World Environment Day: Meet Ellie Duffy, veterinary alumna and advocate for sustainability
For World Environment Day 2024, we caught up with alumna Dr Ellie Duffy (BVSc 2016), an enthusiastic advocate for sustainability in veterinary practice. Ellie was the first employee at Vet Sustain, a not-for-profit social enterprise dedicated to championing sustainability in the veterinary profession, as their Operations Manager. In this alumni profile, as well as sharing memories from her time at vet school, Ellie discusses her role at Vet Sustain, the importance of sustainability in veterinary practices, and how her diverse background has prepared her to drive impactful change in the field. She also offers practical advice for alumni on how to contribute to a healthier planet both in their veterinary practices and at home.
Do you have any memories from your time as a vet student at Liverpool to share? Did anyone inspire you as a student?
I absolutely loved being a Liverpool vet student, it was a lot of fun! As a student I never imagined I would do anything other than work in clinical veterinary practice. I developed an interest in pursuing specialist training during fourth- and fifth-year rotations in the University’s Small Animal Teaching Hospital (SATH) seeing brilliant clinicians deliver exceptional care for their patients. Two of the internal medicine team, PJ Noble and Dan Batchelor, both had incredibly cool, calm, and collected approaches to complex problem solving, and played an important role in inspiring me to return to the SATH with a keen interest in medicine a couple of years later as an intern.
Tell us about your career since graduating from Liverpool.
I spent a few years in general practice working with companion animals before, as I mentioned, I returned to the SATH as a rotating intern in small animal studies. I had thought I would go on to pursue further specialist training, but after finishing my internship and with the onset of a global pandemic I chose a slightly different direction. I faced a personal conundrum on how I could use my career to make more of an impact to addressing global polycrises, beyond the walls of my consulting room, and a desire to create a safer and more equitable planet for all. So, I did a Master’s in Environment, Development and Policy at the University of Sussex, which although looks like a step outside the veterinary ‘sphere’ reinforced to me the vital role that veterinary professionals must play in navigating One-Health (human-animal-environmental) crises. I joined Vet Sustain, a not-for-profit social enterprise championing sustainability across the veterinary professions, as their first employee in February 2023. Although, I do also still locum as a veterinary surgeon when I’m not working for Vet Sustain to get my fix of clinical work!
Can you describe a typical day or week in your role as Operations Manager at Vet Sustain?
My weeks can be varied, no two weeks are ever the same! My time is split across supporting various projects and the brilliant network of volunteers, partners, and commercial organisations that collaborate with Vet Sustain. I might be supporting one of our sustainability training courses, writing new resources, or helping a practice with their carbon calculation, or I could be reviewing marketing material or working with one of our supporters. I also get to speak to lots of incredible people who are pushing for, and actioning, sustainable change through their work –whether that’s one of our volunteers or working group members, a participant on our courses, one of our commercial supporters or partner organisations, or a veterinary professional in practice. It gives me hope for the future to see dedicated people championing change to continually improve the health and wellbeing of animals, people, and the environment.
What one simple action can alumni working in veterinary clinical practice take for World Environment Day?
There’s so much veterinary teams can do! But one action – if you don’t already have a ‘green team’ – is to find an ally in your practice who’s also concerned about the impacts our actions have on the environment. Collaboration and communities are essential for making change, so get together with colleagues and make an action plan! There’s lots of free resources on the Vet Sustain website to help, including the Greener Veterinary Practice Checklist, which is a brilliant place to start.
Can you suggest one action alumni can start today to contribute to a healthier planet at home?
We know we must reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, and rapidly, so look at one of the three big areas they might be showing up at home – energy and heating, transport, and money! Are you on a renewable energy tariff? Can you consider renewable energy systems? Can you walk, cycle, or take public transport instead of getting in the car? Is your bank using your money to support fossil fuels, and what about your pension provider?
I’d also highly recommend joining a Carbon Literacy course (Vet Sustain run one for specifically Veterinary Professionals) to enable you to feel informed and empowered in your decision making and set your own pledge for a better planet.
Thank you, Ellie, for helping us celebrate World Environment Day and our amazing global veterinary alumni community.
If you are interested in exploring Vet Sustain resources, please visit their website.
If you have a story to share with the ULVAA, we would love to hear from you at ulvaa@liv.ac.uk.