WSPA welcomes new Chief Veterinary Adviser
May 22, 2012
David Bayvel, Chief Veterinary Adviser
© WSPA
© WSPA
New Zealander Dr David Bayvel has been announced as the new Chief Veterinary Adviser at WSPA.
He will be joining the organisation to replace Dr David Wilkins who served in a similar key role as Chief Veterinary Officer from 2004-2012. Dr Wilkins will continue his involvement with WSPA, working on several special projects.
WSPA at the heart of the veterinary profession
In his pivotal new senior role, Dr Bayvel will help ensure that WSPA is working at the heart of the veterinary profession around the world to support and advance animal welfare. This will include working with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) on the drafting of standards, with national chief veterinary officers, and with national and international veterinary bodies, to ensure the implementation of international standards and laws to protect the welfare of animals. He will also be advising on WSPA’s programmes supporting the education of veterinarians through our specially designed animal welfare training modules.Dr David Bayvel - Background
Dr Bayvel is one of the world’s pre-eminent experts in the fields of animal welfare and veterinary science. His career, which has taken him around the world – from Australia to Zambia, and from the UK to New Zealand – spans more than four decades and includes posts in private and public sector organisations and veterinary practice promoting ethical care and treatment of animals. He recently retired from the position of Director of Animal Welfare at the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
Dr Bayvel stated, “I am honoured to join WSPA as its new Chief Veterinary Adviser. I have long admired WSPA’s measured approach to animal welfare and its commitment to improving the conditions for animals around the world. WSPA has a proven track record on the world stage of forging collaborations with other key international NGOs and governments to have a lasting positive impact for animals and their communities.”
After obtaining his initial veterinary degree in Scotland from the University of Glasgow in 1967, Dr Bayvel then gained a Diploma in Tropical Veterinary Medicine from the University of Edinburgh. He became a member of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists, by examination in veterinary pharmacology, in 1983 and obtained a Masters Degree in Public Policy from New Zealand’s Victoria University of Wellington in 1994.
Dr Bayvel moved to New Zealand in 1982 and has represented the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry on the New Zealand National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee, the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee and the Trans-Tasman Animal Welfare Working Group.
Over the last two years, Dr Bayvel has received awards, and been honoured, by a number of international and national organisations including the OIE, the Australia and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching, the New Zealand Veterinary Association, the New Zealand Companion Animal Council and the Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. He was also awarded a Queen’s Service Order in the December 2011 Honours List and has recently been appointed by the New Zealand Government to the Veterinary Council of New Zealand.
Dr Bayvel has been actively involved with the OIE in addressing animal welfare issues at an international level. He chaired the 2001 OIE ad hoc expert group meeting on animal welfare and chaired the permanent OIE Animal Welfare Working Group from 2002-2012. He will now move to represent the International Coalition for Animal Welfare on this important OIE group.
A Key Role
Mike Baker, Chief Executive Officer at WSPA said, “We are thrilled that David Bayvel will be joining the WSPA family in such a key role. He brings with him a wealth of experience, which will be an invaluable asset to WSPA as we forge ahead in partnership with other key international stakeholders and the veterinary profession working towards a world where animal welfare matters and animal cruelty has ended.
“We also want to express our gratitude to David Wilkins for all his excellent work on behalf of WSPA over the years and for his continued support. We wish him well in all his future endeavours.”
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