The BVNA has unveiled the winners of its 2026 awards.
Katie Vokes, Head RVN at Beaumont Veterinary Centres in Oxfordshire, was named ‘RVN of the Year’ at the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA) Congress.
Katie, who was nominated by a colleague, was described as “one of those leaders people naturally turn to — steady, supportive, and always focused on helping others feel capable and valued.”
They added: “She pushed herself beyond her comfort zone time and time again, simply because she cares. She’s inspiring — not in a loud way, but in the steady, dependable way that changes teams for the better.”
Katie took home The Jean Turner Award, which celebrates a veterinary nurse who has gone above and beyond to show compassion and empathy towards patients, clients, or colleagues. Other finalists in the running for the award were Evie Tummon, RVN at Glebe Veterinary Surgery, Cornwall, and Katie Sumner-Walker, RVN at Manchester Cat Clinic, Greater Manchester.
The BVNA presented its annual awards on Friday 9 October, recognising individuals within the profession who have supported others with compassion and empathy.
Additional awards handed out on the night included The Jennifer Townson Award — SVN of the Year, which was bestowed to Hannah Chapman, SVN at Rase Veterinary Centre, Lincolnshire. Hannah was described by her colleague as having “an extraordinary ability to connect with both animals and people during vulnerable moments.”
They added: “Whether comforting a frightened patient, supporting an anxious owner, or helping colleagues during demanding days, Hannah brings kindness, reassurance, and calm to every situation. She understands veterinary nursing is not only about clinical skills – it is about compassion, trust, and being there when it matters most.”
The awards also saw Gemma Farrell, practice manager at Warren House Veterinary Centre, West Midlands, win The Des Thompson Award — Veterinary Team Member of the Year. Amy Morton scooped VNJ Writer of the Year for her paper entitled ‘The importance of quality-of-life assessments for senior patients’, which was published in the Veterinary Nursing Journal.
BVNA President Steph Worsley commented: “It was an enormous privilege to present this year’s BVNA Awards. The ceremony gave us a special opportunity to showcase the inspiring people making up the veterinary professions, who all demonstrate compassion and empathy in their work.
“I would like to congratulate all of the deserving nominees, finalists, and winners across all of our award categories. All should feel exceptionally proud of their contributions to the profession, which have gained the recognition of those around them. As always, it was incredibly difficult for our judging panel to shortlist our finalists from so many worthy nominations."
She added: “I would also like to thank all those who took the time to submit a nomination. Being nominated for an award provides an enormous sense of recognition and a boost to so many dedicated individuals working within our profession. The BVNA is proud to do its part to raise awareness of the incredible work carried out by veterinary teams, every single day.”
Image (C) BVNA.
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