2024 Conference Programme

A Bristol graduate, Andrew worked in mixed practice in Wiltshire for 16 years. He joined MAFF “temporarily” in 2000, worked through the FMD epidemic of 2001 and became a Veterinary Officer. He left APHA after 14 years, which included a year seconded the Welsh Government as a Veterinary Advisor on bovine TB. Andrew is now a regional TB test assessor and has worked on OCQ(V)s for Improve International. He also continues to work part-time for a large practice in Wiltshire.

After qualifying from Liverpool in 1984, David spent 16 years working as an assistant and partner in a mixed practice on the Welsh/Shropshire border, before joining the State Veterinary Service in the year 2000. Between 2000 and 2005, David was a case vet for multiple TB cases in Herefordshire, and – amongst various other responsibilities – was involved in many aspects of the national notifiable disease emergencies of the early 2000s. For ten years from 2005, he managed the national farm animal feed control programme relating to animal proteins, being recognised by Defra as a national expert in that subject. David has presented papers in Beijing at the UK–China Summit and the EU–China Trade Project on feed safety and feed incident investigation relating to animal proteins. He has also provided training at BTSF courses to EU delegates on farm animal feed sampling and animal by-products. David has been involved in the Vet Ops Team at the National Disease Emergency Centre in London in more recent avian influenza outbreaks.

In December 2015, David started his current role, which involves providing veterinary advice on TB to Welsh Government policy colleagues and to APHA field staff.

Iain qualified in 1983 from Glasgow University Veterinary School, after which he stayed on to became a research assistant in the Department of Physiology; working on chemotherapy of Trypanosoma congolense in cattle.

From October 1984 to December 2002, Iain worked as a veterinary surgeon in mixed veterinary practice in Duns, Berwickshire, Scottish Borders. He was a self-described ‘jack of all trades’, undertaking a variety of livestock farm work (sheep/cattle/ostrich/game birds), as well as equine and small animal work.

He joined the State Veterinary Service in December 2002 as a Veterinary Officer in Galashiels, covering the large variety of work that APHA undertake. After developing expertise in animal by-product (ABP) work, he became the Scottish Lead Veterinary Officer for ABP. He was involved in various disease outbreaks, including Newcastle disease in partridge (2006), foot and mouth disease (2007), and both low and high pathogenicity avian influenza.

Iain undertook various temporary additional responsibility and secondment roles (Policy Veterinary Adviser (VA), VA in the old vet and tech services, Scottish Veterinary Lead) and was promoted to a substantive VA: Field Epidemiology in Animal Health and Welfare Advice team in 2015. In this role, he was responsible for providing support to Scotland Field Delivery, particularly around bTB control.

He re-joined the Scotland Field Delivery Team in December 2023 as a fourth Veterinary Lead with responsibility for the south-west of Scotland (Ayr, Dumfries and Stranraer offices), along with an overarching responsibility for the ‘endemics’ work area (bTB, sheep scab and bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD)), and liaison with Food Standards Scotland (FSS) and the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

Outside of work, Iain manages a smallholding with his wife, walks the dog, gardens, claims to eat too much and generally tries to switch off.

After seven years in mixed practice, Tony joined MAFF in 1996 as a field vet. He developed an interest in epidemiology and joined the Field Epidemiology team as a veterinary advisor in 2014. He gained an MSc in veterinary epidemiology and public health from the RVC.

Since 2017, Tony has been part of the APHA M. bovis whole genome sequence (WGS) project. He has been part of local TB stakeholder groups for several years, and is currently temporary head of the TB Policy Advice team in APHA, working closely with Defra TB Policy.

Sophia is currently a veterinary adviser in the Animal Health and Welfare Advice Services team for the Animal and Plant Health Agency. She is responsible for effective implementation of Government policy in the field of animal welfare, both in the UK and at European and International levels. In her present role, she has responsibility for ensuring the delivery of the farm animal welfare inspection programme, reporting obligations for UK farmed welfare in line with internal and external audit requirements, as well as provision of welfare training across Government and with agency delivery partners.

Sophia designed the programme of cross compliance inspections across GB and has run this programme since 2007, continuing to do so for Wales and Scotland. She performed key roles in developing both GB and DAERA implementation of the meat chicken directive and developing the FSA/FSS referrals programme, which has been in place since 2017/18.

