FSA appoints new veterinary director

Tuesday 2 September 2008

Liz Redmond has been appointed as the Agency's new Veterinary Director. She will join the Agency in December from her current post as Director of Animal Health and Welfare Policy at the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) in Northern Ireland.

'I am very excited to be offered this opportunity and am looking forward to joining the team,' she said. 'As a significant amount of our food comes from animals, I can see an important role for the veterinary profession in shaping and delivering FSA policy, and I am keen to explore this further.'

Liz started her career as a practising veterinarian, working in rural practices in Australia and the UK. She later worked in Botswana, in the national veterinary diagnostic laboratory, running a large government field division. In 2003, after completing a degree in agricultural economics back in the UK, she became an assistant secretary at DARD. Her first post was Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer, providing professional veterinary advice within the department. In her current role she has been leading on all aspects of animal health and welfare policy development in Northern Ireland.

FSA Chief Executive Tim Smith said: 'I am delighted to welcome Liz to the Agency. She is a strong, dynamic leader with all the experience needed to make a real impact on our strategic agenda. I'm sure she will make a real difference to veterinary public health in the UK.'

Liz was appointed in an open competition and replaces Alick Simmons who has taken up the post of Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).