Colonel Neil Smith takes over the reins

Jacqui Molyneux has handed over presidency of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) to Colonel Neil Smith.

The handover took place at the RCVS Day, held at London's Royal College of Physicians on July 5. The day also involved the RCVS annual general meeting alongside an awards ceremony.

Col Smith is currently director of the Army Veterinary and Remount Services, which means he is chief veterinary officer of the army and head of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps (RAVC), overseeing more than 35 veterinary officers.

Prior to this, Col Smith has held a mixture of clinical, staff and command positions, including working in small animal practice, and he also holds an appointment from the Queen as her honorary veterinary surgeon.

He graduated from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in 1989 and holds masters degrees in food science, defence administration and defence studies.

Col Smith has previously been president of the RVC Student Union Society, the RVC Alumnus Association, the Southern Counties Veterinary Society and the Association of Government Veterinarians.

Furthermore, he has sat on the British Veterinary Association's (BVA) Veterinary Policy Group and the education, advisory, preliminary investigation and planning and resources committees at the RCVS.

He has also sat on the Veterinary Nurses Council and been a member of the RCVS Council for a number of years. He is currently a council member of the Central Veterinary Society.

Upon taking up the role of RCVS president, he said: "I look forward to playing my part in taking the college into the next phase of its evolution and I am encouraged by the appetite for change shown by my fellow council members – and indeed the profession at large."

Col Smith also took the opportunity to credit the knowledge and determination Jacqui Molyneux, who has now taken over Dr Jerry Davies' role of vice-president.

"I would like to thank Jacqui for guiding us through a busy and challenging year of significant organisational change. She has been an approachable and down-to earth president."

Image courtesy of RCVS