Charles graduated from Harper Adams in 1980. He worked in livestock marketing for three years, during which time he became associated with the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA), carrying out appraisals of livestock markets. Since 1988, Charles has worked full-time for the HSA; initially as a Technical Officer and as Technical Director from 2001 to the present.

Charles has been involved in collaborative research with the Royal Veterinary College, the University of Bristol and ADAS on projects including:

• captive-bolt stunning of water buffalo
• livestock market surveys
• head-restraint of cattle
• comparative bleed-out rates of stunned and non-stunned sheep and cattle
• humane killing of neonates

He has been a member of a number of committees and steering groups, most recently the BVA animal welfare at slaughter group. Charles provides training for RSPCA staff, slaughtermen, knackermen, hunt servants, the State Veterinary Service, police and armed forces and livestock farmers.

Outside the UK, he has spoken on animal welfare between the farmgate and slaughter in Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Spain, Finland, Turkey, Taiwan, the Philippines, Eire, China, Norway and Estonia. Outside the educational sphere, he has given evidence as an expert witness in a number of cases involving animal welfare at slaughter.

Charles is a Member of the Institute of Meat, a Churchill Fellow of 1990, an Associate Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Societies, a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Butchers and a vice-president of the Association of Meat Inspectors.

Sarah is from originally from Michigan in the United States, where she obtained a degree in microbiology and chemistry. She worked in a veterinary clinic before moving to Glasgow to attend veterinary school, where she explored non-clinical career paths. For years she thought she would become an anatomic pathologist, but on a whim undertook a masters/residency program in public health, which she enjoyed immensely. She has worked in research, infectious disease diagnostics, academia, and – most recently – has become a full time export official veterinarian. Her passions lie in veterinary mental health, where she is currently undertaking a class in counselling skills with scope to become a veterinary-specific counsellor.

Carmen Marco originally qualified in Zaragoza, Spain, where she worked as a Government Veterinary Officer in public and animal health roles, before moving to Great Britain to work as a vet.

She has over 20 years’ experience in a variety of veterinary roles, from field to managerial or strategic positions. Carmen currently works for APHA as a Veterinary Adviser within VENDU (Veterinary Exotic Notifiable Disease Unit), and her portfolio includes avian influenza, exotic notifiable wildlife diseases, and new and emerging ones. She has been heavily involved with BSE cases, outbreaks of zoonotic disease such as Salmonella, and the HPAI outbreak of 2021–24.

Carmen is also studying an MSc in One Health with the University of Edinburgh.

Out of work, she enjoys time with her pets, gardening, cooking and being in contact with nature.

A Bristol graduate, Andrew worked in mixed practice in Wiltshire for 16 years. He joined MAFF “temporarily” in 2000, worked through the FMD epidemic of 2001 and became a Veterinary Officer. He left APHA after 14 years, which included a year seconded the Welsh Government as a Veterinary Advisor on bovine TB. Andrew is now a regional TB test assessor and has worked on OCQ(V)s for Improve International. He also continues to work part-time for a large practice in Wiltshire.

After graduating in 1992 from the Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Paula spent 11 years in general practice, before moving into a technical role in industry in 2003.

Paula joined Dogs Trust in 2010, where she is now Veterinary Director. Her responsibilities include Dogs Trust’s veterinary matters, outreach and public affairs work. This includes Dogs Trust’s puppy smuggling campaign, focusing on the illegal importation of puppies and pregnant mums into the UK.

Paula has a particular interest in the link between abuse of animals and abuse of people and is current Chair of the Links Group. She is regularly involved in undergraduate training on Non-Accidental Injury (NAI) within the UK veterinary schools and has spoken widely on the subject.

Paula is a founder member of the Association of Charity Vets. She chairs the Pet Advertising Advisory Group (PAAG), is vice chair of the Canine and Feline Sector Group, sits on the RSPCA’s Prosecutions Oversight Panel and is a member of the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission.

In 2017, Paula received BSAVA’s J A Wight Memorial Award for her contribution to the welfare of companion animals, and in 2023 the WSAVA’s Global One Health Award.

Katherine is a business partner and co-founder of SK Pet Travel Experts and has extensive experience of companion animal exports to Europe and beyond.

Sophie is a business partner and co-founder of SK Pet Travel Experts and has extensive experience of companion animal exports to Europe and beyond.

