International veterinarians working together

Rachel is an Advanced Practitioner in Cattle Health and Production and a senior clinician, shareholder and Research Lead at Synergy Farm Health, a farm only veterinary practice in south west England.
Her research role involves managing a wide and varied research programme including innovative diagnostics and clinical approaches to infectious disease, nutrition, udder, foot and youngstock health. Rachel also carries out mastitis advisory work and offers a variety of training, mostly on topics relating to mastitis and the responsible use of antibiotics. She has a special interest in sustainability.
She is a director of the British Cattle Veterinary Association (with responsibility for medicines and sustainability), sits on the the Responsible Use of Medicines (RUMA) Targets Task Force, the Mastitis Control Plan Management Group, the Farm Vet Champion Steering Group, the Cattle Antibiotic Guardian Group, Red Tractor Dairy Board and chairs the Medicine Hub Industry Liaison Group.

Owen graduated from the University of Liverpool in 1994 with distinction. After working in clinical dairy practice for 19 years and gaining RCVS Specialist status he founded Dairy Veterinary Consultancy in 2013.
Owen provides advice and training for all types of dairy farming and veterinary businesses with a focus on leading effective change. He was awarded a Nuffield Scholarship (2010) to develop consultancy within the dairy veterinary sector. He developed the UK's national lameness management initiative for dairy farms (Healthy Feet Programme) and Dairy UK's MilkSure programme, for more responsible use of veterinary medicines and avoiding medicine residues in milk. He is an assessor for the National Association of Cattle Foot Trimmers and co-authored the well regarded textbook, Bovine Surgery and Lameness.
His research interests include the diagnosis and prevalence of sub-acute rumen acidosis and other rumen health disorders; the health and welfare of calves and behavioural characteristics of housed herds.
In 2022, Owen was awarded a Post Graduate Certificate in Change Leadership with distinction from Aberystwyth University. He is an experienced trainer, facilitator and mentor, as comfortable working with teams of people as he is with cows. He is experienced in working with hot climate dairy herds, as well as European dairy businesses of all scales and systems (housed; block calving; voluntary milking systems).
Owen’s professional goal is to improve the lives of cows and the people who look after them.

Leena qualified as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in Helsinki in 1986, and was a practicing veterinarian in country field practice for over a decade. 

As a veterinary expert in livestock, animal husbandry, welfare of production animals, meat and milk hygiene, antimicrobial resistance, food safety and public health, she is ideally suited to join our team of international expert consultants. 

Leena is already involved in several national working groups concerning food policy, animal health and welfare, and veterinary medicine.

After qualifying in 1990 I entered farm animal practice in the central south of England, moving to Synergy Farm Health thirty years later.
I am a Diplomat of the European College of Bovine Health Management, a past-president of the BCVA and a previous recipient of the Farmers Weekly Livestock Advisor of the Year Award.
In addition to my work in practice I am a director of CHeCS (Cattle Health Certification Standards) and chair their their technical committee. I am also a member of the technical committees of both BVDFree England and Action Johne's.
I am widely published in the veterinary and farming press, have spoken at conferences both at home and abroad and have authored an Atlas of Bovine Pathology.
Although I work in all aspects of routine and emergency bovine medicine and surgery and herd health management, particular areas of current interest include suckler herd management and productivity and infectious disease management, control and possibly eradication.

Kate was born and brought up in New Zealand and gained her veterinary degree from Massey University in 1994, completed a production animal internship at Colorado State University in 1999 and gained her Certificate in Cattle Health and Production from the RCVS in 2002. Kate has traveled extensively and spent time working in New Zealand, the United States, the Netherlands and many areas of the United Kingdom. In 2002 Kate founded a specialised farm practice in the southeast of England which grew rapidly into a successful 11 vet practice. Since 2008 Kate has worked as an independent veterinary consultant. Kate's areas of expertise include farmer and veterinary training, cattle fertility - especially for seasonal calving herds - nutrition and pasture based sustainable production systems

