Policy committee

Policy Committee team

Alice Moore (Chair) 

Alice graduated as a veterinary surgeon from the University of Cambridge in 2015 and has been working in small animal practice since then. She currently splits her time between her clinical role at Garston Veterinary Group and managing collaborative projects on sustainable working practices for the XLVets community. Alice has volunteered as a member of BVA's policy committee since 2019 and was elected chair in 2022. Her most notable contributions include assisting with the development of professional guidance during the Covid-19 lockdowns and working with cross-sectional groups to develop positions on complex topics such as under care & the remote provision of veterinary services, enhancing the role of the RVN as part of wider legislative reform and a review of non-traditional companion animals. Her particular interests include diversity, equity and inclusion within the workforce, environmental sustainability and promoting responsible pet ownership.

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.

Ariel Brunn

After a decade of clinical roles, Ariel swapped surgery for spreadsheets and now works on evidence-generation and policy analyses at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Previous roles with the International Companion Animal Management (ICAM) coalition and Dogs Trust have provided her with a background in shelter and charity work in the UK and internationally, whilst her current work on climate change and health policy centres on biodiversity loss and pollution.

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.

Julie Gibson

Since qualifying from the RVC in 2005, Julie has worked in practice across farm, equine and small animal species and in first opinion and referral settings. In 2019 she secured a PhD studentship at Nottingham, with the focus of her thesis being ‘just culture’; the juncture between veterinary practitioner wellbeing and veterinary patient welfare. In 2020/21 we invited Julie to share insights from her research via our working group focused on responding to the RCVS Legislation Working Party recommendations about introducing a modern ‘Fitness to practise’ regime. Julie also serves as a Vetlife Helpline volunteer.

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.