About Us
Our team is more than a group of educators — we’re mentors, motivators and champions for every learner who walks through our doors. From experienced Registered Veterinary Nurses and specialist lecturers to dedicated academic support staff, each member of our team is committed to helping you grow in confidence, develop your skills and become the best veterinary professional you can be.
Who We Are
With backgrounds spanning first-opinion practice, referral hospitals, emergency and critical care, exotics, teaching, assessment and advanced clinical roles, our staff bring a wealth of real-world experience into every lesson, workshop and practical session.
Whether guiding you through clinical skills, preparing you for assessments or supporting your wellbeing, this is the team who will be with you at every step of your journey — cheering you on, challenging you to grow and celebrating your achievements.
“What unites us is a shared passion for supporting learners, raising standards and creating an environment where every student feels valued, understood and empowered to succeed.”
– Emma Eve-Raw, Head of Centre
Our mission statement
To provide outstanding training for individuals and businesses in the veterinary sector.
Our vision
To be a leading provider of veterinary nursing education in London through supporting employers and individuals to meet their full potential for learning and achievement.
Our Values
Celebrating achievement
Recognising progress and success in all its forms, and championing every learner’s development.
Delivering excellent training
Maintaining high standards in teaching and assessment, grounded in quality, professionalism and real-world relevance.
Working in partnership with employers
Building strong, collaborative relationships with practices to support learners throughout their training journey.
Creating a safe and inclusive environment
Ensuring every student feels welcome, respected and supported, with a learning space that prioritises wellbeing and belonging.
Meet our people
Emma Eve-Raw
RVN, A1, c-SQP, RAMA, PgCert HE, MSc PHCE, FHEA, RSPH
Training Manager and Head of Centre
Emma Eve-Raw
RVN, A1, c-SQP, RAMA, PgCert HE, MSc PHCE, FHEA, RSPH
Training Manager and Head of Centre
At an early age, Emma developed an interest in all things veterinary, and worked in catteries, kennels, and vet practices during her teenage years before earning a Diploma in Veterinary Nursing. Having worked in practices and hospitals for 25 years both in nursing and practice management roles, Emma also became an A1 Assessor, a registered animal medicine advisor and a quality assurance supervisor. Emma found her second passion in teaching and qualified as a teacher, lecturing at Middlesex University and gaining a Post Graduate Diploma in Higher Education, then a Masters in Public Health and Clinical Education before becoming Training Manager at Goddard Veterinary Nursing College, which offers the very best of both worlds! Emma has three children, two dogs, one cat, an African grey parrot, chinchillas and chickens. Emma’s spare time is spent coaching diving and overseeing a summer camp for children.
Natalie Blake
RVN, IQA
Deputy Head of Centre, Funding and Quality Lead
Natalie Blake
RVN, IQA
Deputy Head of Centre, Funding and Quality Lead
Natalie’s journey began as a kennel assistant, she qualified as a nurse while working at an independent practice before moving into hospitals as a Triage Nurse. It was here she found her passion for emergency medicine and the client-focused role, supporting clients to understand their pet’s treatment and help them cope at home. After spending time as a Head Nurse and Clinical Coach, Natalie moved into teaching, supporting others’ growth within the profession where she loves helping students develop their skills to a high standard. Natalie enjoys running and rowing in her spare time, as well as spending time with her husband, two children, and cats.
Claire Digby-Maloney
RVN, Cert SAN, L3 AET
Level 3 Clinical Skills and Cohort Lead
Claire Digby-Maloney
RVN, Cert SAN, L3 AET
Level 3 Clinical Skills and Cohort Lead
After Claire started her career as an RVN in a 24-hour hospital, she moved to a role helping branches become accredited Training and Assessment Practices. Claire then had an amazing stint as a radiotherapy technician, operating a linear accelerator in a specialist animal cancer treatment centre. Claire then moved into veterinary education, teaching nursing at a range of levels – her particular areas of interest being the delivery of practice skills, diagnostic imaging and surgical nursing. Claire’s life outside of work involves being ‘owned’ by her two rescue cats, and her interests include music, reading, languages, history and travel and practising aerial fitness.
