Christine Middlemiss has taken up her post as UK Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO), taking over from Nigel Gibbens who has stepped down after 10 years in the role.

Before joining Defra, Christine served as the CVO for New South Wales, Australia, a position she'd held since August 2016. During her tenure there, she led the implementation of new outcome-focused and risk-based biosecurity legislation, online animal certification processes and improved evidence- and risk-based disease control approaches.

Christine comes from a farming family in the south of Scotland, with a background in beef cattle and sheep.

Prior to moving to Australia, she worked for a number of years in private practice in Scotland and the north of England with specific interest in research, meat processing and livestock genetics. She then joined the Animal Health agency (now part of the Animal and Plant Health Agency) in 2008 as a Divisional Veterinary Manager in Scotland. She also led Defra’s Animal Traceability and Public Health policy team, detecting and responding to new and emerging diseases such as Schmallenberg and Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea.

Christine said: "I am delighted to have been appointed. It is a privilege to take over from Nigel and lead my veterinary colleagues to support our farming and food industry on the UK reputation for high health and welfare of our animals.

"I am very much looking forward to working again with the team at Defra, its agencies, the devolved administrations and all the individuals and groups who will contribute to meet future challenges.

"Our Secretary of State has confirmed he wants to cement the UK’s place as a world-leader on animal health and welfare as the UK leaves the European Union, and I’m delighted to have an opportunity to play a part in that."

PS: Whilst you're here, take a moment to see our latest job opportunities for vet nurses.