LEWIS G. GRANT
President
BVM&S MRCVS MBE
Lewis Grant qualified as a Veterinary Surgeon in July 1968 from the Royal (Dick) Veterinary College, and then pursued a career in Veterinary General Practice being principal of my own practice from 1972 onwards. From 1988, Lewis worked in meat hygiene as then OVS on contract to Local Authorities and subsequently the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS), whilst still fulfilling practice duties.
He joined the MHS in 1998 as a POVS in the North Region. During the FMD outbreak in 2001, Lewis moved to MHS HQ in York and remained there working alongside the Veterinary Director until October 2010 when he retired as Veterinary Manager. In the MHS/FSA, amongst other subjects, Lewis was responsible for Animal Welfare, Animal ID, BSE/TSE issues and Animal By-products issues and hosting delegations from both EU and Third Countries as well as being the MHS Lead on EU FVO Missions to the UK.
Lewis was awarded an MBE in the New Year's Honours list of 2011 for services to the FSA. He continues to be active in the meat hygiene sector on a consultancy basis in the UK, Europe and Africa and is currently the BVA Veterinary Policy Group representative on the VPHA Council. Lewis has served as a magistrate in North Yorkshire since 1994, fulfilling the role of bench chairman during court sittings until July 2015. In his home town of Bedale, North Yorkshire, he has been active as a Town Councillor and Chairman of the Council as well as Mayor for 3 years.
His main interest outside veterinary matters is Golf and he was the Captain of his Golf Club in 2012. Lewis has been pleased to serve as a VPHA Council Member for several years and is currently President of the VPHA.
MILORAD RADAKOVIC
Senior Vice President
BVSc, CertVPH (MH), MRCVS Advanced Practitioner in Veterinary Public Health (VPH)
Graduated from the University of Zagreb, Croatia, in 1989. Obtained full membership with the UK Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and the Certificate in Veterinary Public Health (Meat Hygiene) by examination.
Milorad is a trained EU FVO national expert. His work experience varies from small to large animal practice. Most of Milorad’s career was in the sector of VPH: from on-line meat inspection to performing Official Veterinarian's and managerial duties.
Veterinary Adviser (12 years) for the UK Food Standards Agency providing veterinary advice to policy makers and liaison with other government departments and academic institutions, nationally and internationally. Conducted FVO audits in EU and South America and acted as a veterinary witness in several high profile court cases.
Currently employed by the University of Cambridge as Teaching Fellow in Veterinary Public Health with continuous involvement in many VPH projects and international teaching.
COLLIN WILSON
Junior Vice President, Honoray Secretary and BVA Wales Rep.
Collin qualified from the Royal Veterinary College in 1973. On qualification Collin entered a rural mixed practice in Abergavenny S. Wales. At that time the practice was mainly large animal with some horse work and a little small animal. Over the subsequent years Collin became a partner in the practice and married a local girl, they have 3 grown up children, none are Vets.
In the late 1970’s the practice took on supervisory meat export work within the local area. This part of the practice saw considerable growth over the subsequent years to become a significant part of the practice business. In 1995 the practice tendered under the newly formed MHS and was allocated more work than originally anticipated. Over the next few years there was a consolidation of the meat hygiene work that the practice carried out culminating in the contract to supervise the then newly built St Merryn plant at Merthyr Tydfil. The MHS employed OV project saw a loss of the prime areas of meat hygiene work from the practice and Collin, although able to maintain some meat hygiene work, realised that with the changes in tendering for contracts the practice could not continue to provide OV services within the small structure the practice had. Looking for a change of direction Collin left the partnership and Practice in 2003, initially doing self employed TB testing work and then moving to work for the SVS (now AHPA) in Llandrindod Wells in a temporary post.
In 2005 Collin applied for and was successful in obtaining a role as Regional Veterinary Advisor for the MHS in S. Wales. Subsequently in 2008 Collin moved on secondment to FSA Wales as the Veterinary Meat Hygiene Advisor for Wales and then successfully applied for a role as Business Manager in S. Wales and Borders.
In early 2012 Collin took on the role of lead for the implementation of the new Welfare Regulations in the approvals and advice team, a role that has been very demanding with the changes these regulations bring. In January 2013 Collin was appointed as Veterinary Manager for Wales and borders within the Approvals and Veterinary Advice team and subsequently became the Veterinary Field Lead for Wales.
Collin has been a member of the VPHA Council since 2001.
Collin is an advisor to the Farm Animal Welfare committee Welfare at Killing committee.
RUTH MORENO
Membership Secretary
Ruth studied in the University Of Cordoba, Spain and graduated in 2001. Just a month after her graduation she moved to the UK and started as Official Veterinarian (OV). For 11 years her work was related to the delivery of official controls in meat establishments in roles as an OV, Area Team Leader and Lead Veterinarian.
In 2012 she joined the Food Standards Agency (FSA) working for the Incident Unit in London. During her time in the Incident Unit, Ruth was involved in incident response during the London Olympics Games and the horse meat scandal. She also was a UK contact point of the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF). In October 2014 she moved to Belfast, Northern Ireland, to work as Senior Veterinary Advisor for the FSA within the Operations Delivery and Policy Team.
