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New Defra CVO begins work today

1st Mar 2018 / By Alistair Driver

Christine Middlemiss has today taken up post as UK Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO), replacing Nigel Gibbens who has stepped down after 10 years in the role.

Christine Middlemiss 1Dr Middlemiss joins Defra after serving as the CVO for New South Wales, Australia. She has previously worked for the Animal Health agency (now part of the Animal and Plant Health Agency) in 2008 as a Divisional Veterinary Manager in Scotland. She also led Defra’s Animal Traceability and Public Health policy team detecting and responding to new and emerging diseases, including Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea, working closely with the pug sector.

Dr Middlemiss said: "I am delighted to have been appointed. It is a privilege to take over from Nigel and lead my veterinary colleagues to support our farming and food industry on the UK reputation for high health and welfare of our animals.

"Our Secretary of State has confirmed he wants to cement the UK’s place as a world-leader on animal health and welfare as the UK leaves the European Union, and I’m delighted to have an opportunity to play a part in that."

You can see a video message from Dr Middlemiss marking her first day here

Welcoming the announcement of her appointment in December, NPA chief executive Zoe Davies said: "This is a good appointment. Christine has been very supportive of the pig industry, and, for example, was behind making PED notifiable in an industry partnership. She has worked at Defra before and has a good understanding of the industry."