RCVS Presidents' podcast kickstarts archives diversity initiatives

Two Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Presidents feature in the first of a new podcast series from RCVS Knowledge, which forms part of new initiatives calling for veterinary professionals to help expand the diversity of the RCVS official archives.

RCVS Knowledge’s new podcast series ‘For the Record’, launches today with a conversation between Amanda Boag and Mandisa Greene, the eighth and ninth female Presidents in the College’s 175-year history, who discuss their careers, their journey into the RCVS Council, and their views on diversity and representation. The podcast series aims to amplify various underrepresented voices within the professions, and will also form part of the archive to inform future generations.

The charity also plans to expand the diversity of the professionals represented in the historical records of the RCVS, in particular Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic vets and vet nurses whose experiences and contributions to the professions are not well reflected in the current collections. Vets, vet nurses and other allied professionals, from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in the official record, are encouraged to contact the Archives team at RCVS Knowledge to share experiences and information about their veterinary careers, or the careers of their friends and families, both past and present.

Lorna Cahill Bannister, Archivist at RCVS Knowledge, who is heading up the initiative, said, “Our archives hold the official record of the veterinary professions in the UK, but there are huge gaps in the story relating to the contribution and experiences of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic veterinary professionals. To address this, we are actively encouraging individuals to get in touch with us to share information and experiences. We are also working in partnership with individuals and organisations, including the British Veterinary Ethnicity and Diversity Society, to ensure that these voices, and those of many other historically less well represented groups, no longer go unheard.”

Amanda Boag, who is also currently the Chair of RCVS Knowledge’s Board of Trustees, said “When I was the President of the RCVS, one of my main priorities was to open up, sometimes difficult, conversations about diversity within the professions. RCVS Knowledge understands the importance of providing underrepresented individuals with a platform to share their experiences, and I know that this approach will be really valuable for the past, present and future of our professions.”

Mandisa Greene, the current President of the RCVS, said, “I am really happy to see RCVS Knowledge taking the initiative to open up space for people from diverse backgrounds to share their stories and experiences in working in the veterinary professions. As the President of the RCVS, I have a platform to lead discussions about the future of our professions, and I strongly encourage others to get involved in this initiative, to keep the conversation going and demonstrate to the younger generations looking up at our professions that their voices will be heard.”

If you have relevant information or testimonies to share, please contact [email protected]

‘For the Record – Mandisa Greene and Amanda Boag’ is available to listen to now at http://bit.ly/FortheRecord-podcast