Dr. Kirsten Dunbar has been named president of the Northern Ireland branch of the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and the North of Ireland Veterinary Association (NIVA).
Dunbar said that with the extended grace period expiring at the end of the year, there is an urgent need to resolve the long-standing question of future access to veterinary medicine in Northern Ireland.
“The UK Government’s manifesto commitment to secure an EU-UK veterinary agreement presents the best opportunity to achieve a permanent resolution to the issue and we will therefore continue to work with both the government and the EU to ensure the negotiation is prioritised and the veterinary voice in Northern Ireland is considered,” she said.
Ulster Unionist Party MP for South Antrim Robin Swann recently hosted a BVA briefing in the UK Parliament attended by past BVA NI president, and now honorary secretary, Mark Little, to encourage MPs and Peers to press the UK Government to find a solution to this issue.
Dr. Dunbar previously served as the junior vice president for both associations. She was officially elected president at the joint BVA NI Branch and NIVA Annual General Meeting (AGM), which took place on February 27 at Malone House in Belfast.
Dr. Dunbar succeeds Dr. Sharon Verner, who now moves into the role of senior vice president for the coming year.
Following studies at Glasgow Visionary School, Dr. Dunbar worked in both equine and small animal practice. Later she joined the Department of Agriculture Veterinary Service. Dr. Dunbar also worked closely with a range of NI stakeholders and veterinary surgeons in both practice and statutory roles.
Dunbar has also undertaken a number of roles in the Food Standards Agency Northern Ireland (FSA NI), including operational delivery, development of policy and legislation and as a member of the senior management team.
BVA president Elizabeth Mullineaux thanked the former president for her work as she welcomed Dr. Dunbar into the role.
She said: “It has been an increasingly busy few years for BVA’s Northern Ireland branch and that is only going to continue into this new presidential term.
“With so many complex issues on the table, all needing urgent resolutions, it’s vital we have a strong and resilient BVA NI Branch officer team.
“I know Kirsten will lead this work with confidence and ensure that a veterinary voice is heard loud and clear in these negotiations,” she concluded.
