Today (05 July) Waikanae based Dr David Bayvel, Chief Veterinary Adviser for the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), will receive a Bachelor of Veterinary Science (honoris causa) in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the veterinary profession in New Zealand and beyond.
Dr Bayvel is one of the world’s pre-eminent experts in the fields of animal welfare and veterinary science. His career, which has taken him around the world from Australia to Zambia, and from the UK to New Zealand spans more than four decades and includes positions in private and public sector organisations and veterinary practice promoting the ethical care and treatment of animals.
Dr David Bayvel commenced his current role as Chief Veterinary Adviser at WSPA more than a year ago, when he retired as MAF’s Director of Animal Welfare. In this pivotal senior role, he helps to ensure that WSPA is working at the heart of the veterinary profession around the world to support and advance animal welfare. This includes working with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) on the drafting of standards, with national Chief Veterinary Officers, and with national and international bodies, to ensure the implementation of international standards and laws to protect the welfare of animals; as well as with international, regional and national Veterinary Associations to promote increased veterinary engagement in animal welfare. Dr Bayvel also advises on WSPA’s international programmes, supporting the animal welfare education of veterinarians through WSPA’s specially designed training modules.
Dr Bayvel, who is not a Massey graduate, will receive this Honorary Degree to recognise his outstanding contribution to the veterinary profession and to also mark the occasion of 50 years of veterinary education at Massey University. On receiving this degree, Dr Bayvel says:
“It is a great honour to receive such an award and I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the support received, during my career, from both my wife and family and colleagues at MAF (now MPI). In a relatively short period of time, Massey University has become recognised as an international centre of veterinary excellence and I am sure that, in the decades ahead, it will continue to respond to both the animal health and welfare challenges of the day and the expectations of contemporary society.
“Recognising the benefits of public and private sector partnerships, WSPA looks forward to consolidating, and further developing, its strategically important relationship with Massey’s Institute of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences.”
After obtaining his initial veterinary degree from the University of Glasgow in 1967, Dr Bayvel then gained a Diploma in Tropical Veterinary Medicine from the University of Edinburgh. He became a member of the Australian and NZ College of Veterinary Scientists, by examination in Veterinary Pharmacology, in 1983 and obtained a Masters Degree in Public Policy from Victoria University of Wellington in 1994.
Dr Bayvel moved to New Zealand in 1982 and represented the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry on the New Zealand National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee, the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee and the Trans-Tasman Animal Welfare Working Group.
Over recent years, Dr Bayvel has received awards, and been honoured, by a number of international and national organisations including the OIE, the Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching, the New Zealand Veterinary Association, the New Zealand Companion Animal Council, the Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Australian and NZ College of Veterinary Scientists. He was also awarded a Queen’s Service Order (in the December 2011 Honours List) and was appointed, in 2012, as the New Zealand Government veterinary appointee to the Veterinary Council of New Zealand.
Dr Bayvel’s extensive expertise and dedication to animal welfare issues has significantly benefited WSPA not only in New Zealand, but worldwide says Mike Baker, Chief Executive at WSPA. “Combining Dr Bayvel’s unrivalled wealth of experience with the global reach and influence of an international organisation such as WSPA, means real advancements in animal welfare are being placed at the heart of the veterinary profession worldwide, enabling us to effectively work towards a world where animal welfare matters and animal cruelty ends.
“WSPA is, therefore, delighted that Massey University has recognised Dr Bayvel’s outstanding contribution to the veterinary profession; furthering endorsing the fact that the profession’s contribution to animal welfare both in New Zealand and worldwide, is invaluable.”
