A NEW education and development team leader at a veterinary specialists in West Buckland will be a familiar face to many people.

Emma Rex first joined Linnaeus-owned Cave Veterinary Specialists in 2010 as a veterinary nurse before moving into leadership roles.

In her latest promotion she will oversee and support student nurses and Post Registration Programme nurses, as well as co-ordinating vets and nurses, extra-mural studies students and work experience placements.

Emma said: “I am looking forward to watching my team develop not only their clinical skills but also their confidence and become very competent, highly skilled nurses with a rewarding career in referral nursing ahead of them.”

She started her career in 2002 after qualifying as a veterinary nurse and began work in a small animal general practice in Surrey before moving to Devon four years later, where she became head nurse at a similar sized practice.

She started her referral nursing career when she joined Cave before moving into leadership roles, including deputy head nurse and acting head nurse.

Emma added: “I would like to develop my own leadership skills further and develop my knowledge of recruitment law, human resources and wellbeing support.

“This would enable me to guide and support my team during stressful times of study and exams to ensure they reach their full potential.”

Emma’s most memorable veterinary moment is as a veterinary nurse when she volunteered at a wildlife orphanage in Zimbabwe to help sedate and move a group of African wild dogs to assist with the breeding of these endangered animals.

Outside work, she enjoys spending time with her family, her mischievous cat Albert and retreating to her greenhouse.