Reopened Call: Seeking Members for Our Advocacy and Communications Committee – Latin America, Asia, and Africa Regions Only

The Advocacy and Communications Committee ACC aims to strengthen WSAVA’s influence and impact by advising on strategies and tactics that:

• Enhance global visibility, understanding, and respect for WSAVA’s mission and initiatives.
• Develop policies and campaigns that advance companion animal veterinary care and drive change globally.
• Build strategic alliances with like-minded organizations to drive collaborative efforts and influence positive change in advancing WSAVA’s mission.

Description of the committee’s work and goal

The committee’s scope of work includes, but is not limited to:

1. Advising the WSAVA Executive Board and Secretariat on advocacy priorities and strategic communication initiatives, including the style, format, and content of such initiatives.
2. With the support of the Secretariat, developing and implementing advocacy campaigns on critical issues affecting companion animal veterinary practice globally.
3. Monitoring global trends and policies relevant to companion animal veterinary practice and recommending appropriate responses.
4. Facilitating partnerships with international organizations to amplify advocacy efforts and achieve mutual goals.
5. Evaluating the effectiveness of advocacy and communication strategies and recommending adjustments as needed.

Detailed description of the desired candidates

The committee shall consist of individuals appointed based on their expertise and experience in advocacy and communications, with consideration given to diversity of background and global representation.

1. Committee members should possess expertise in one or more of the following competencies: Expertise in advocacy, communications, public relations, or related fields, ideally within the veterinary or healthcare industries.
2. Global perspective and understanding of international policies, regulations, and trends affecting veterinary practice.
3. Ability to strategize and prioritize advocacy efforts based on the needs of diverse global stakeholders.
4. Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate effectively with diverse teams and stakeholders.
5. Experience and a strong skill set in building and maintaining partnerships with global organizations and stakeholders, policy development and strategic campaigning.
6. Commitment to advancing the mission and values of WSAVA through effective advocacy and communications strategies.
7. At this stage, we’re only seeking candidates from the Latin America, Asia, and Africa regions.

We encourage individuals with strong advocacy experience and a proven skill set in building and maintaining partnerships with global organizations and stakeholders, policy development, and strategic campaigning to apply.

List of responsibilities from committee members

• The official language of the WSAVA is English.
• Meeting Attendance and Participation: Attend scheduled meetings (virtual or in-person) and actively contribute to discussions.
• Timely Communication: Respond to requests for input and feedback in a timely manner, ensuring smooth communication.
• Collaboration: Work collaboratively with other group members.
• Local Expertise: Provide accurate and relevant advice based on local knowledge and experience in veterinary education, event organization, and industry partnerships.
• All WSAVA committee and project group members agree to abide by the policies and processes set out within the WSAVA Policy and Process Manual.
• All discussions, documents, and materials shared within the group must be treated as confidential unless otherwise indicated by WSAVA.

Remuneration for this role

All WSAVA committee members including the chairperson are volunteers. However, reasonable expenses occurred whilst carrying out WSAVA duties will be reimbursed, in accordance with our travel and expenses policy.

Time commitment

The tenure of a committee member is a maximum of three years with one extension possible.

The project group will meet at least monthly for one hour via video call. All committee members are expected to attend and actively contribute to committee meetings, whether online or in-person, and respond to offline communication in a timely manner. It is possible that the time commitment will be greater in the initial months while the group develops plans and allocates roles and responsibilities. On average, committee members can expect to give no more than five hours of time a month.

Applicant must provide the full documentation required below, in English, via this dedicated application link:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Letter of Intent
• Letter of Good Standing from WSAVA Member Association*

Applications should be submitted before 28 July 2025 – 22:00 UTC

*All nominees for membership of any WSAVA committee/group are required to provide a letter of Good Standing from the WSAVA member organization of which they are a member. This requirement does not apply to nominees who are not members of a WSAVA organization (e.g. non-veterinarians) whose expertise may be necessary for specialist committees/groups. A person of Good Standing is defined as someone who has complied with all explicit obligations of the association and who is not subject to any form of sanction, suspension or disciplinary censure. This letter is not a recommendation from the association that the nominee is the best person for the position. WSAVA committee positions are not chosen by member organizations – the Committee Chair ultimately decides on the best candidate for the position and the choice is ratified by the Membership and Nomination Committee and the Executive Board. This letter indicates only that the WSAVA member association has no objection to the nomination.