Katrine Lawaetz becomes chief veterinarian at Arla

From February 1st, Katrine Lawaetz will begin her new role as head veterinarian at Arla. This appointment into an independent executive role comes at the end of her tenure as chairman of Dyrlæger & Ko. Katrine is also currently the chair of VetSalus.

Katrine Lawaetz has long been a prominent voice in the cattle veterinary profession, both in Denmark and internationally. She has actively worked to create opportunities so that veterinarians can take a step further into the food value chain and use their expertise to work with larger food companies.

"Animal welfare is an area that is very close to me - and I also think that it can be difficult for many companies to know how to work professionally with it. That's why I'm also proud and honored that Arla can see the idea of ​​putting an additional focus on animal welfare across international borders." says Katrine Lawaetz about her new position.

 The board of VetSalus welcomes Katrine’s appointment; one of the core strategies of VetSalus has been the upskilling vets to be able to advise companies on animal welfare and other ‘One Health” issues. Katrine’s employment at Arla will benefit both organisations, demonstrating the fundamental role veterinarians can have, when working with food processors and producers, both in governance and executive capacities. Katrine will retain her governance role at VetSalus for the foreseeable future, which will involve close liaison with the VetSalus executive group..

"With an increased focus on climate, environment and sustainability, it is still essential that we consider the well-being of animals. Animal welfare remains fundamental, especially as its inclusion can be difficult to quantify in the same way as, for example, climate data or antimicrobial usage. Therefore, there is a real need for veterinarians to help set the framework within food companies and to influence their agendas in these areas."

Thanks to Veterinarians & Ko
The change takes place after Katrine Lawaetz, steps down as chairman, at Dyrlæger & Ko's general meeting on 16 January 2025. She is unable to to stand as chair again due to a rotation principle in the articles of association.

Director of Dyrlæger & Ko and VetSalus Scandinavia, Rune Friis Kristensen, emphasised Katrine’s role at Dyrlæger & Ko:

"First of all, at Dyrlæger & Ko, we want to thank Katrine for the enormous effort she has delivered. She is one of the zealots in our organization - and her eternal will to develop, improve and not settle for “average” has been a driving force for us. She has done the position of chairman of the board a great honour," says Rune Friis Kristensen and continues:

"It is also an important step for VetSalus that Katrine gains experience from one of the world’s major food manufacturers. The need for veterinary expertise will change in the future. The professional work close to animals will never disappear - but we believe that in the future there will also be an increasing need for our professionalism to be present to a greater extent in business meeting rooms, influencing strategy and quality standards. And in this arena, Katrine's employment is a positive step – for her, for Arla and for VetSalus.”

Katrine Lawaetz graduated as a veterinarian from the University of Copenhagen in 2009 and in 2015 completed her cattle veterinary training. She continues as a partner in Vestjyske Dyrlæger and chairman of VetSalus.

Facts about VetSalus:

VetSalus is a business initiative developed by a committed group of international veterinarians with the primary goal of establishing a global network of veterinary specialists. VetSalus connects international food producers with local veterinary expertise to improve animal health, welfare and sustainability across the global food chain. VetSalus is an independent organisation, contributing to the global food strategy, particularly with a focus on animal health and welfare as well as sustainable agriculture; as well as developing relationships and networks to build capacity and collaborate globally. VetSalus consultants work with a growing number of international businesses and organisations.