Emily Gardiner-Warren
BSc (Hons) RVN, DTLLS, PgCert, A1, IQA
Level 3 Cohort Lead and Training Coordinator
Emily Gardiner-Warren
BSc (Hons) RVN, DTLLS, PgCert, A1, IQA
Level 3 Cohort Lead and Training Coordinator
After Emily’s Veterinary Nursing degree, she held several senior nursing and coaching roles at a mixture of small animal, emergency, private and charity practices in the UK and Australia. Emily has taught and overseen the teaching of both VCS and RVN courses and is an OCSE examiner. Emily is also on the editorial board of the Veterinary Nursing Journal. Her passions include exotics and wildlife (with previous roles at Heathrow Airport Animal Reception Centre and an RSPCA Wildlife Hospital) and student wellbeing. Outside work, Emily loves reading, watching anything related to crime or forensic psychology, going to gigs, sea swimming and camping.
Samantha Thompson
Dip AVN (SA), PGCert HE, IQA, RVN
Level 3 Cohort Lead and Training Coordinator
Samantha Thompson
Dip AVN (SA), PGCert HE, IQA, RVN
Level 3 Cohort Lead and Training Coordinator
Samantha spent six years as an RVN in a busy hospital and achieved her Diploma in Advanced Veterinary Nursing at the same time. Samatha’s interests in nursing are anaesthesia and analgesia and emergency and critical care nursing. Samantha is a strong advocate for nurse training and development and its role in improving patient care, which is why she took the decision to move into training. Samantha loves helping and encouraging others to achieve their full potential.
Heather Cutmore
L3 CET, IQA, RVN
VCS Academic Certificate Lead
Heather Cutmore
L3 CET, IQA, RVN
VCS Academic Certificate Lead
Before joining the College, Heather qualified as an RVN and worked in several roles across exotics, charity and referrals practices before gaining her Level 4 Certificate in Education and Quality Assurance qualifications. As the Level 2 VNA Academic Lead, Heather is passionate about promoting the importance of the role VCS Assistants play in practice. Heather still love emergency and critical care and maintains a keen interest in nursing exotic species. In her spare time, she really enjoys gardening, reading and spending time with her family. Heather is also a Kennel Club Breed Health Coordinator for the Portuguese Pointer, one of which she own’s (called Hugo!)
Vicki Nielsen
RVN, PTLLS, CAVA, IAQ
Additional Learning Support and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead
Vicki Nielsen
RVN, PTLLS, CAVA, IAQ
Additional Learning Support and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead
Vicki qualified as an RVN in 2009 and worked in both hospitals and general veterinary practice before moving into nurse education as an Internal Quality Assurer supporting students, clinical coaches and training practices, both nationally and internationally. Vicki loves her work, and her real passion is student welfare, ensuring students (and those supporting them) have the best learning experience during their journey to become RVNs and VCS Assistants. Vicki lives in a small Hertfordshire village with her wife, Cathrine and their beautiful cat. Vicki is deaf and wears hearing aids, and her interests include technology, knitting and travelling.
Jesle Varu
BSc (Hons), CertVNECC, APVN (SA), CET, RVN
Academic Cohort Lead
Jesle Varu
BSc (Hons), CertVNECC, APVN (SA), CET, RVN
Academic Cohort Lead
Jesle started his Goddard Veterinary Group career at Wanstead Veterinary Hospital on placement where he graduated from the Royal Veterinary College and later achieve his BSc which included writing a dissertation focused on wildlife nursing and his own nursing model of care. Since then, Jesle has completed the Vets Now Emergency and Critical Care Certificate, Advanced Programme in Small Mammals and his Level 4 Certificate in Teaching. Highlights of his time as a Senior RVN include emergency and critical care, wildlife, clinical coaching of SVNs and VCS Assistants, and mentoring of junior team members. Jesle is now delighted to be a Training Coordinator delivering in-house CPD, lectures and learning materials.
