The lead-up to any big event for which you feel responsible is always stressful, but I should never have worried! The team at BEVA is so used to running our congress year after year that they are like a well-oiled machine. However, when you see the preparations “up close”, so to speak, it is both impressive and daunting. Our congress costs the best part of a million pounds to run and isn’t based around generating a profit, so should the congress fail it would wipe out most of our reserves – certainly a fact that focuses the mind.
Most conferences of this size require the services of event organisers to cope with the complexity and this comes at a considerable expense. However, the 16-strong administrative team at the BEVA office, led by Debbie Wylie and Jos Thompson, all pull together to produce a lively and educational event every year which avoids such an expense, and this year was no exception.
One Medicine
Partly because of my interest in ‘One Medicine’, the perceived benefits of comparing the management of diseases in humans and animals, we included several human medical practitioners in the speaker line-up
While the overall format remained the same – an impressive five-stream programme – we “experimented” with a few new things this year. Partly because of my interest in “One Medicine”, the perceived benefits of comparing the management of diseases in humans and animals, we included several human medical practitioners in the speaker line-up. I was honoured and immensely grateful that they all agreed to give up their time to speak at the congress without demanding a fee. I was uncertain as to how well the human angle would be received because most people come to congress for CPD related to their day-to-day work. However, I think they delivered interesting and relevant information to the delegates. In a world where it is all too easy to complain rather than be complimentary, it was pleasing to hear unsolicited comments from a number of people that they really enjoyed those presentations.
Congress in the year of the Olympics
The other unusual aspect of congress this year was that we had someone unrelated to our profession officially “open” our event. As many of you will be aware, we have had the privilege of our patron, Her Royal Highness Princess Anne, taking on this task on numerous occasions but having had a royal opening in 2023 we were keen not to overload Her Royal Highness’s already intense schedule again this year.
Through my contacts, I met Sally Gunnell, OBE, and was impressed by how easy-going and approachable she was (Figure 1). We had persuaded her to speak at an online BEVA course, “Innovation in Equine Practice”, in November 2023 and I thought she would be a very appropriate person to open our congress, especially in the year of the Olympics. I hope those of you who attended agree that she did a great job and, while not “horsey” (she told me her only time on a horse was when she had a “crash course” from Tim Stockdale on riding for the TV show Only Fools on Horses in aid of Sport Relief in 2006), her message on resilience rings true within our own profession as well as in sport.
While not ‘horsey’… her message on resilience rings true within our own profession as well as in sport
A return to pre-COVID attendance
Having just analysed the data from the conference, attendance was up on pre-COVID Liverpool congress numbers, as were the number of commercial exhibition stands – a key component in making for a vibrant and informative exhibition hall and an affordable congress. Attendance figures didn’t vary hugely until COVID hit, so it’s great to know that both Birmingham and Liverpool are now fully back to being in demand as BEVA venues.
Given my interest in developing our international connections during my presidential year, it was very satisfying to see 49 countries represented at congress (Figure 2).
Another highlight, in my opinion, was our social programme. The Thursday late-night entertainment at Flares was as packed and sweaty as ever, affording the opportunity of many embarrassing photos (especially of our new president!).
On Friday, we held the conference dinner at the venue rather than at St George’s Hall, where it has been in the past, and I was a little worried that this would be less well received as a result. Although the conference hall did not have quite the same majestic architecture, the centre had gone to considerable lengths to make the space very appropriate for a large dinner and Jos’s extra little touches completed the picture. It was sold out and the now-perennial appearance of “The Kings”, fast becoming a go-to band at many veterinary events, again produced a great set list that was enjoyed by all, judging from the heaving dance floor.
We desperately need to encourage more veterinary students to consider going into equine practice, and so it was great to meet such an enthusiastic bunch, who are passionate about our branch of the profession
One extra thank you I would like to give is to our student stewards, ably overseen by Professor Derek Knottenbelt. We desperately need to encourage more veterinary students to consider going into equine practice, and so it was great to meet such an enthusiastic bunch, who are passionate about our branch of the profession.
