Policy committee

Policy Committee team

Julie Gibson (Chair)

We are welcoming back Julie Gibson for a second term. Julie is a critical thinker, skilled at gathering and analysing evidence, considering multiple perspectives and challenging the potential assumptions of both herself and others. She is a practising equine vet and Quality Improvement Lead at RCVS Knowledge, and has also been involved in several BVA working groups, developing BVA policy positions on RCVS Governance, Legislative Reform, and Animals in Performance Sport.

Liz Barton

Liz has a broad range of experience across the veterinary sector, having worked in mixed practice, small animal referrals, emergency and critical care, and shelter medicine. Developing an interest in solutions for poor mental health and burnout, she set up WellVet to collate and curate wellbeing tools and co-founded the Vet Mums Facebook community. She sat on SPVS Board as wellbeing representative and sits on the editorial board of Veterinary Woman, supporting women in leadership events and tackling issues around women’s health. She is currently Head of Communications for VetCT, which provides specialist support services to veterinary teams.

Paula Boyden

Paula was Veterinary Director at Dogs Trust for 14 years, with a significant part of the role being policy development. Paula also held responsibility for the charity's public affairs activities, and more widely has actively contributed to policy development within stakeholder groups, including the Canine and Feline Sector Group and the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission. Paula was a member of BVA's Veterinary Policy Group, including the transition to Policy Committee, from 2012 to 2017, and brings a breadth of experience and demonstrable commitment to animal health and welfare and the profession to the committee.

Polly Compston

Following work in first-opinion practices, Polly has worked in research roles within private practice, for an animal welfare NGO and within the public sector and completed a PhD on the socioeconomics of transboundary livestock disease. Her work focuses on strengthening international animal health systems, through generating evidence-based resources, behavioural science and capacity development. Currently her role is as a technical specialist at the EuFMD, where she is responsible for supporting global efforts for improved livestock disease control.

Liz Cresswell

Liz has experience in large and mixed animal practice, academia and industry. Currently working as Regional Veterinary Advisor (ruminant) she has played an active role in engaging vets with the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway as well as representing MSD Animal Health on the Ruminant Health and Welfare Steering Group. Through her Nuffield Farming Scholarship she has become deeply engaged in the interface between the veterinary and agricultural industries and is passionate about the future of both.

Catriona Gibbs

Catriona is a recent graduate working as a small animal vet, and has long-term interests in One Health, veterinary policy and science communication. She graduated from Edinburgh in 2023, having completed an intercalated BSc in Global Health at King's College London. She was President of the University of Edinburgh Student One Health Society and was a member of the organising committee for the National Student One Health Conference 2021. As a student, she completed placements with the Vet Record, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, the Veterinary Policy Research Foundation and the Animal and Plant Health Agency, as well as her clinical placements. Catriona is passionate about improving awareness and understanding of chronic illness and disability in the veterinary profession and education, and looking at ways to reduce the challenges they can present.

Nick Jackson

Nick has been the West Midlands representative on BVA Council for the past six years, and has a good understanding of the time, effort and stages required for policy development. He has developed skills in debating and critically evaluating policy recommendations, and recognises the importance of ensuring recommendations are evidence-based, a core priority of BVA policy, as well as actionable, ethical and equitable. Nick currently chairs a BVA working group on artificial intelligence, bringing together a range of stakeholders to achieve consensus on a developing challenge and opportunity for the veterinary profession.

Ifan Lloyd

Ifan worked in mixed clinical practice from 1988 to 2023, becoming a partner at St James Veterinary Group in Swansea in 1995. He has extensive experience of working with a broad range of stakeholders in the livestock industry, Government (both UK and Wales), and government agencies in policy and delivery. With a vast range of committee experience, Ifan was regional representative for Wales on BVA Council for six years, as well as President of BVA Welsh Branch 2019-2021. Still an active member of BVA’s Welsh Branch Council, Ifan brings the Welsh perspective to BVA policy development, as well as continuing to engage across an extensive list of stakeholder groups serving animal health and welfare in Wales.

David Torrens

David has been an active member of the North of Ireland Veterinary Association and now BVA’s Northern Ireland Branch for most of his professional life, serving on Council and for many years as secretary, treasurer, auditor and President. David worked in DAERA’s Veterinary Service for over 30 years, in field and HQ policy roles, across the full range of state veterinary work, as well as being responsible for export assurances and the delivery of Meat Inspection services, on behalf of the FSA.

Melissa Upjohn

Since qualifying in 2003, Melissa has been a first opinion clinician, completed further academic qualifications (Residency/MSc in Veterinary Epidemiology and PhD in applied international equine welfare) and worked in the international animal welfare charity sector. A member of the BSAVA Scientific Committee for a number of years she enjoys collaborating with committee members and external stakeholders to develop robust evidence led policy.

Arabella White

Arabella is the Scottish Branch nominated member of Policy Committee. She works for Food Standards Scotland managing a team responsible for the delivery of Official Controls in fourteen abattoirs and game handling establishments across a diverse geographic area, covering the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. She regularly travels across Scotland on field visits, including the Outer Hebrides and Shetland, and is developing her involvement with the Highlands and Islands Veterinary Service Scheme.