AMTRA Annual Awards: Celebrating the work of Animal Medicines Advisors

AMTRA has once again recognised the latest generation of talent in the industry at an awards ceremony which was held during AMTRA’s Summer Stakeholder event at Harper Adams University recently.

AMTRA plays a vital role in the animal medicines industry and is dedicated to training Animal Medicines Advisors to deliver the highest standards in qualification, training and CPD, resulting in skilled and knowledgeable SQPs who are well informed and capable. The Animal Medicines Advisor role is one that fills a specific need for animal owners around advice, prescription and supply of appropriate medicines.

AMTRA CEO, Stephen Dawson, says: “It's always a delight to be able to honour the great efforts of the students from the last 12 months and all of us here at AMTRA never fail to be impressed by the hard work that we know is undertaken. Every student should be incredibly proud and we are happy to be able to highlight some of the achievements across a range of categories. This year, we also introduced our first Chairman’s Award, which recognises the significant contribution of individuals to the industry, and we honoured the first cohort of students to complete the Animal Medicines Diploma, so it has been a very exciting year of recognising amazing achievements.”

The 2025 AMTRA Animal Medicines Advisor winners for the 'Best students of the last 12 months' are:

Companion Animal winners:
1st Emma Taylor of Pets at Home
2nd Charis Houghton of Wood Green Pet Charity

Equine winners:
1st Kathryn Van Der Merwe of Wessex Equine Vets
2nd Leah Fenton of R & R Country

All species winners:
1st Vanessa Merrett of Mole Valley Farmers
2nd Ryan Thorpe of Mole Valley Farmers

CPD Award winner:
Leon Peace, Aspatria Farmers who in the latest CPD period had an impressive 983 CPD points on his record – 16 times the requirement

AMTRA also introduced a new category into its awards this year, 'The Chairman’s Award', which was presented by AMTRA Chair, Michael Seals. The inaugural recipient was Pam Mosedale. Michael says: "Pam Mosedale has been a much-valued AMTRA Assessor since 2011, and became the voice of the Assessors on AMTRA Council, to which she also brought her wide experience including as an RCVS Practice Standards Scheme inspector and more recently involvement in RCVS Knowledge.

Michael Seals (AMTRA Chair), Pam Mosedale, Stephen Dawson (CEO), John Blackwell (Deputy Chair), Hillary Cowley (Deputy CEO)

"She has helped increase understanding and awareness of the SQP qualification and role across the veterinary sector. As an Assessor she has been a key contributor to evolving assessment and reporting approaches, and in developing the extended Revalidation Viva that is used to demonstrate ongoing competency for SQPs returning to the AMTRA Register after a period away, or who have not fully satisfied their CPD obligations. She is a truly worthy recipient of the first Chairman’s Award."

Pam Mosedale shares her reaction to being presented with the inaugural AMTRA Chairman’s Award for her outstanding contribution to the industry: "To say it was a surprise receiving this award is an understatement. I am rarely lost for words, but I certainly was in that moment. I want to thank AMTRA for recognising the work I have done. I have really enjoyed all my contact with SQPs and being involved with AMTRA. I’d also like to congratulate all the other AMTRA award winners - it’s inspiring to hear about all the hard work that SQPs continue to put into achieving and maintaining their qualifications."

Animal Medicines Diploma:
The first cohort of 12 students were also recognised for their achievements at the AMTRA Summer Event recently. AMTRA CEO, Stephen Dawson, says: “It was a real privilege to not only to celebrate individual achievements for the University Diploma, but to honour the first ever cohort of graduates to complete this pioneering qualification in animal medicines advice.

“Each student has blazed a trail, setting a new standard in professional excellence and commitment to the responsible use and supply of animal medicines. This diploma represents more than academic success. It reflects a deep understanding of animal health, a dedication to welfare, and a readiness to provide animal owners and the wider veterinary community with trusted, evidence-based advice. To be the first is never easy. It takes determination, resilience, and vision — and every one of the students has demonstrated these qualities; they are not only successful awardees; they are all pioneers.”

In summing up what was a very busy awards event, Stephen says: “I not only offer huge congratulations to all the 2025 awardees, but also to every single person who has committed to the training that comes with being an AMTRA SQP to drive excellence in the animal health industry, and to those that continue to contribute to the industry in other roles.

“AMTRA has been training and supporting Animal Medicines Advisors with their ongoing learning since 1986 and today, we are proud to manage the largest registration of SQPs totalling over 6,300. Our history has equipped us with an ingrained knowledge and understanding of the sector and how it has evolved and continues to respond to the ever changing world. We have always been, and remain steadfastly focused, on high standards in qualification, training and ongoing CPD.”

To learn more about becoming an AMTRA SQP visit www.amtra.org.uk