smart, strong, and capable. If what you really want is to be a veterinarian, put in the effort, fight for it, study hard, and believe in yourself. Remember that Veterinary Medicine is a profession that requires a lot of effort and sacrifice, but if you do it with your heart, the reward is wonderful.”
Hannah, International Nursing Taskforce Manager.
Hannah is a veterinary nurse who assists with our outreach projects and manages our WVS Veterinary Nursing Programme – this is where we have vet nurses travelling between all the WVS centres worldwide to support the teams!
“If that’s your passion, then go for it! Parts of the journey won’t be easy, and your studies will be hard work but don’t give up. Working in the veterinary field is a special and rewarding career path.”
Fran, International Project Manager.
Fran manages and develops our rabies vaccination campaigns in areas where rabies cases are high around the globe – protecting the dogs who are vaccinated, but also all the people they live alongside!
“Veterinary science is a dynamic and rewarding field where you can make a real difference to the lives of animals and people. My advice would be to seek out opportunities to gain hands-on experience within the animal welfare sector outside of your own country. Look for organisations with excellent reputations whose work aligns with your values.”
Courtnie, Clinical Operations Manager Malawi.
Courtnie is a veterinary nurse who treats and cares for patients at our clinic in Malawi, while also running the clinic and animal shelter.
“If you have a caring nature and love animals it's one of the best, most rewarding jobs I think you can find. It's not always easy and can be really hard work both physically and emotionally but knowing you are making a difference makes it all worth it.”
Amy, International Project Manager.
Vet Amy runs our dog rabies vaccination campaigns in hotspot areas in South East Asia. This includes delivering mega projects like our 2024 Cambodia drive where over 200,000 doggies were vaccinated in two weeks!
“Get as much practical experience with animals under your belt as possible. Also, travel and experience many different cultures and meet people with different backgrounds to yourself. Empathy is a huge part of your role as a veterinarian and being able to see how others view and experience the world is a really important part of this.”
Dagmar, Director of Malawian Operations.
Dagmar is a vet and oversees all of our operations in Malawi, our busy veterinary clinic and Mission Rabies projects. She also supports national parks in Malawi with wildlife and conservation work!
“Believe in yourself and follow your dreams!! Visit vet practices and understand what this job means, including the parts that might seem very hard, for example putting down animals, working very long hours, etc. Talk to your vet when you visit and ask about the biggest challenges of their job and ask if you can come and volunteer during your holidays.”
Anahita, Taskforce and Lead Clinic Vet WVS Hicks.
Anahita, a vet at our clinic in India, treats and cares for animals in need and helps to organise outreach projects to reach even more animals.
“I encourage young girls to channel their compassion in the right direction and pursue their dreams. The veterinary field is vast and brimming with opportunities for everyone. I also recommend volunteering with an animal charity, as it provides invaluable hands-on experience and a deeper understanding of the field.”
Thank you to all of you for taking time out of your busy lives to talk to us!
Young animal lovers, now we leave you with a final important thought, as vet Erika explains why it's important to find a job you love!
“Being able to work doing what you love is a great privilege. But if, in addition, you can do that work and make the world a better place by helping those in need, you are very fortunate.”
How to become a vet or vet nurse
We have some helpful information for any young animal lovers who wants to purse a veterinary career!
If you have any questions about working in the field of veterinary science and animal welfare, do reach out to us! We always love hearing from our superstar Young Vets who are passionate about making the world a better place for animals.
