Elli Kalemtzaki, DVM, Certified Coach & NLP Practitioner

With 20 years in the veterinary industry and veterinary marketing in a region of 18 markets and extensive experience in coaching and leading workshops across Central Europe and the Middle East, Elli is passionate about helping veterinary professionals break out of the busy trap, create a more profitable veterinary practice, secure lifelong clients, and enjoy a work life balance.

Elli is a graduate of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and holds a postgraduate degree from the National School of Public Health in Athens, Greece. She is also a Professional Coach certified by Adler International, Toronto, Canada since 2010 and a Certified Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic programming since 2012. For more information about her work please visit www.vetconsultancy.com

Gudrun Ravetz – BVSc MRCVS

Gudrun Ravetz is a Past President of the British Veterinary Association and of the Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons.  Gudrun has had a portfolio career including as a clinician, working in industry, management, as a veterinary consultant and as a Non-Executive Director.  Gudrun has also completed a graduate diploma in law. Gudrun is particularly focussed on the workforce challenges of the profession and ways in which this and veterinary working environments can be improved and was recently the chair of the BVA’s Good Workplace Working Group.

When not working on various things vetty she is happiest in the middle of nowhere running, biking or swimming.

Makenzie Peterson, MSc

As a member of their program leadership team, Makenzie Peterson serves as the Director for Wellbeing at the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC). She works to advance AAVMC’s strategic goal of fostering a culture of wellbeing throughout academic veterinary medicine by promoting preventative systems-based initiatives. Makenzie provides subject-matter expertise on the science and application of evidence-based wellbeing practices, as well as the development and implementation of strategic organizational changes to improve the overall wellbeing of academic communities. She speaks on a variety of wellbeing-related topics across the profession to drive positive change.

Makenzie Peterson’s previous roles included being a health specialist for a joint MIT/Harvard-sponsored start-up located in Harvard Business School’s Innovation Lab focused on educating college students on health topics, and at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine as their first Wellbeing Program Director creating community wellbeing initiatives for students, staff, and faculty. She served on the Wellbeing Committee for the New York State Veterinary Medical Society, and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Women’s Veterinary Leadership Development Initiative.

Born and raised in Alaska, Makenzie graduated from the University of Utah with a master’s degree in Health Promotion & Health Education and will complete her Doctorate of Social Work from the University of Southern California in 2022.

Torill Moseng,Vice-President, Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE)

Torill is a small animal practitioner, educated in Oslo, Norway. She became an exchange student in Ghent, Belgium, before working and owning two clinics in Oslo Norway for the past 20 years, mostly carrying out surgery and dental work.

Torill has been President for the Small Animal Practitioners Norwegian organization from 2004 – 2007, a Board member of Norwegian Veterinary association NVA  from 2008 – 2014, Vice President of UEVP from 2013 – 2017, General secretary for UEVP from 2017 – 2019.

She has been NVA President since 2014, a Delegate for FVE, UEVP  since 2007 and FVE Vice-President since 2019.

Torill has also worked in Live TV as a professional in Good Morning Norway for 22 years

When Vet and Veterinary Practice Business consultant, Elli Kalemtzaki carried out an on-line survey of women in the profession ahead of a presentation she will give at WSAVA/FECAVA Congress, she was amazed by the range of responses.  Some respondents  reported perceived gender bias from employees and pet owners, others asked why she was raising this at all as, in their opinion, ‘it was no longer an issue’.   In the UK, research commissioned by the British Veterinary Association, just a couple of years ago, presented two CVs of vets to veterinary leaders, male and female, identical except for gender.  The responses suggested a surprising level of bias in a country where there is now a very high percentage of female vets.   In the US, recent research has shown a gender pay gap across the veterinary profession.  Add to that reports that women’s career equality has suffered significantly during the pandemic.  So do we still need to talk about women in the veterinary profession?  There is no doubt that across the world the number of women in the profession is increasing, so how are business owners and employers going to attract and retain the best vets for their practice?  And how can women themselves ensure the profession works for them as well as ensuring they best serve the profession.  Elli Kalemtzaki will summarise her survey  findings, Gudrun Ravetz, ex-President of BVA will cover that research and Makenzie Peterson will report from the US.  Torill Moseng will give a pan European perspective as well as chairing questions and comments from the audience.