New AHWBE Chair appointed
Pictured: Professor Jonathan Statham.
Defra has appointed its new Chair of the Animal Health and Welfare Board for England (AHWBE).
Professor Jonathan Statham will take over the role on 1 November 2021. He will replace Michael Seals, who has held the role for 10 years.
Biosecurity Minister Lord Benyon, who appointed Professor Statham as the new Chair, commented: “We have bold plans to improve animal health and welfare, as outlined in our recently-published Action Plan for Animal Welfare, and I look forward to working closely with Jonathan and the AHWBE to deliver these ambitions.
“I also want to thank Michael Seals for his dedication in leading the organisation over the past decade.”
Commenting on his appointment, Professor Statham said: “I am delighted to have been appointed the next Chair of the Animal Health and Welfare Board for England.
“As a large animal vet by profession, high animal health and welfare is close to my heart and something I know is very important to industry and wider society.
“It is a crucial point in time for the industry and for us as a board, with lots of key policies coming forward which bring along many challenges. It is an enormous privilege for me to take on this role once Michael Seals steps down. I look forward to working together with him and colleagues on the board.”
Professor Statham has been a non-executive director on the AHWBE since 2017, and is also a chief executive officer at RAFT Solutions, alongside working as a Professor of Sustainable Livestock Health and Welfare at Harper and Keele Veterinary School.
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