JOHN LAWRENCE
BVA Representative
Graduated from Massey University in 1981 and worked in large animal practice in New Zealand for five years.
Spent a further five years working in mixed and horse practice in the UK, before a five year spell as a Veterinary Office for what was then the SVS. Set up own Meat Hygiene Company in 1993 which provided OV services throughout the Midlands and East of England. Sold the business in 2007, and in 2009 joined AHVLA as a Veterinary Team Leader.
In 2013 has been working in the Operations Co-ordinations Unit for AHVLA. Gained Certificate in Veterinary Public Health in 2002. Have spent nine years on VPHA Council, including as Treasurer, and President for 2012-13.
Married with four daughters.
JASON K. ALDISS
UEVH/FVE Representative
A veterinarian who has specialised in the delivery of Official Controls for over 20 years. Jason has worked on numerous consultancy projects and delivered a wide variety of specialist veterinary regulatory services across Europe in the veterinary public health field for many years and is well recognised for his work in this broad specialist field.
He is Secretary General of the Union of European Veterinary Hygienists, Past President of the Veterinary Public Health Association, a past Board member of the British Veterinary Association, and was previously a member of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, and Managing Director of Eville & Jones Ltd.
ENRIQUE VEGA
Assistant Conference Secretary
Enrique qualified as a Veterinary Surgeon in Spain in 1993 and arrived to UK in 1995. He has a further qualification in Business Management. He has a wide range of experience in food hygiene, sales – purchasing and management. After working as an OV and Area Veterinary Manager for 7 years, he moved to a Purchasing Director role at ESCA Food Solutions, a multinational company working in close relationship with McDonalds. He managed a budget of 48 million Euros, with responsibilities in meat purchasing and evaluation and contract management of suppliers. He also acted as Deputy Managing Director, managing both the production process and the human resources of the 150 employees of the company, in close collaboration with the European and American Offices of OSI Group.
He then joined Hall Mark in 2004 where he has been the Veterinary Director responsible for operational delivery in England and Wales. He has a keen interest in VPH and is also a keen sportsman playing football, basketball and table tennis weekly.
GAVIN MORRIS
Animal Welfare Representative
Gavin graduated from London in 1991 and spent the following 10 years thoroughly enjoying practice, specialising in Large Animals in North Wales, Cheshire and Shropshire. Some lively years (!) as an OVS followed in a wide range of premises which then lead to several years as a Regional Veterinary Advisor in the South West. During this time the FSA created a new position of Veterinary Manager in York of which he became the first. Six years ago Gavin was invited for a ‘cup of tea / Guinness and a chat’ over in Northern Ireland and has been Head of Group Technical and Animal Welfare for Dunbia since then! A Council Member for a number of years formally the Industry Liaison Officer and currently is the Animal Welfare Representative.
NOELIA YUSTA
Conference Secretary
Animal Welfare, food safety and education have become my true passion over the years.
From early days my career was inclined towards Public Health and Food Safety. After a brief stint in a small animal practice, I decided to head into other fields and embrace change. I had an opportunity to join the Meat Hygiene Service (in 2002) and became an Official Veterinarian; ever since my career has been related to that position in one way or another.
Luckily, my experience embraces a few different roles, from mix practice to management position in the private sector, this allowed me to get a wider vision of the profession and be able to choose my path. I came to the strong conclusion that public health is what really interests me the most. Since then, I have collaborated with the University of Edinburgh while working on my One Health MSc. Soon after graduation I joined the University of Glasgow where I currently develop my work. I'm the Course leader for Glasgow VPH Clinical phase, delivering training for EHOs and also lecturing in the VPH MSc, Food Security MSc and OV training. I am also a member of British Society of Animal Science and the One Health Talk Organization.
MADELEINE FORSYTH
Honorary Treasurer
BVSc, Cert.WEL, MRCVS, Barrister
I have lived and worked in North Yorkshire all my life starting my veterinary career as a schoolgirl assisting James Herriot, the world's most famous vet. I subsequently worked as a veterinary surgeon in that Thirsk practice gaining experience in all aspects of mixed practice including OV cover at a large poultry plant but also dealing with all species, leaving to found my own mixed rural practice in Helmsley in 1983.
I sold the surgery in 2002 only due to injury, but have not completely retired from clinical practice which I still carry out, although to a much lesser extent, and after re-training in law was called to the Bar in 2004. I am a non practising barrister but now act as an Expert Witness , my experience covering an unusual range of comprehensive disciplines.
I also hold the Certificate of Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in Animal Welfare Science Ethics and Law, a forensic qualification designed to train experienced practitioners to recognise any compromise of animal welfare, make an objective assessment of the significance of that compromise, and describe it in terms acceptable to a Court.
Having early career experience of being a very junior OV in a chicken factory I later held contracts to provide OV services at two, three species killing plants from 1995-7 and was also involved in the export of pig meat as well as cover for small abattoirs and cutting plants until 2002. This background led to Expert Witness work in many areas of food hygiene and animal welfare as well as the provision of cpd for veterinary surgeons and lawyers .