Rebecca Hagreen
RVN BSc (Hons) AniSci, CET
Academic Cohort Lead
Rebecca Hagreen
RVN BSc (Hons) AniSci, CET
Academic Cohort Lead
Rebecca has been a Registered Veterinary Nurse since 2016, starting her career by qualifying in an independent small animal practice in London. Shortly after qualifying as an RVN Rebecca decided to join the Royal Veterinary College as a Theatre Nurse where she assisted with a number of specialist surgeries, shortly becoming part of their Total Hip Replacement team – which she loved! During this time, Rebecca also became a Clinical Coach and found a passion for teaching and seeing students learn, grow in confidence and achieve their dreams. After several years as a Head Nurse, she became a veterinary nurse lecturer and holds a Level 4 Certificate in Teaching. Outside of work, Rebecca has a mischievous mixed-breed rescue called Ivy who keeps her family on their toes. She also has a keen interest in photography – though she tells us she hates having her photo taken!
Gemma Scott
RVN ISFM Cert FN
Clinical Skills Lecturer & Additional Learning Support
Gemma Scott
RVN ISFM Cert FN
Clinical Skills Lecturer & Additional Learning Support
Gemma began her career in the veterinary profession in 1999, inspired by a lifelong passion for animal care that started at the age of five. She qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN) in 2008 and has since developed a strong interest in emergency and critical care (ECC), feline medicine, and medical nursing. Gemma is thrilled to be joining the Goddard Veterinary Nursing College and looks forward to contributing to the future of veterinary nursing.
Eleanor Smith
MRCVS
Veterinary Nursing Lecturer & Academic Support
Eleanor Smith
MRCVS
Veterinary Nursing Lecturer & Academic Support
After graduating from the University of Bristol in 2019, Ellie spent five years working in a busy small animal practice on the South Coast. During this time, she developed a strong interest in education, leading her to transition into a lecturing role. Ellie has a particular passion for medical case workups and greatly enjoys mentoring others as they develop their clinical skills. Outside of her professional commitments, Ellie is dedicated to fitness and enjoys spending her free time participating in CrossFit and weightlifting.
Liz Frankland
BAMark
Admissions Coordinator
Liz Frankland
BAMark
Admissions Coordinator
After graduating with a degree in Marketing and Advertising, Liz began her career by supporting 120 pre-schools in promoting themselves effectively, sharpening her communication and organizational skills. She then transitioned to working with children with speech and language difficulties in early years settings. While living in Sydney, Australia, Liz took on a role in education recruitment, which involved placing Headteachers into schools across Asia and the Middle East. This experience honed her ability to build relationships and manage complex processes, ultimately paving the way for her current role as an Admissions Coordinator. Outside of work, Liz enjoys spending time with her husband, two children, and their dog. On weekends, she can often be found walking through the forest, socialising with friends, or relaxing with a good book in hand!
Heather Latham
RVN
Funding and Academic Coordinator
Heather Latham
RVN
Funding and Academic Coordinator
Beginning her career in human healthcare with a degree in Sport Science and Sport Rehabilitation, Heather later qualified as a RVN. Over two decades in practice, she progressed to become a Head Nurse and a Clinical Coach. In the last five years, Heather has focused on managing the administrative functions of several departments within a large group of veterinary practices. Outside of work, Heather has a passion for sports and fitness, often engaging in weight training, Pilates, and more recently, golf lessons and pole dancing! She is an avid fan of musical theatre and treasures time spent with her family. At home, she shares her life with a Labrador named Echo and two cats, Vader and Wicket, affectionately named after Star Wars characters!
Victoria Hale
RVN, IQA, PTLLS
IQA, Tutor & Visiting Officer
Nicola Smith
RVN, IQA, DTLLS
IQA, Academic Support Tutor