Richard Irvine has been named as the new Deputy Chief
Veterinary Officer (DCVO) for the United Kingdom following
an extensive international recruitment campaign.
Richard is an experienced veterinarian with a background in
animal health and welfare policy and science. He currently
is Deputy Director for ‘Global Animal Health and Trade’ in
Defra, and has overseen a number of successful market
access gains including recent agreements on exporting UK
beef to China, the USA and Japan. Prior to this, Richard
led the Animal and Plant Health Agency‘s (APHA’s)
Surveillance Intelligence Unit and was Head of the National
Reference Laboratory for Viral Diseases of Poultry at APHA
Weybridge.
Welcoming the appointment, Christine Middlemiss said:
Richard has been successful in securing the DCVO role
against a very strong field of candidates. I am confident
that he will help meet the challenges we face and provide
excellent support to me and others on veterinary and
technical issues.
Richard’s appointment comes at what is a very important
and interesting time for Defra and the UK Government, and
he will be a great asset to the veterinary senior
leadership team in the Defra group.
Richard started his veterinary career in mixed and farm
animal clinical practice in 1997. He first started working
for the civil service in 2001 as a Veterinary Investigation
Officer at one of the Regional Laboratories of what was at
that time the Veterinary Laboratories Agency, now part of
the APHA. Since then Richard has worked in several
different veterinary and science leadership roles in the
Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency and APHA.
On joining Defra he has brought this experience and
knowledge into his trade policy roles.
Speaking about his appointment Richard said:
I am truly delighted to have been appointed, and to be
able to both contribute to the work of maintaining and
developing the animal health and welfare status of the
UK, and represent these interests internationally. It is
a privilege to support our farming and food industry in
this role.
I am very much looking forward to working with the team
at Defra, its agencies, the devolved administrations, and
all the individuals and groups who contribute together to
not only cement the UK’s place as a world leader on
animal welfare at these unique times, but also meet
future challenges head-on across the animal health and
welfare spectrum. I am delighted to have an opportunity
to play a part in that.
