BVA announces new Board Chairman
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) is pleased to announce Philip Lowndes MRCVS as its new Board Chairman.
A graduate from Bristol University Veterinary School, Philip spent seven years in mixed practice in Sussex, Kent and Suffolk before embarking on a career in the veterinary pharmaceutical industry. Since then he has held national and international commercial roles including CEO of UK business and leading Global Marketing of a major international animal health pharmaceuticals business.
Mr Lowndes, who has a MBA degree, has also run business elective training at the Royal Veterinary College, which has provided first-hand experience of the concerns and opportunities facing new graduates within a changing profession.
The BVA Board oversees the performance of the Association and is responsible for corporate and financial governance and for setting the BVA’s strategic direction. It consists of nine members: the three Officers of the BVA (President, Senior Vice President and Junior Vice President), four Directors appointed by BVA Council and up to 2 non-veterinary Directors appointed by the Board. The Chairman is elected by the Board.
Commenting on the new appointment Gudrun Ravetz, President of the British Veterinary Association, said:
“We are delighted to announce Philip Lowndes as the new Chairman of the BVA Board. His experience and expertise in business, knowledge of the veterinary profession and involvement with BVA will be of great value as we continue to grow our membership and expand our services and support for vets, especially during the uncertainty caused by Brexit.
“I also want to take this opportunity to thank David Williams for all the hard work he has put in over many years. In his role as Chairman Derek’s experience and expertise have been vital in helping BVA grow as an organisation.”
Philip holds previous chair experience, as Chairman of the National Office of Animal Health (NOAH) between 1997-2004, and currently sits as Chairman of both the Novartis UK Pension Trustee Board and its Investment Committee. He joined BVA’s Board in 2013 and was re-elected by BVA Council for a second term in 2016. He will be taking over from Derek Williams, who stepped down in March after seven years of tireless work as Chairman.
Commenting on his new appointment, Mr Lowndes said:
“I am honoured to be elected as the next Chairman of the BVA and look forward to chairing the Board as it addresses the challenges ahead. The veterinary profession needs and deserves vibrant representation and it is the Board’s role to ensure that the organisation has the ability and the resources to achieve this to the benefit of our membership.”
The BVA Board also gained a new non-veterinary Board Director, Steven Anderson Dixon, from April. Mr Dixon brings with him a successful career in newspaper and magazine publishing, which will be an asset as BVA consolidates and continues to develop its portfolio of veterinary journals.