Dr Júlia is a Hungarian branded refugee, raised in the United States, and calling Aotearoa home since 2015. She graduated from Washington State University in 2015 and has led quite an eclectic career, including government regulation and oversight of New Zealand’s primary industries, wild avian medicine, and recently companion animal medicine and surgery. In 2022, Dr Júlia completed Memberships in Veterinary Public Health. Every day, she strives to live up to her passions in using veterinary medicine and science for the benefit of humanity, her love of animals and this Earth, and her dedication to a high quality spectrum of veterinary care.
When not at work, Dr Júlia focuses on self care through time with her husband and loved ones, catching up on her favourite shows, rocking out to music, and finding ways to keep her body active.

1. Field of work: Certified cattle vet practioneer at Kvægdyrlægerne Midt Aps a) Herd Health, b)Acute clinical cases CATTLE, sheep and goats, c) Case based articles Cattle magazines for farmers, d) Management and innovation "Kvægdyrlægerne Midt Aps as a firm, e) Planning and managing seminars for farmers and cattle vets. 2) Relevant education a) 1987-90 Farmers education with 2,5 years of work at dairy farms and 5 months of school, b) 1992-98 Vet. education , c) 2008-10 education certified cattle vet, d) education on lameness, claw health and communication. 3) Adds to research a) 2000. co author "selenium in cattle report no 87" SEGES, DK, b) Participant in European field test/trial (SAFEDRY) of the product Velactis from CEVA, c) Partner and participant in KliMaks, a danish research project connected to The University of Aarhus. Focusing transition period. A lot of sampling, testing and clincal scoring at herd/cow level. 4) Other things a) 1998-2015 working vet on different species e.g. dogs, cats, horses, pigs, mink and ruminants, b) 2015 - now: Partner specialized vet practice for cattle and other ruminants, c) 2003-2008 Member of the board Danish Vet association (DDD) The Cattle Section, d) DDD representative in the "advisory board according dairy cattle welfare", The Ministry of Justice, DK, e) 2010-16 Member of the board for Certified Catlle Vets (DKF), f) Private life (with my wife and family) as a hobby farmer with cattle, sheep, pigs, hens, dogs and cats

Jon Reader qualified as a veterinary surgeon in 1997 from the University of Bristol and has been a farm animal vet in Somerset ever since. In 2001 he gained the Certificate in Cattle Health and Production and then in 2010 the Diploma in Cattle Health and Production. He is an RCVS recognised Specialist in Cattle Health and Production and in 2013 was runner up as Farmers Weekly Farm Advisor of the Year. He holds the NPTC Level 3 foot trimming qualification and has also attended a five day Dairyland foot trimming course in the USA. Jon is a LANTRA approved trainer and is also a member of the Nottingham Dairy Herd Health Group (NDHHG) as well as being a member of the UK Dairy Cattle Mobility Steering Group. Jon is a Healthy Feet Programme mobility mentor but is also a trainer for other mentors. He jointly runs the BCVA advanced practitioner lameness course.

Jon has been involved with lameness all his career and has a particular interest in foot trimming, working with para professionals as well as using technology to assist in the recording and analysis of mobility and lameness records. He has carried out peer reviewed research and has presented papers at conferences both nationally and internationally as well as carrying out consultancy work in China.

Monitoring herds dairy production (cattle and goats) and lactating
Breeding audits
Development of livestock breeding plans
Optimization of production and management of breeding (reproduction, feeding and quality of milk)
Expertise robotic treats and milking

Thirty years experience in mixed species practice with an specialist interest in sheep health
Recent graduate in Conservation Medicine (Edinburgh) and now looking at disease processes with a one health perspective

After my studies and my doctoral degree in Hannover I started working as a large animal practitioner in Hessen. My next stop was in Denmark where I worked with dairy cows. Back in Germany I worked as a dairy cow practitioner and passed my exam in Zusatzbezeichnung in Bestandsbetreuung im Erzeugerbetrieb Rind. Then I passed my Postgraduate degree in Herd Health management in Denmark. Since 2018 I've been running a veterinary clinic for farm animals in Schleswig-Holstein, located in the northern part of Germany. We are three practice owners and a total of 13 veterinarians, one vet running the laboratory and a Msc. agri-management.

