Set amid landscaped gardens beside the River Avon, VMG Congress will take place at the Crowne Plaza in Stratford upon Avon on the 8-9 June 2023.
The congress welcomes all veterinary professionals working in or with a future in leadership and management and aims to inspire delegates to develop themselves, their teams and their businesses.
With places at the congress filling fast, what are the key reasons for attending, and how will VMG Congress provide something new for veterinary professionals?
Benefits of attending VMG Congress 2023
Six conference streams
With a vision to ‘bring about a happy and healthy veterinary world that benefits from excellent leadership and management’, VMG has identified six key areas that are critical to achieving effective leadership. These six areas have created a highly practical programme that will equip delegates to deliver immediate tangible outcomes for their practice and their teams.
Across six engaging streams, delegates can develop their: purpose, people, place, clients, self, future.
Personal development
Being able to help others develop is vital to being a successful leader, but how much time do those in leadership roles spend prioritising their own self-care? At congress, delegates can concentrate on themselves and support their personal development in the “Our Self” stream, including sessions:
- ‘How to manage your personal finances: taxes, savings, and pensions’ with financial advisor Ruth Downs, who will also be available for mini-consultations all day.
- ‘How to manage your own time and energy’ with Liz Somerville, director at Loch Leven Equine and VMG. Find real-word advice on staying on top of schedules and staying away from being overwhelmed.
- ‘When the going gets tough: how to boost your personal resilience’ with qualified nurse and MHFA trainer Helen Hannar, who will help turn negative thoughts into positives.
Supportive community network
Leadership can be isolating, but attending VMG Congress will reveal a cohort of individuals who share in similar experiences, trials and tribulations.
Whether attending as an individual or with a group, VMG promises a welcoming environment where networking opportunities are in abundance. Not only will those in attendance have the chance to meet veterinary professionals from across the UK, they will have the opportunity to discover who is from their very own region.
In the “Our People” stream, sessions will also cover the importance of supporting those who look up to leaders, including:
- ‘Supporting neurodivergent staff’ with Kirstie Pickles, clinical assistant professor in equine medicine at Nottingham Vet School, who will demonstrate simple and reasonable changes to ensure everyone feels welcome.
- ‘The Kindness Project: instilling a culture of kindness in your whole team’ with Gillian Sandstrom, senior lecturer in the psychology of kindness at the University of Sussex.
- ‘Debriefing your team after a challenging or emotional event in practice’ with Amy Martin from Magnolia Coaching and Holly House Vets
New experiences
For several years the VMG held successful joint congresses with SPVS, but the partnership ended in 2021 to enable both associations to focus on supporting the specific needs of their own members.
VMG director Liz Somerville said: “We asked our members what they would like and the word we heard over and over again was ‘different’. They wanted to hear from different voices – including those from outside the veterinary sector; they wanted to learn in different ways.
“One thing didn’t change though – they were keen to have some fun when the learning was over!”
Alongside the more traditional keynote presentations, the VMG team is mixing up learning formats, offering discussion-based seminars and practical workshops, including important sessions, such as:
- Suicide Prevention Training Workshop with Kevin Moore and Bob Kitchin from Big Dog Little Dog, and Sherry Adams, psychotherapist and Samaritans listener from We Mind and Kelly Matters, who will also be available for the rest of the day if anyone would like to talk.
Exciting social calendar
In a bid to deliver on social elements as well as professional, the congress will hold an extensive social calendar, including:
- Welcome Networking Drinks and Canapes for those arriving the night before congress, offering the chance to meet others in a relaxed environment before the event takes place.
- Walk & Talk Session along the River Avon to re-energise and absorb learnings from congress while surrounded by nature.
- A President’s Party and Dinner that will be a night to remember, with a sit-down three-course meal and exhilarating live music from the Bogus Brothers party band.
Inspiring future leaders
Those currently in leadership roles are encouraged to invite future leaders to be inspired to develop their own abilities.
To allow as many people as possible to benefit from the opportunities at congress, VMG has low-income tickets available for roles such as administrators, reception team (excluding managers), client care team (excluding managers), nurse and vet students.
To find out more about VMG Congress, including ticket pricing and all programme details, click the button below.
Leave a Reply