TERENCE MCMANUS
Public Relations Officer
-
CLAIRE WHITE
Council Member
BVSc MSc MRCVS
Claire graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2010 having also completed an MSc in Veterinary Infection and Disease Control. It was during her intercalated year that she was introduced to the Veterinary Public Health Association, becoming an avid student member. Working in primarily Large Animal practice in Wiltshire and Shropshire for three years after graduation, she became a proficient practitioner, whilst developing her understanding of UK agricultural industry.
In 2013 her burgeoning interest in food production led to employment with a Dunbia, a red meat processor, where she was initially responsible for overseeing animal welfare across the 8 abattoirs in all 4 regions of the UK and ROI, as well as playing a key role in the relationship between the agricultural team and the producer. Following a change of role she now has full technical responsibility for the companies two Scottish sites, covering primary slaughter through to retail packing. She is also a qualified auditor, trainer and NVQ assessor, responsible for internal welfare training and Certificate of Competence training program in Scotland
MIKE JESSOP
Council Member
Mike is small animal practitioner and director of a seven vet, multi-site practice in the valleys of South Wales. He mainly treats dogs and cats but has a special interest in the “non traditional” or “exotic” pet species. Primarily focused on tortoise medicine and surgery he also treats other reptiles, the "small furries”, amphibia, invertebrates and fish.
Many years spent as a volunteer for the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) culminated in Mike serving as it’s president in 2006/7. He has served on many management, training and publishing committees and chaired the prestigious BSAVA Congress Committee for 3 years.
He has spend several years as the UK representative on the Union of European Veterinary Practitioners and is an active member of several UK veterinary associations. Mike has a passion for animal welfare and has been involved in many campaigns to expose poor practice. He has been instructed by media, government and welfare groups to advise and guide on a wide range of welfare issues. He has a keen interest in public health and forensic veterinary medicine
ANA SOLIS
Council Member
Ana Solis-Teja is a Veterinary Surgeon with over 20-years’ experience, developed across three countries, Spain, Australia and the UK, covering a wide range of the veterinary field, including mixed practice, Food Safety and Animal Welfare.
After graduated at Madrid University and acquired ten years’ experience as a partner of a mixed animal veterinary practice and livestock management in Spain, she decided to initiate a new career path in the UK in 2002, covering a full spectrum of public health-related posts since then.
Having worked as an Official Veterinarian in abattoirs for five years, she joined Eville & Jones in 2007, a major Meat Inspection service provider Company, where she covered several positions from Meat Inspector to Veterinary Manager, thus gaining an extensive experience at managing teams and projects. She joined the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in 2012, as a Lead Veterinarian and was granted a nine months career break in 2014 to manage the development of a new Company as an independent third party provider of Meat Inspections Services at EU Export Meat Plants, to comply with ISO 17020/2012 Standards and with European Regulations.
Since December 2014, Ana returned to the FSA as the South West Veterinary Field Coordinator (VFC) and current duties are to ensure that the Agency fulfils its statutory obligations on Animal Health, Animal Welfare and Food Hygiene, being responsible for active stakeholder engagement with contractors, industry bodies and other government department on technical matters.
JO PAYNE
Council Member
Jo graduated from Liverpool University in 1985 and after a short spell in mixed practice returned to undertake a PhD in the Department of Veterinary Preclinical Studies. This was followed by a post-doctoral position at Nottingham University.
Jo started work as a Veterinary Investigation Officer for the Veterinary Laboratories Agency in 1998, based at Sutton Bonington and has been based there since.
In 2001, between the demands of FMD, she started an MSc in Applied Toxicology at the University of Surrey. She has been in the equivalent to her current role since 2008 which is currently ‘Animal and Plant Health Agency’s National Veterinary Adviser for Toxicology and Chemical Feed and Food Safety’.
PETER MOORE
Council Member
Peter graduated from the University of Newcastle in zoology before moving to the Royal Veterinary College to study for a Masters in animal disease control. At that point he was bitten by the veterinary bug and graduated from Cambridge University in 2013 in veterinary medicine. Whilst at Cambridge he was a founding member of the One Health At Cambridge conference for students and recent graduates. The conference is now an annual event.
After two years in mixed practice in Lincolnshire, he moved into the pharmaceutical industry. He is the veterinary adviser for Nimrod Veterinary Products where his role includes, product development, pharamacovigilance and advising vets in practice on the use of their products.
WILLIAM GILMORE
Northern Ireland Representative
PWilliam graduated from University College Dublin in 1984 and after a number of years in small animal and mixed practice joined the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland. He was given the opportunity by DANI to undertake the MSc in meat science at Bristol University which he completed in 1990. He later obtained a Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Scholarship to study anatomic veterinary pathology with research leading to a PhD in the Department of Veterinary Pathology at Liverpool University, completed in 1997.
Except for a period spent on secondment to the Food Standards Agency NI in 2001/2002, William has continued to work in what has become the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). He has been involved in various aspects of animal health, animal welfare and veterinary public health. He has had spells as Official Veterinarian in a range of meat establishments and has been involved in training of OVs and meat inspectors and in the development and testing of IT systems for meat inspection recording.