JOHN FISHWICK, senior lecturer at the Royal Veterinary College, has been announced as president of the British Veterinary Association for 2017/2018.

With over 30 years’ experience in veterinary practice and academia, in the UK and overseas, Mr Fishwick is well placed to represent the varied veterinary roles and diversity of BVA members.

After graduating from Cambridge University in 1985, he worked in small animal and farm animal general practice. Specialising in cattle health and production, he became a lecturer in farm animal practice at the RVC in 1990, where he was responsible for the farm animal side of the RVC’s large animal practice, serving clients throughout Hertfordshire and Essex.

In 1997 John moved to Saudi Arabia, where he worked as the head veterinarian to the world’s largest fully integrated dairy company, farming over 25,000 high producing dairy cows in a desert environment. He returned to the RVC in 2003 as senior lecturer in dairy herd medicine, and from 2006 he was head of the biological services unit for three years.

In 2012 he was appointed as head of the newly formed Department of Production and Population Health, until he stood down from that earlier this year.

On becoming BVA president, he said: “It is a huge honour to represent my fellow members of BVA. I am constantly inspired by the tenacity and dedication of my colleagues and it is a privilege – particularly during this time of professional, social and political upheaval – to be so involved in a profession that is pivotal to animal health, welfare and protecting human health too.”

Veterinary consultant Simon Doherty has been named as BVA junior vice president. He graduated as a veterinary surgeon from the University of Glasgow in 2000, after which he worked for five years in predominantly farm animal and equine practice in West Stirlingshire, Scotland, and in North Down, Northern Ireland.

Mr Doherty was instrumental in setting up Veterinary Northern Ireland as a ‘one-stop shop’ for the local veterinary associations in Northern Ireland; managing stakeholder relationships, coordinating responses to government consultations, and organising conferences and other CPD events.

Commenting on his appointment, he said: “We have entered an era of significant political and economic change that is already presenting challenges to the veterinary professions and animal health industry. It is a tremendous honour to take on the role of junior VP just now; representing the interests of veterinary surgeons engaged in diverse careers throughout the United Kingdom, who make essential contributions to animal health and welfare, and the protection of public health."