From Sydney to South West England: Georgia Englund's journey from locum vet to practice owner

Here at Medivet & Partners, we champion our colleagues. Today, we have an inspirational story from Georgia Englund, who made the impressive career jump from Australia to the UK to own her own veterinary practice. 

Georgia’s Story

When Georgia Englund graduated from the University of Sydney in 2017, owning her own veterinary practice was already part of the plan. What she probably couldn't have predicted was that the practice would eventually be more than 10,000 miles from home.

After graduating, Georgia spent four-and-a-half years working in regional small animal practice in Australia, building broad experience in general practice before deciding to combine veterinary work with another ambition: travel.

Locumming took her across Australia and then to the UK, where she was largely based in Devon and Cornwall. Working across small animal general practice, emergency and critical care, including as a night vet, gave Georgia varied clinical experience – while the flexibility of locum life allowed her to explore the UK and travel extensively through Europe.

Enter: Medivet & Partners

Eventually, Australia called her home. Georgia returned in October 2025 and joined a busy, high-quality small animal practice. But having experienced veterinary life on both sides of the world, she found herself thinking again about the UK – and about a long-held ambition she had yet to fulfil.

There was a personal pull towards Britain too. Georgia's partner lives in England, giving her another reason to consider making the UK home again. But this time, she wasn't looking simply to return as an employed, sponsored vet. She wanted the opportunity to build something of her own.

Then an agency introduced her to an opportunity at Medivet & Partners Roehampton.

Georgia saw the potential almost immediately.

"I'd always wanted my own practice rather than just being a sponsored employed vet, and Roehampton felt like the perfect opportunity. I fell in love with the clinic and could see the potential to grow it back up."

Finding meaning in the Medivet Partnership

For Georgia, the Medivet Partnership offered something she hadn't found before: the chance to own a share of her clinic, benefit financially from its success, and keep clinical autonomy, while having the infrastructure and support of a larger veterinary group behind her.

Importantly, the arrangement could also work alongside the visa sponsorship she needed to return to the UK.

"It stood out because it enabled both ownership and visa sponsorship to coexist," she said.

For Georgia, the appeal was knowing that the work she put into developing the practice could create something she had a genuine stake in.

"Even in the early stages of the Partnership, I'm already benefiting from it," she said.

She was also attracted by the flexibility of the model. Rather than feeling committed indefinitely, there are regular opportunities for Partners to sell their share back to Medivet should their circumstances change.

"It was incredibly appealing not to feel locked in for 10 years," she explained. "It means I don't feel trapped in the way traditional ownership can sometimes make people feel."

And while ownership had always been the ambition, Georgia didn't necessarily want everything that came with doing it entirely alone.

"The ability to partner with Medivet allows the stress of ownership to be shared whilst allowing clinical control to be retained by myself," she explained.

Georgia became Partner at Medivet & Partners Roehampton in July 2026 and has been able to draw on a wider support network while focusing on developing the clinic, her team and her own clinical interests.

"There is a lot of support behind the scenes, from having my own Network Partner and Operational Support Manager to a full marketing team to help with anything I specifically need for my clinic."

The move itself began well before Georgia arrived in the UK. She was able to visit Roehampton, meet colleagues and attend a Partner Insights Day to learn more about both the opportunity and the organisation she would be joining.

"I had so much support regarding the clinic before the move," she said. "Flying out to visit the clinic and attending a Partner Insights Day really helped me understand the opportunity."

Her introduction continued with an induction that connected her with the different teams supporting the practice.

"I learned exactly who I needed to get in touch with for any questions or concerns, and I was immediately set up with all the departments."

Then came the more important part: getting into her clinic and working with her new team.

"I held a team meeting outlining what I was hoping we could achieve together as a team now that they had the support of a branch partner," Georgia said.

"The entire team were excited and motivated to work together and help build the practice towards providing excellent veterinary care for our clients."

It's this part of ownership that Georgia has found particularly rewarding. Her clinical interests lie in small animal surgery, particularly orthopaedics and more complex soft tissue procedures, and leading the practice is giving her the opportunity to bring that experience to the team around her.

"Seeing my team thrive with more structure has been incredibly rewarding," she said. "I've been able to teach new techniques and procedures they haven't previously been able to witness in practice, including perineal urethrostomies and some orthopaedic procedures."

The experience is also developing Georgia in a different direction: as a leader and business owner.

"It has allowed me to develop and grow as a leader for my team," she said. "I'm more proud to come into work each and every day, and financially it has been incredibly beneficial for my family."

Her first months have also included a two-day leadership conference and preparations for an open day to introduce Georgia to Roehampton's local community.

"We'll be holding an open day to welcome clients into the clinic and allow them to meet me as the new Partner at Roehampton," she explained. "It's been heavily supported by the team at Medivet & Partners."

Life on the other side of the world

Of course, moving from Australia to the UK isn't just about adapting to a new job.

Professionally, Georgia says one of the biggest adjustments has been getting to grips with the UK's prescribing framework.

"The cascade system has been the biggest difference," she said.

She has also noticed differences in the way veterinary care is funded. Pet insurance is more widespread in the UK, which can sometimes give clinicians greater scope when discussing diagnostic investigations and treatment options with clients.

But Georgia's affection for the UK goes well beyond veterinary practice – and didn't begin with Roehampton. During her years locumming in Devon and Cornwall, she made the most of being based in Britain, exploring the country and travelling extensively through Europe.

Her highlights range from the spectacular to the rather more everyday.

"Picky bits from M&S are definitely up there," she laughed.

Road trips to the Isle of Skye, walking in the Lake District and exploring the South West Coast Path have also created plenty of memories.

And what about the British weather? Surely that must be difficult for an Australian accustomed to sunshine and warm beaches?

Not necessarily.

"Some of the beaches will rival Aussie beaches," Georgia said. "The water is just a bit cooler. You may need a wetsuit!"

In fact, it's the changing seasons that have become one of her favourite things about living in Britain.

"I love how beautiful the autumn leaves are, the feeling of getting cosy, and how festive the run-up to Christmas feels in England, particularly the Christmas markets."

And when the Australian sunshine starts calling?

"You're only a hop, skip and jump away from a little European getaway to get your fix."

For Australian vets who have thought about spending part of their career overseas, Georgia's experience has convinced her that the move can offer far more than a change of scenery.

The UK has given her the opportunity to travel, develop clinically and experience a different way of life. Now it has also given her the chance to fulfil an ambition she had carried since the early days of her veterinary career: having a practice of her own.

For Georgia, becoming a Medivet Partner has meant returning to a country she had already grown to love, while taking a very different next step in her career – from working in veterinary practices to having a genuine stake in building one.

Would she recommend making the leap?

"Without a doubt," she said. "Absolutely do it."

Learn more about Medivet and our opportunities

• Learn about VET Expo 2026 and what that means for us
• Read about our clinical opportunities, including our locum vet jobs
• More Than a Vet, a Partner: The Medivet Partnership
• The Path to Becoming a Medivet Partner