Participant-driven Sessions To Debut At VMG Congress With Launch Of ShareSPACE Live
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Delegates set to share their toughest challenges and boldest ideas
22–24 April 2026, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon
This year’s VMG Congress will debut a new, participant-driven format, ShareSPACE Live, with groups of delegates designing and managing their own agenda for some sessions. These interactive sessions will complement the packed Congress lecture programme, which features experts in leadership and management from across the veterinary sector and beyond.
Polar adventurer and author Victoria Humphries is this year’s keynote speaker. During her address, she will explore how her personal mantra, ‘Anything is Possible’, helped her complete the world’s first all-female expedition to the North Pole, become a three-times Guinness World Record holder and build a successful commercial career.
The Veterinary Management Group (VMG) introduced ShareSPACE sessions online during 2025, giving members the opportunity to explore challenges they face and approaches for tackling them directly with a group of peers. Given the success of the format, ShareSPACE Live will now form a key element of Thursday’s programme at its Congress.
The sessions enable focused, peer-led problem-solving on the issues that matter most to those in the room. Participants will collectively agree topics for discussion, facilitate conversations themselves and identify follow-up actions, which will be supported by the VMG.
Under the theme ‘United in Leadership’, the Congress lecture programme includes experts new to the event, together with popular returning speakers. Those speaking for the first time include Rapinder Newton, Mind Matters Initiative Lead at the RCVS, who will discuss managing mental health in the workplace; Andrew Whitfield-Roberts RVN and VMG Director, who will share insights on the art of listening drawn from his work with the Samaritans; and veterinary social worker Rebecca Stevens, who will explain the practical and emotional support these emerging professionals can offer to veterinary teams and clients.
A current and former student of the globally recognised VMG/ILM Certificate in Veterinary Leadership and Management (CVLM) will also both speak on topics they delved into during their studies so delegates can see the impact the qualification is having on their careers. These speaking opportunities have been specifically offered to students and alumni of the VMG/ILM CVLM.
Friday will be ‘Community Day’ at VMG Congress, offering informal opportunities for delegates to meet CVLM tutors who will outline what studying for the CVLM qualification involves. VMG directors will also be available to discuss the benefits of membership and to hear directly from delegates about how the association can better support its members.
A returning favourite, the group walk and talk along the banks of the River Avon, will take place on Friday morning.
The full schedule and speaker line-up is available here.
VMG President Rebecca Robinson said: “Whether we’re already leaders or aspiring to become one, we’re united in leadership and each of us has expertise to share. VMG Congress is a place not only to learn, but also the place to find your people and build the networks that will sustain your career as you develop.
“And, if you’ve ever felt that the best conversations happen during congress coffee breaks, you won’t want to miss ShareSPACE Live – where you can bring your own questions, challenges and ideas and explore them among a supportive group of peers.
“VMG Congress will once again offer a feast of collaborative learning and we can’t wait to welcome members, past, present and future, back to Stratford-upon-Avon.”
As the professional body for all those in leadership and management roles within the veterinary sector, the VMG provides education, peer support and its accredited qualification, the VMG/ILM Award, Certificate and Diploma in Veterinary Leadership and Management.
For further information:
Rebecca George, George PR
[email protected]/07974 161108
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