Sunday 8th March marks International Women’s Day – a day to celebrate the achievements of incredible women and to help forge a more inclusive world.
It’s a moment to recognise the importance of creating a world that is diverse, equitable and inclusive – where difference is valued, voices are heard, and everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
At VetPartners, we’re proud to be truly international, with talented colleagues from around the globe working across our UK and Ireland practices. Every day, they excel in their roles, inspire those around them and make a meaningful difference for colleagues, clients and patients alike.
Read their inspirational stories here….
Rachelle Biondolillo – Vet, Riverview Vets, County Cork
Leaving behind the noise, hurricanes and political divisions of her native New Orleans, Rachelle embraced the slower pace of rural southern Ireland – and quickly realised her life had changed for the better.
Two years on from that life-enhancing moment when she and husband Bryan packed up their lives in the United States and moved to Clonakilty, a charming and tranquil town in West Cork with a population of just over 5,000 people, Rachelle is loving the change of pace.
She feels right at home at Riverview Vets’ Bandon practice, where she works within a wonderfully diverse community of clients and colleagues, including fellow vets from France and Spain.
As a GP vet who graduated from Louisiana State University 26 years ago, she brings a wealth of skills and experience to the practice.
Rachelle loves the variety the role brings – from dermatology and dentistry to emergency care, radiology and surgery – but the aspect she values most is client education, taking time to guide and support owners so they can make informed decisions about their pets’ health.
That part of her role aligns perfectly with her caring nature and her love of both people and pets – especially cats – enabling her to offer thoughtful advice on preventative healthcare and practical steps to keep them safe and well.
Rachelle describes being part of VetPartners as having a safety net – giving her and her colleagues the confidence to feel empowered, supported and able to thrive.
Being 5,000 miles from where she was born, she especially cherishes the inclusive culture and genuine sense of warmth and belonging she has found.
Rachelle says: “International Women’s Day is an opportunity to support others and ensure that women feel welcome and appreciated no matter where they are in the world.”
Celine Le Rochais – VetPartners Business Development Director
CELINE’S spirit of adventure and desire to travel began with a volunteering trip to a South African game reserve where she helped to care for various species, including lions, cheetahs and reptiles.
It then took her to Congo, where she spent four months cut off from civilisation in one of the world’s most dangerous and unpredictable regions, dedicating herself to looking after orphaned chimpanzees.
After studying for a Masters at the Royal Veterinary College in London as part of the MSc Wild Animal Health Programme, she worked as an exotics and wildlife vet in Canada.
Now Celine, who is originally from Perpignan in the south of France, has settled in the place she is proud to call home – Brighton.
Until recently, she was the inspirational Clinical Director at Coastway Vets, where she had worked since 2016, and she has now stepped into a new role as Business Development Director at VetPartners.
With VetPartners’ support, she completed a postgraduate Diploma in Leadership at the University of Brighton, equipping her with the skills to progress to the next stage of her career.
In her new role, she is excited to help shape the continued success of our practices by coaching and developing senior leaders, driving operational excellence and fostering positive, high-performing cultures. She will act as a vital link between our practices and central support teams, ensuring collaboration is seamless while keeping the VetPartners ethos alive and strong.
Celine’s global perspective, diverse experience and collaborative approach bring fresh thinking and valuable expertise to VetPartners, helping to ensure we continue to champion inclusion, diversity and innovation across our community of vet practices and animal healthcare businesses.
Celine says: “International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on how far I’ve come, and deep gratitude for the journey — the moves, the challenges, and the growth — shaped by the women who came before me and shared every day with those continuing to build, support, and grow together within our profession.”
Sara Perez – Veterinary Director, Poultry Health Services
AS one of the world’s foremost experts in poultry healthcare, Sara travels internationally advising farmers and industry leaders on flock health, biosecurity and welfare standards.
One day she can be in Yorkshire dealing with an outbreak of avian flu; the next she might be meeting with a major supermarket to discuss responsible product sourcing – or even flying to China to speak at a veterinary conference.
Born in Barcelona, Sara also spent a year of her veterinary studies in Milan before building her career in the UK.
She now leads a team of 25 vets and 12 support colleagues across seven branches of PHS, one of the UK’s largest commercial poultry and game bird veterinary practices.
Sara is as passionate about caring for her people as she is about caring for poultry. She describes her practice as “cosmopolitan”, proudly employing poultry vets from Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Colombia, Romania and the UK – a diverse team united by a shared commitment to excellence in poultry health and welfare.
Her breadth of international experience has shaped her into a confident and empathetic leader with strong interpersonal skills. Those qualities were recognised when the practice was named Employer of the Year at the inaugural National Women in Agriculture Awards.
While grateful for the support the practice receives from VetPartners, Sara thrives on the autonomy practice leaders are given to make their own decisions about the right treatment and care for their patients.
Although she has travelled extensively, the culture of warmth and belonging at VetPartners has enabled her to feel truly at home.
Sara says: “International Women’s Day is about women feeling empowered, being treated equally and feeling as if they are heard. In Europe, we take freedom, financial independence and equality for granted, but we know that is not the case for all women so there is still something to be done.”
Bernadine Cardoza – Vet, Westway Vets, Newcastle upon Tyne
Even though she is 4,600 miles away from her family, Bernadine says she has found a true home from home at VetPartners.
Bernadine, who is affectionately known as Bunny, feels a strong sense of family among her colleagues at Westway Vets in Newcastle, where the warmth and support of the team have helped her settle into life in the UK.
Born and raised in Abu Dhabi to parents originally from Mumbai, Bunny moved to the UK to study veterinary medicine at the University of Edinburgh.
In the third year of her degree, she approached Braid Vets in Edinburgh to ask if she could see practice. The team offered her a role as a weekend animal care assistant, giving her the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience while earning money to support her studies.
In a serendipitous twist, just as she was about to graduate, a locum at Braid Vets recommended Bunny to Westway Vets – and she hopped at the opportunity to move to another VetPartners practice and join the Graduate Programme. On the evening of her interview in Newcastle, the clinical directors invited her to a quiz night, immediately helping her feel part of a close-knit team.
Bunny says the Graduate Programme has given her the confidence to thrive in practice, with expert knowledge, tailored resources and ongoing support guiding her through the early stages of her career.
She has felt supported at every step of her journey – from arranging visas and settling into life in practice to making Newcastle her home – and is now flourishing in an inclusive culture where people from diverse backgrounds feel genuinely welcomed, valued and able to belong.
Bunny says: “I have grown up and lived in different cultures and seen how hard women have to work hard to thrive, so I love the way International Women’s Day helps women to feel special and recognised.”
Article by Amanda Little, PR and Communications Director: [email protected] or 07970 198492