Mihai Miron embarked on his journey in the realm of veterinary science by graduating as a veterinary surgeon from Iasi University, Romania, in 2013. Mihai’s aspirations led him across borders to the United Kingdom, where he ventured into the domain of meat hygiene inspection at one of the nation’s largest abattoirs. In 2016, fuelled by the desire to provide comprehensive care to animals in need, Mihai took a bold step and founded his own veterinary practice, while also using his skills to provide services to the local dog shelter.

In 2021, Mihai’s journey reached a pivotal juncture as he assumed the role of Managing Director and business partner at Heathrow Veterinary Services. He dedicated himself to streamlining and enhancing the pet export process, forging partnerships with private pet owners and pet travel agents alike.

Beyond his professional endeavours, Mihai’s interests are diverse. As a qualified fitness instructor, Mihai advocates for well-being, both for himself and others. His love for nature means that he finds solace in the tranquillity of fishing; a pursuit that allows him to reconnect with the natural world.

After graduating from Glasgow Vet School in 2000, Inga worked small animal clinical practice in Scotland. In 2015, she joined her first Worldwide Veterinary Services volunteer trip, which led to regular volunteering with veterinary organisations in Asia and Africa, participating in mass rabies vaccination, neutering campaigns, and delivering surgical training to local veterinary surgeons.

Inga completed a master’s degree in 2020 from The University of Edinburgh in Conservation Medicine, conducting research in Nepal investigating free-roaming dog canine distemper virus seroprevalence, and the transmission risk to wildlife. In 2023, she joined Mission Rabies as the Malawi Country Director managing the local expansion of the rabies work in Malawi.

Sarah is from originally from Michigan in the United States, where she obtained a degree in microbiology and chemistry. She worked in a veterinary clinic before moving to Glasgow to attend veterinary school, where she explored non-clinical career paths. For years she thought she would become an anatomic pathologist, but on a whim undertook a masters/residency program in public health, which she enjoyed immensely. She has worked in research, infectious disease diagnostics, academia, and – most recently – has become a full time export official veterinarian. Her passions lie in veterinary mental health, where she is currently undertaking a class in counselling skills with scope to become a veterinary-specific counsellor.

Silvia is an Export Official Veterinarian holding OCQ(V)s ES, EX, PX, UX and SX. She is Imports Lead at Grangemouth Port, working for Mistev Export Health Certification Limited.

Greta graduated from the Veterinary University in Brno (Czech Republic) in 2007 and is a Veterinary Advisor within the Veterinary Trade Facilitation Unit in Defra. In this role she provides technical input to facilitate trade of live animals and animals’ products to the EU and the rest of the world. She has technical involvement in pet travel.

Prior to joining DEFRA in 2021 she was a Field Veterinary Leader at the Food Standard Agency for three years. Between 2014 and 2017 she worked as Senior Veterinary Inspector in APHA Wales field services and was seconded to DEFRA Imports Policy Team in 2018 as a Senior Policy Advisor for EU exit matters.

Over the years she gathered experience in various government veterinary subject areas, within the animal health and public health sectors.

Katherine is a business partner and co-founder of SK Pet Travel Experts and has extensive experience of companion animal exports to Europe and beyond.

Mihai Miron embarked on his journey in the realm of veterinary science by graduating as a veterinary surgeon from Iasi University, Romania, in 2013. Mihai’s aspirations led him across borders to the United Kingdom, where he ventured into the domain of meat hygiene inspection at one of the nation’s largest abattoirs. In 2016, fuelled by the desire to provide comprehensive care to animals in need, Mihai took a bold step and founded his own veterinary practice, while also using his skills to provide services to the local dog shelter.

In 2021, Mihai’s journey reached a pivotal juncture as he assumed the role of Managing Director and business partner at Heathrow Veterinary Services. He dedicated himself to streamlining and enhancing the pet export process, forging partnerships with private pet owners and pet travel agents alike.

Beyond his professional endeavours, Mihai’s interests are diverse. As a qualified fitness instructor, Mihai advocates for well-being, both for himself and others. His love for nature means that he finds solace in the tranquillity of fishing; a pursuit that allows him to reconnect with the natural world.

Sophie is a business partner and co-founder of SK Pet Travel Experts and has extensive experience of companion animal exports to Europe and beyond.