Emily originates from Lancashire and joined the practice as an intern in 2012 having graduated from the University of Cambridge.
As well as dairy cow medicine, her special interest is sheep and goat production with an emphasis on flock health planning, reducing production losses on sheep units with a special emphasis on neonatal management and infectious disease. She is actively involved in clinical research in practice, student teaching and steers our sheep farmer training.
Emily completed an alternative residency under the supervision of Dr Fiona Lovatt in 2018 and was awarded a European Diploma in Small Ruminant Health Management (http://ecsrhm.eu/ ). She is a RCVS Recognised Specialist in Sheep Health and Production.
She was actively involved in the foundation of Farm Association of Veterinary Students (FAVS) www.favs.org.uk encouraging veterinary students to pursue a career in farm animal medicine. She is also a committee member of the Goat Veterinary Society, the Sheep Veterinary Society and member of the British Cattle Veterinary Association. Emily is a regular contributor to the farming and veterinary press.
BCVA Accredited Johne's Veterinary Adviser
Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus and BVDFree England Scheme Adviser

Working as veterinary surgeon and veterinary consultant in Ireland. Special interest in education of farmers and undergraduates, past president, hon treasurer, chair food animal group,of Veterinary Ireland. Director of XLVets Ireland.

Bovine individual and curative medicine : internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics
Dairy bovine preventive and herd medicine : monthly or bimonthly preventive medicine (+-2200 dairy cows ; reproduction, udder health, nutrition, dry cows management, etc)
Livestock data collection and analyses system implementation
Creation and follow-up of field trials for nutritional and pharmaceutical products
Involved in the developpement of Optiperf (provide Milk recording and associate services to our veterinary practice clients)
Consultant for feed companies: farmers and technicians trainings, technical field assistance, products and technical strategy developpement advice
Expertise robotic treats and milking

Diether qualified as a veterinary surgeon in 2004 from the University of Ghent, Belgium and has been working as a farm animal practitioner ever since. He holds the Certificate in Cattle Health and Production and Diploma in Bovine Health Management. He is an RCVS recognised Specialist in Cattle Health and Production. His main interests are herd health, cattle lameness and practical training to vets

Through veterinary science I have had incredible opportunities to work all over the world, in a wide range of roles, and with people from vastly different economical, cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Experiencing the animal-related struggles and triumphs shared by humans from Somalia to Sydney has reinforced just how important animal health and well-being are to all of us.
Completing a Master of Social Change and Development has provided a structural backbone to my practice, enabling a more complex understanding of the challenges faced by humans as we work to ensure our populations are fed and clothed, whilst improving on animal health and well-being.
I have always had a strong interest in teaching and helping others understand their animals and their needs, and I have a particular passion for preventative medicine, epidemiology, and welfare.
I have been described as logical, intuitive, and patient by my peers, and thoroughly enjoy learning and sharing knowledge, and using creativity to tackle the complex and wicked problems we face together.

Veterinarian with special education in cattle diseases and production.
My aim is to help our farmers to produce the best product. I focus on the way of the product, through the foodchain. I work for high quality of welfare, sustainability, durability, lowering of our antibiotic consumption, professional use off antibiotics/narrow-spectrum antibiotics and the importance of bringing the Bovine adviser/veterinarians opinion in mind of both the farmer and the politicians.

