PROFESSOR Charles Milne has been announced as a new QMS board member.

Prof Milne will take up the role on April 1, 2019, joining three recently-announced board members including Gordon Wallace, who also joins on April 1, and Andy McGowan and Ann Irvine, who took up their posts in October 2018.

After studying at the Royal Veterinary College, London, Professor Milne worked for two years in mixed practice in the East of Scotland. He then moved to the State Veterinary Service in Perth where he gained extensive experience in disease management, including dealing with BSE, foot-and-mouth, avian influenza and bluetongue.

In 2003, Professor Milne was appointed as Scotland's chief veterinary officer, where he was responsible for advising Scottish Ministers on animal health, veterinary public health and animal welfare issues. In 2009, he was appointed as director of the Food Standards Agency Scotland, where he remained until July 1, 2014 when he was appointed Chief Veterinary Officer for the state of Victoria in Australia.

Chair of QMS, Kate Rowell, welcomed the new appointments and extended sincere thanks to John Scott and Ronnie Eunson, who are both stepping down from their QMS board roles.

“A great many talented and knowledgeable people applied for our board positions and I welcome the announcement of the appointment of Professor Charles Milne,” said Mrs Rowell. “We look forward to welcoming Charles and Gordon to the board this spring and I am confident they will bring with them valuable fresh ideas as well as experience.”

Professor Milne’s appointment is for four years from April 1, 2019 until March 31, 2023. Members of the QMS Board receive a fee of £180.00 per day for a time commitment of 20 days per year.