Veterinary Association elects Fiona as new joint president

A NEW joint president has been elected for the North of Ireland Veterinary Association (NIVA) and the Northern Ireland Branch of the British Veterinary Association (BVA).

Fiona McFarland, an account manager with IMV Imaging, has been an active council member of the NIVA since 2014 and has sat on the BVA’s members services group and the BVA policy committee. She is a past president of the Association of Veterinary Students (AVS).

During a joint AGM last week, Ms McFarland was elected to succeed Mark Little as president of the BVA NI and as 2022 president of the NIVA. Mr Little is now senior vice president of the BVA’s NI branch.

Ms McFarland said it was “an absolute pleasure and honour” to accept the presidency.

“I’ve been involved with both organisations for some years and I’m very grateful to have been able to learn from those who have been in this position in the past,” she said.

“I’ve benefited from both organisations throughout my career and it’s a privilege to be able to give something back to our members and the profession.

“My main aim for the year ahead is to steer our associations into the new normal we are faced with whilst continuing to navigate the pandemic.

Accompanied by the effects of Brexit, Northern Ireland faces some difficult challenges, not only within the profession itself, but within the Agri-Food industry. My theme for the year will be sustainability: both that of the profession and workforce, but also how vets play a pivotal role in sustainable agriculture.”

Ms McFarland also plans to concentrate on high priority areas including the supply of veterinary medicines into Northern Ireland, the changes to the legislation for the prescription of drugs to cross-border clients, the ongoing review into the plans for a new Veterinary School in Northern Ireland and the continued control of diseases such as bovine TB and BVD.“I am focused on continuing to provide support to all our members and ensure we keep all channels of communication active and effective within our profession but most importantly within NIVA, BVA, government, industry and the farming community,” she said.

“We need to continue to stand together as one voice and look at the wider implications of everything we do as veterinarians. I aim to help shape changes in policy, build relationships and continue to have open conversations with each and every stakeholder wherever possible.”