Expertise management
Management consulting collective pathology and zootechnics
Livestock audit for service firms, food manufacturers, dairies
Health monitoring of cattle farms and formations
Dairy cows consultant
Expertise robotic treats
Optimization of production and management of breeding (reproduction, feeding and quality of milk)

I am comfortable working across species, though my specialty is in poultry production. My preferred work is in the use of economics in animal health and organisational management.
A current major consultancy role is as the Programme Manager for the Global Burden of Animal Diseases (GBADs) programme (www.animalhealthmetrics.org). I have supported the programme in various capacities since 2018, and was part of a small team that raised US$7m from philanthropic donors and government for the roll out phase.
Over the last decade I have gained experience working in managerial and technical roles for two integrated poultry producers in the UK, at livestock veterinary practices in UK and Canada and on food safety and animal health projects in partnership with government in the UK, overseas and with the FAO in South East Asia. I thrive on finding synergies between industry and academia, sharing data and using a collaborative approach to address major industry issues such as Campylobacter control and antimicrobial resistance.
I have a passion for coaching and mentoring which I believe should form the basis of any people development plan.
I am studying for a part time PhD at University of Liverpool in the area of behavioural economics.

As the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) of the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (BAF), Dr. Awais Anees provides strategic leadership to safeguard animal health and national biodiversity. Dr. Anees is also a PMP-certified Senior Biosecurity Executive and WOAH National Focal Point for Wildlife with over 8 years of progressive, high-impact international experience steering public health, border biosafety containment, and cross-cutting animal-borne disease programs.

I graduated in Lisbon in 2007, and always had the ambition of working with food producing animals, in particular with cattle.
My Doctoral studies (2007-2009) were a life-changing experience in the sense that I lived abroad for the first time, which taught me a lot about myself, and I had to work amongst extremely demanding individuals, who expected nothing but excellence.
I have taught in Vet School-University Lusófona since 2009 and that has equipped me with a strong ability to engage people to know and do more, considering that not many vet students are naturally interested in farm animals. It has also prepared me for public speaking in different types of audience and provided my research opportunities.
The residency programme at the Royal Veterinary College (2012-2015) has put me in contact with the best specialists in cattle health and production in the world, such as Joep Driessen, Peter Edmonson, Arcangelo Gentile and many others, and obtain the Dip.ECBHM title.
My work at the UK governmental agency APHA (2018-2019) has took my scientific skills and knowledge to a higher level and given me a different perspective of the animal production sector.
My strengths lie not only on my scientific knowledge and clinical experience, but also my solid soft skills, including empathy, flexibility of thought, team work, and ability to inspire others.
I believe my next right step is to use these skills in a consultant role, where I can work with clients to improve their livelihoods and ruminant’s health and welfare.

Bolette Rafn graduated as a veterinarian from the University of Copenhagen in January 2015.
Bolette grew up in the countryside and has worked with farm animals and horses since she was just
13 years old. Bolette's path to becoming a veterinarian was driven by her strong
interest in farm animals. During her studies, she chose to specialise in production
animals, and her final thesis focused on evaluating milk yield in Danish dairy herds
experiencing outbreaks of Mycoplasma bovis.

I have more than 20 years of experience as veterinarian and I am working almost exclusively as advisory veterinarian in dairy herds at Vendsyssel Landdyrlæger.
I have previously worked in mixed practice and I have for eight years worked as dairy farmer, which gives me an extensive experience in the meeting with the cattle farmer.
I see the agenda on sustainability as crucial to the future of the cattle industry. We, the cattle industry, must deliver concrete, measurable results on climate parameters and simultaneously show positive results on agendas of welfare, nature conservation, biodiversity and local development. By showing results on the mentioned agendas, we have the opportunity to affect the political agenda and hereby achieve a more sustainable political opinion to develop our industry.

David enjoys working with people on projects that benefit them and the animals they care for. He grew up on a lifestyle block North of Rotorua and spent the first 6 months after graduation working on two dairy farms before starting a mixed practice role in Masterton. This time was formative in his understanding that handling animals quietly is essential to efficient farming and that anything we want to introduce to a system must have a pragmatic application if we want to see change.
David firmly believes that sustainable farming systems are built on healthy, well-nourished and well-socialised animals with supportive infrastructure and personnel.