Maria Dominguez qualified in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Zaragoza, Spain, in 1995. After a short period in small animal practice in Spain, she moved to the UK to work in abattoirs for the Meat Hygiene Service and joined the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) in 2000 as a Temporary Veterinary Inspector. She has worked for the Animal and Plant Health Agency and its predecessor organisations since then, serving as a Veterinary Officer until 2022 and in various Veterinary Adviser roles thereafter. She has a special interest in bovine tuberculosis, including disease affecting other species, and is currently the Lead Investigator for the Cattle Vaccine Field Trials supporting Marketing Authorisation Application for the TB vaccine and companion DIVA test.