By Hyewon Kim

Mentorship was a throughline connecting the take-home messages at the Career Pathways for Animal Technicians symposium held at SWC on 6 June.

Organised by Eleni Amaniti and Amy Lynch of the SWC Neurobiological Research Facility (NRF), the event sought to gather together voices from various parts of the animal technology and husbandry industry to: inspire career pathways for young technicians, provide space for further networking, and collectively confirm best practices for animal research in the biomedical sciences.

“This has been a great achievement for the NRF and a fantastic event,” Amy shared. “We feel it has gone towards inspiring many animal technicians to unlock potential career paths they didn't know were possible.”

One year in the making, the symposium showcased stories of animal technicians who had initially stepped into the industry to explore their love for animals and now were reflecting back on their careers to share advice and provide a potential direction for those starting out their professional journeys.

“We were so fortunate to have such a knowledgeable panel,” remarked Eleni on the lineup of speakers. “Their collective and diverse experience can be used as fuel for growth to all animal technicians.”

Speakers included several alumni from SWC, with talks from Jamie Redden, now at the Francis Crick Institute, Tina O’Mahony at the University of Cambridge, Sammie Lupton of Surrey Diagnostics, and current Research Technician Ryan Cini. Jamie and Ryan had both pivoted from conservation to biomedical research and emphasised to the audience that switching from one area to another taught them skills that were invaluable to living out their career today.

James Cardwell of Allentown UK also leveraged his previous work experience as an animal technician to empower his current role. As Head of Sales, he shared how his deep familiarity with the pain points and needs of his clients – from animal bedding to enrichment – helped him navigate challenges.

Ian Felding of Tecniplast marked the dusk of his 45-year career, consisting of 8 jobs, with his talk on lessons learned. Hannah Wardle-Jones of the Francis Crick Institute and Jamie Delicata of King’s College London provided perspectives from research, embracing the years-long exploratory process of discovering what kinds of roles fit them best. Robin Labesse of the IAT Board of Education Policies and Teresa Brandon of The Learning Curve each provided views on training opportunities and creative animal welfare.

The day ended with the panel addressing questions that spanned advice for those entering the industry, to the importance of paying it forward to the next generation of animal technicians. Panellists shared their visions for the evolution of the field, touching on advancements in technology, navigating regulatory landscapes, and the increasing emphasis on ethical practices.

This echoed what Tina highlighted at the end of her talk in the morning, where she asked the audience an important career question she herself was asked recently: “What do you see as your biggest work achievement?” To her, it was the act of cultivating an environment and support system for nurturing upcoming animal technology professionals. Having been given a boost from her previous mentors to make a mark in the industry, Tina has found most meaning in investing her effort into developing the careers of future leaders.

Interleaved with networking sessions, the symposium brought together early career animal technicians and seasoned professionals, encouraging knowledge sharing.

Overall the very first Career Pathways for Animal Technicians symposium not only celebrated the achievements and contributions of those in the field but also laid the groundwork for ongoing mentorship opportunities and professional development. By fostering a sense of community and shared purpose, the event underscored the critical role of collective responsibility to nurture the next generation of animal technicians.

Looking ahead, the organisers plan to make this symposium a regular event, continually adapting and expanding its programme to meet the evolving needs of the industry. “We certainly do have plans to run this type of event again,” shared Amy. With the enthusiastic participation from all corners of the animal technology community, the future looks bright for those dedicated to advancing the field and rooting for each other’s progress.

“The day wouldn't have been possible without the presenters talking to us through their journey,” she added. “It has shown what a great community we have internally within the SWC.” Stressing her appreciation for the help they received organising the symposium internally from the events management and catering teams, as well as externally, Amy acknowledged “the support from not only the speakers for talking us through their career pathways, but also all the sponsors that joined on the day offering plenty of advice.”

Eleni agreed: “We hope this year’s coming together was only the beginning of an inspirational journey that promotes the diverse skillset of the animal technicians as well as awareness of the ever-changing paths within the industry.”