Since graduating from Cambridge in 1988 Ifan has worked mainly in mixed practice. He was a partner in St James Veterinary Group, Swansea, for 23 years and still works in the practice part time since his retirement from the partnership in 2017.
Ifan is passionate about animal health and disease eradication. He is a member of the Wales Animal Health and Welfare Framework Group and a director of Cefn Gwlad Solutions, a company set up to lead bovine TB (bTB) related programmes, collaborating with other industry stakeholders. He is also a director of Iechyd Da (gwledig), the current bTB testing delivery partner in South Wales. He has represented BVA on working groups to eradicate BVD and sheep scab in Wales and is currently a member of BVA’s bTB working group.
Ifan said, “As a founding member of BVA Welsh Branch I am honoured and delighted to be elected as President. I have been passionate about representing the veterinary profession in Wales for many years and I plan to use this experience to represent my colleagues to the best of my abilities. I’m particularly looking forward to working with the BVA Branch team again and to engaging with veterinary colleagues throughout Wales to ensure their views on animal health, welfare and disease eradication are heard where it really matters.”
Ifan was the Regional Representative for Wales on BVA Council from 2011-2017 and helped found BVA Welsh Branch Council in 2011. He also worked on the ground-breaking BVA/RCVS Vet Futures project in 2014/15. Ifan succeeds Sarah Carr as BVA Welsh Branch President, the principal representative of BVA in Wales, for a two-year term.
Congratulating Ifan on his election, BVA President Simon Doherty said, “I’m very pleased to welcome Ifan as President of BVA Welsh Branch. He has already contributed so much to BVA and to BVA Welsh Branch and I’m confident that he will bring his trademark enthusiasm to this pivotal role.
“BVA’s branches do a magnificent job in representing the veterinary profession across the UK. Many of Wales’ recent animal health and welfare successes, such as the screening of over half of Welsh farms in the first year of Gwaredu BVD’s three-year programme, could not have been achieved without veterinary input and involvement. BVA Welsh Branch will continue to advocate for animal health and welfare in Wales both independently and through representing BVA on the increasingly influential Animal Welfare Network Wales.
“Ifan’s extensive experience in a variety of veterinary representative roles mean he is perfectly placed to help Welsh Branch to continue this collaborative approach and to be a strong voice for the Welsh veterinary community.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Sarah for all her hard work over the last two years. She has brought boundless energy to the role and overseen a step change in member and stakeholder engagement in Wales, from strengthening our Young Vet Networks to spearheading the branch’s presence at last year’s Royal Welsh Show.”
As part of the network of devolved and specialist divisions, BVA Branches contribute local knowledge and expertise to BVA’s wider lobbying and representational activities. Recently BVA Welsh Branch has helped progress a range of issues including work to review the requirements for setting up an animal welfare organisation in Wales, a consultation on third party puppy sales and progress revising welfare codes of practice for several different species.
They played key roles in responding to the landmark “Brexit and Our Land” consultation, securing the future of Welsh farming, and in representing the profession on the newly formed collaborative Wales Animal and Environment AMR delivery group.
Veterinary graduate support has been another key issue in Wales this year with a number of successful graduate events taking place and an excellent workforce and recruitment discussion evening in Swansea.
Lesley Griffiths, Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, responded to the speech as BVA’s Guest of Honour.
