Wildlife specialist vet Dr Elizabeth Mullineaux BVM&S, DVM&S, CertSHP, FRCVS has been elected president of the British Veterinary Association for 2024-2025.

A 1988 graduate of the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at the University of Edinburgh, Dr Mullineaux’s veterinary career has spanned clinical experience across small animal, farm and wildlife medicine, with written contributions to books, scientific papers, and policy documents.

An RCVS Recognised Specialist in Wildlife Medicine (Mammalian), prior to her BVA role Dr Mullineaux juggled roles as a locum small animal vet in Edinburgh; an invited tutor on wildlife and conservation medicine courses at universities in England, Scotland and Italy; and scientific advisor to Secret World Wildlife Rescue. She is also a past president of the British Veterinary Zoological Society (2021-2022).

In her first speech as president, East Lothian-based Dr Mullineaux introduced her presidential theme, ‘A profession that cares’.

She said: “For me, this perfectly encapsulates what being a vet is all about. We get up in the middle of the night to calve a cow; support our clients as they say goodbye to their beloved dog; and share the excitement of a family with young children when they bring in their new kitten for the first vaccination.

“We do all this because we do really care – it’s therefore incredibly difficult to see our motivations questioned in the way we have seen as a result of the CMA’s investigation.

“In our interactions with the CMA, we’re constantly reminding them that the veterinary profession puts the health and welfare of the animals we care for at the centre of everything we do. This is regardless of whether the animals are wild or domesticated, owned or unowned, or an owner’s financial position.”

Dr Mullineaux said that any recommendations coming out of the investigation must fully consider animal welfare, as well as owner choice, and ensure that is understood by the CMA as a key priority for her in the year ahead.

“The media reporting of the CMA investigation has portrayed vets in a way that is at odds with everything I understand and value about the profession, and it has put additional strain on people in practice who already feel overworked and undervalued,” she said.