VET Festival has announced that the television and radio presenter Jonathan Ross OBE is to join the line-up at this year's event, taking place on the 8th and 9th June in Surrey.

Jonathan will be taking part in the VETFest Conversation on the Friday evening: a relaxed conversation with event founder Professor Noel Fitzpatrick in an intimate setting which organisers say allows delegates to really feel and be part of the conversation. 

Noel and Jonathan will be reflecting on some of the common experiences, fears and thoughts all people from all walks of life share.

Noel said: "We are so excited that Jonathan has agreed to join us for the official launch of the VETFest Conversation on Friday night. Jonathan will offer an illuminating new perspective on some of the matters we will all relate to professionally and personally. This is so much more meaningful than just a chat between two people. We want everyone present to feel part of the conversation and converse together as openly and comfortably as is we were in your living room. This is what the VETFest Conversation is about, a really special experience. 

"VET Festival has always and will forever be about providing a dynamic and engaging event that empowers all veterinary professionals who attend to leave the field with not only educational development but deep personal enrichment too. We all feel the stresses and strains of failure, financial stress, management challenges, difficult interpersonal relationships, self-confidence, fear and even depression. We lose our connectedness to each other with the weight of these burdens. 

"This conference isn’t just about Veterinary Education for Tomorrow – it’s about looking after each other. With the VETFest Conversation, we are aiming for something new; something that depends entirely on raw emotion, passion, knowledge and willingness to share. We want to be the best we can be, together in the open air surrounded by kindness and collegiality.

"Together we hope to entertain and inform, and in doing so join together with everyone present not only as a profession but as a global community. If you are struggling, professionally and/or personally, we want to reach out a hand and reassure you that you are not alone – we are all in this together.

"Whether you are a vet, a nurse, a rehab professional or a TV presenter, we share fears and disappointments as well as joy and fulfilment. Our motivation is to collectively become a positive force for good, so that every one of us, our friends and family, our work colleagues, our businesses, our profession and even our world may benefit. 

"There is nothing out there like this – and we want to lead the way in setting the agenda that this really does matter and create a lasting and meaningful community of compassion."

The VETFest Conversation is open to all delegates at VET Festival and takes place after the clinical programme on Friday 8th June at 6.00pm – 6.45pm. 

VET Festival tickets are available to buy on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/vet-festival-2018-tickets-35876825551

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