News & Views
Scottish Sea Farms vet nominated for BVA Young Vet of the Year award

Alison Brough, fish veterinarian at Scottish Sea Farms, is one of three finalists for a presitigious Young Vet of the Year award from the British Veterinary Association (BVA).

The BVA Young Vet of the Year award, sponsored by Zoetis, aims to celebrate an exceptional young vet who leads, inspires, and goes above and beyond what is expected of them early on in their career. More than 100 nominations were received from across the United Kingdom, in all fields of the profession.

The winner will receive £1,000 (US$1,100) in prize money, one year of free BVA membership, mentoring and engagement opportunity with Zoetis, and other career development opportunities. The winner will be announced Nov. 17 at a BVA gala dinner at the London Marriott Hotel in Canary Wharf.

“To be shortlisted as finalist for the BVA Young Vet of the Year, and help represent that passion and commitment, is an absolute honour, one that I hope will also help raise awareness of aquaculture as a career path for fellow and budding veterinarians,” said Brough in a press statement.

Brough joined the Scottish Sea Farms team in February this year. Before joining the world of aquaculture, Brough graduated from the University of Liverpool School of Veterinary Science in 2017 and began her career as a veterinary surgeon at Ark Vet Centre Ltd. She then spent a few years as a veterinarian at Beth Newman Vets.

Ronnie Soutar, head of Veterinary Services at Scottish Sea Farms, who nominated Brough for the award, said, “Alison very quickly showed an impressive ability to translate not only her new fish knowledge but also her solid grasp of veterinary basic principles into practical advice to farm staff. On her own initiative, Alison has taken over responsibility for fine-tuning and delivering fish health training at farm level, personally delivering training modules on a regular basis.”

The BVA Young Vet of the Year award, sponsored by Zoetis, aims to celebrate an exceptional young vet who leads, inspires, and goes above and beyond what is expected of them early on in their career. Award nominations are open to all young vets in the first eight years after graduation, and who are on the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons register. The winner must show their work has made a difference.