Harvey Locke has been elected President of the British Veterinary Association, and Carl Padgett its President-Elect for 2010/2011. The ceremony took place during the Annual General Meeting of the BVA at the close of its Annual Congress, held in Glasgow.

A small animal practitioner in Stockport, Harvey has veterinary science in his blood: when he qualified from Liverpool University in 1969 he became the fourth consecutive generation of vets in his family.  His great grandfather was President of the RCVS one hundred years ago in 1910/11 and his grandfather was President of the RCVS in 1934/35.  His daughter and his niece have both recently graduated from Liverpool to join the profession as the fifth consecutive generation.

Harvey has been actively and continuously involved in veterinary politics for 24 years and is a former President of the British Small Animal Veterinary Association and Vice President of the Union of European Veterinary Practitioners.

In his inaugural speech, he said: "We live in rapidly changing times and as a traditional profession we must strive to keep up. As the professional body I believe the BVA should always be one step ahead and that is why I have chosen 'Vets in a changing world' as the theme for my presidential year.

"From the internal changes to BVA Council to the new Coalition Government; from the prospect of a new Veterinary Surgeons Act to the impact of global climate change and the increasingly free movement of people and animals; we sit in the midst of enormous fluctuation. Each element brings its own challenges and opportunities."

Carl Padgett is a former president of the British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA) and currently chairman of Trustees of the BVA Animal Welfare Foundation. He has been involved in veterinary politics for the last 15 years.

Carl said: "My representative roles for BCVA and subsequently BVA have enabled me to understand and realise my true interest in the veterinary profession: ensuring the profession has a voice and our place in society is valued. 

"Our multi-disciplinary education and training places the profession in a unique position; representing the welfare and health of animals committed to our care, protecting the consumer in terms of food safety and ensuring food security at national and international levels by working within the agricultural world.  Vets are not just part of the leisure industry making animals better; we fill a much wider role in underpinning society and its contact with animals at all levels. 

"I am proud and honoured to become part of the BVA Officer team."

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