New chief veterinary officer announced for UK

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has named Christine Middlemiss as the UK’s next chief veterinary officer.

She will join Defra from her current position in Australia, where she has served as the chief veterinary officer for New South Wales since August 2016. During this time, she has been credited with leading major improvements to biosecurity across many farming sectors.

Ms Middlemiss previously worked for Defra as deputy director for animal traceability and public health, and is an experienced veterinarian who has worked for several years in private practice in Scotland and the north of England.

The new appointee said: “I am delighted to have been appointed and it will be a privilege to lead my veterinary colleagues to support our farming and food industry in this hugely important role.”

She has been named as the successor to Nigel Gibbens, who is stepping down at the end of February 2018 following a successful ten years in the post. Over the last decade, he has helped to drive animal welfare improvements both at a national and international level.

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