VETLIFE - Key Persons
Since graduation from Bristol, I have enjoyed a variety of roles within the veterinary community that binds our profession globally. My career has embraced 15 years in mixed clinical practice, a period in what was then the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the international world of animal therapeutics, based for some years in Australia and then Germany. For many years I encountered the health and welfare issues of animals in differing livestock or household conditions around the world. No matter which animal, or circumstance , I have an enduring appreciation of the commonality of purpose and the unity of spirit of all those engaged in their veterinary care.
Having retired in 2013 from my final role as Head of the Animal Health Division of Bayer for UK & Ireland my veterinary life has further continued to expand in many ways. I am currently Non-executive Chair of an international veterinary services business, a Trustee of RCVS Knowledge and am privileged to have been made an honorary life member of the National Office of Animal Health (NOAH) for services to the animal health industry; I also occasionally provide consultancy services to international veterinary business.
In my previous role as Hon. Treasurer of Vetlife I have sought to ensure that the charity has the necessary resources to meet the ever growing challenges before it - not least those presented by Covid-19. Having been honoured to be elected President of Vetlife, it is my pleasure to work with its wonderful team of dedicated staff and volunteers to maintain, and indeed expand, the quality of service it provides and to honour and grow the reputation that Vetlife has justly earned from all parts of the veterinary community we support.
After graduating from RVC in 2002 and being involved as a student in the national effort to control Foot and Mouth Disease in 2001, James worked initially in Essex, before moving with his wife to a practice in Uttoxeter. Over his time there and in Ashbourne, his interest in infectious disease control developed, seeing him coordinating regional BVD control schemes as well as being amongst the early advocates of controlling the controllable with Bovine TB.
James joined helpline in 2016 and remains involved as a helpline volunteer, as well as a trustee of the charity. It is his hope that over the coming term, the charity will continue to thrive by further joining up the threads of excellent work that it does for so many in our profession.
I graduated in 1990 from the RCVS and have been in private practice ever since. I currently co-own a practice in Hampshire with my wife, and am an Advanced Practitioner in Zoological Medicine. As with many veterinary families my daughters (now grown up and non-veterinary) have also had roles in the practice from a young age!
I graduated from RVC in 2000, and following an Internship and Residency, I joined a farm animal practice and stayed and helped grow the business as Owner, Partner and finally Director until December 2017.
For many years I was also an Officer in the Army Reserves and deployed to Afghanistan where I commanded infantry soldiers under intense physical and psychological pressure.