BVA NI elects first president
Image: Carl Padgett gives NI Branch medal to Sandra Dunbar
After months of discussions with members and veterinary associations in Northern Ireland, the BVA Northern Ireland Branch held its first meeting in Belfast last week.
During the meeting veterinary surgeon Sandra Dunbar was unanimously elected as the first president of the branch, alongside president elect Pat Hart and honorary secretary Jean Wales. Speaking after her election Sandra said: "I'm delighted and honoured to lead the BVA Northern Ireland Branch in its first year, with the help and support of an exceptional Officer team and Branch Council, not to mention the BVA secretariat in London.
“This new mechanism for all the existing associations and veterinary groups, alongside individual BVA members resident in the region, to channel their views and work more effectively together as a whole, will lead to a much stronger voice for the profession on matters of animal health and welfare. I’m looking forward to seeing how it will develop.”
The creation of the Northern Ireland branch follows the formation of the BVA Welsh Branch and the reinvigoration of the Scottish branch. The move is to ensure that all BVA members and sectors of the veterinary profession in Northern Ireland have a voice on BVA policy.
Former BVA president Carl Padgett said of the branch: "It has been a long time in the making but it has been vitally important for us to spend time listening to the views of the local associations and our members…I very much look forward to working closely with Sandra and the team on important issues such as bovine TB and other endemic disease programmes, pet animal welfare, and research."
NI chief veterinary officer Bert Houston welcomed the new branch as he addressed the inaugural meeting. Commenting on the BVA's "valuable" assistance in conveying the veterinary view on matters such as microchipping and tail docking, Mr Houston said the branch "seems to me to be a logical progression." He added that the branch will "further expand the ability of the profession to make their views known even more effectively to government, the agri-food industry and the public."
Every BVA member in Northern Ireland is automatically a member of the BVA NI Branch, regardless of their membership of other organisations. The officer team form part of a larger Branch Council which will be made up of representatives covering different areas of expertise. Click here for more information about the Northern Ireland branch.
Eligible members of BEVA will be able to vote for their Council team until Monday, 17 August 2026. Members will have received an election email on 17 July.
