Representing all vets in the North of Ireland
Click here for the latest news from NIVA [The North of Ireland Veterinary Association]
Click here for revised NIVA rules as approved by the membership at an EGM on 9th February 2022
Click here for Minutes of NIVA’s EGM on 25th September 2024
NIVA’s EQUINE WELFARE PRIORITIES REPORT LAUNCH
“Putting Equine Welfare On The Northern Ireland Agenda”
Today saw the launch the NIVA Equine Welfare Priorities report which is based on key findings arising from the NIVA Equine Welfare Symposium held in February 2024 and the work of the NIVA Equine Welfare Subgroup led by Senior Vice President Esther Skelly-Smith.
The purpose of the event was to raise awareness of the need to address key concerns about equine health and welfare in Northern Ireland. The target audience included members of the Northern Ireland Assembly, government officials, academics, and a broad range of key stakeholders from across the equine industry and from the UK and Ireland.
To read the report click HERE
NIVA AUTUMN NEWSLETTER
NIVA President, Sharon Verner, has released her Autumn 2024 Newsletter detailing all the hard work carried out by NIVA Council on behalf of NIVA members.
Click here to read the Autumn Newsletter
NIVA members will have received their copy via email.
NIVA NEWS UPDATE
Following a successful rule change at the EGM on Wednesday 25th September at T3 Conference centre, a new Treasurer has been appointed.
Michael Pratt is now installed as NIVA Treasurer along with a new Deputy Treasurer Fiona McFarland.
Events 2024
Equine Welfare
For everyone with an interest in promoting welfare in NI, a key event is coming up at Stormont on Thursday 21st November. Esther Skelly-Smith, who presented findings recently, at the Agria Equine Health Forum, of qualitative research undertaken through NIVA’s Equine Welfare Symposium, has put together an impressive line-up of speakers for the launch of NIVA’s Equine Welfare Priorities report.
Come along, make an afternoon of it, and give politicians a chance
to talk with you!
The Rewilding Debate
What’s your view on whether rewilding should be part of the sustainability agenda? How far should environmental consciousness stretch, and how informed are you as a vet? Do join in at our next
meeting on Wednesday 27th November at the Rabbit Hotel with Jonny Hanson, an academic, snow leopard conservationist and former community farmer who specialises in human-wildlife coexistence
and rural development. And that’s not all – prepare to be inspired to do some veterinary volunteering, as we look forward to hearing from our very own Susan Cunningham, a small animal vet in Belfast who
has been using her “spare” time in recent years to volunteer with the Worldwide Veterinary Service and Mission Rabies in Africa and South America.
See the Events Page for more info and how to register.
Officers and Council 2024
NIVA members wishing to contact NIVA Council members should e-mail [email protected] and we will pass on contact details.
General enquiries for NIVA from anyone other than a current NIVA member should also be directed through the secretariat on [email protected]
Executive Officers:
President: Sharon Verner
Senior Vice President: Esther Skelly-Smith
Junior Vice President: Kirsten Dunbar
Secretary: Mark Little
Treasurer: Michael Pratt
Deputy Treasurer: Fiona McFarland
Public Relations Team:
Press Officer: Susan Cunningham
Deputy Press Officer: Fiona McFarland
Council members:
- Roisin Dickinson
- Aoife Ferris
- Orla McAlister
- Louise O’Hare
- Michael Pratt
- Quirine Tettelar
- Sean Wensley
- Lara Wilson
Representatives on Council:
AVSPNI Representative: Seamus O’Kane
Young Vet Network Representative: Rachel Davies
VetNI Board Representative: Aurelie Moralis & Seamus O’Kane
Ex officio positions:
DAERA CVO: Brian Dooher
VetNI: Jo Gibson/Joleen Little
BVA Policy Committee: David Torrens
BVA Regional Representative: Joleen Little
NIVA Membership Information
At the AGM on 22nd February, 2024, members ratified the following annual subscription rates:
Full membership – £144
Concessionary rates – £80
Senior member and Young member <8 years qualified
NIVA holds at least 4 meetings per year and a number of social events including the senior members’ lunch.
NIVA is the original territorial division of the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and works closely with the BVA Northern Ireland Branch to ensure the BVA represents the views of the profession here in the north when lobbying legislators and policy makers in London and Brussels.
Locally, NIVA champions veterinary causes with our own Assembly and endeavours to ensure that agri-food policy and other animal health and welfare policy issues are in line with veterinary science.
Young Vet Network NI (YVN NI) is an integral and thriving part of NIVA. As well as connecting and supporting recently graduated vets via Facebook, they provide a number of highly popular CPD events each year. You can link up with them HERE.
If you are interested in becoming a member of NIVA you can apply using the Data Capture Form.
Once you have submitted the form we will contact you by e-mail to process your application.
To Nominate a new NIVA Council member or Officer . . .
Click here to download Nomination Form for new NIVA Council members
OR complete the online form accessed HERE.
