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Annual Review 2006-07

2 growing influenceQuintin McKellar on ourposition within the profession

4 international aspirationsColin Howard on thechallenges of globalisation

6 reaching outJennifer Quinn on aninclusive student community

8 sharing knowledgeSteven Van Winden onthe RVC’s Welsh connection

10 small worldDirk Pfeiffer on haltingthe spread of Avian Influenza

12 community spiritThe Reverend Dr Giles Legoodon our approach to pastoral care

14 never-ending journeyPaul Probyn on our ongoingcommitment to learning

18 productive partnershipsJonathan Elliott on ourintegrated research activities

22 opening doorsJulia Hewett and Jon Parry on makingthe veterinary profession more accessible

24 harnessing talentFive new faces makethemselves known

28 changing rolesSix of our stars move upand two move on

30 college lifeCollaborative yearat a glance

32 exceeding targetsAndrew Dyer on the year’sfinancial performance

34 combined effortsJonathan Forrest on the year’sfund-raising activity

36 common groundThe outgoing and incoming Chairmen ofCouncil reveal shared views, values and goals

38 governance

40 corporate governance

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The Royal Veterinary Collegeoccupies the heart of a developingand expanding profession preventingdisease incursions, assuring foodsafety, enhancing the welfareof animals,discovering biologicalprocess and informing Governmentpolicy. It is consolidating its positionas a leader of veterinary progress andthe instinctive source of veterinaryadvice. Our distinguished heritage,extending over two centuries,has shaped the College communitybut has never dulled its visionnor limited its ambition.

growing influenceQuintin McKellar, Principal

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Our new veterinary curriculum has acknowledgedand addressed the inevitable content expansion ofbiological knowledge and is designed to make studentsaccountable for their own learning and empoweredto function independently.

The opportunities for our bioveterinary scientists tomake valuable contributions to disease research growalmost monthly as incursions of Bluetongue, AvianInfluenza, Foot-and-Mouth disease and spread ofBovine Tuberculosis make such research a nationaland international priority.

3The expectation of people that their animals will be caredfor as well in veterinary hospitals as in human hospitals(a questionable challenge!) makes the work of veterinarynurses and, indeed, the ‘whole veterinary team’ morecomplex and demanding.

It is our ambition to produce research of fundamentalimportance and of clinical relevance and our environmentfrom the research bench to the consultation room providesthe integration which will make it a reality.

I am immensely proud that our College now sits at the coreof a network of academic endeavour – clinical, researchand educational – that stretches around the world andspans the entire range of veterinary studies. It makesthe RVC one of the most exciting places to work and learn.

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Gone are the days when an international recruitmentstrategy was sufficient for a university to boast about itsinternational credentials.Today, research and teachingcollaboration are the key focus; particularly in research-led universities.At the RVC, increased internationalisationwill enrich our curriculum even further, allowing us toincorporate additional relevant and topical programmesof study, and to ensure an even more rewarding experiencefor staff and students. It will create more opportunities foroverseas studies, offshore CPD, distance learning andfranchising, joint research centres and collaborations;and increase our access to case and sample material.

Over the past two years, China has been at the heartof the College’s internationalisation strategy; a marketwhich is rapidly changing and where opportunities forcollaboration abound.

The initial challenge has been to identify key opportunitieswhilst building co-operation and establishing lastingcontacts in Hong Kong and mainland China. Our focushas been on creating an Asia-Pacific Centre for VeterinaryPublic Health based at the Chinese University ofHong Kong (CUHK), designing a veterinary nursingprogramme and providing consultancy services tothe Hong Kong Government.

We also see exciting opportunities to promote the Collegeamong small animal and equine clinicians who may beinterested in our services, and are seeking to raise anendowment for a joint chair shared by the RVC andthe CUHK.

Higher Education has become a global business.With dramaticchanges in the international landscape and the emergence of newquality providers in all corners of the world, all UK universities arefacing up to the challenges of internationalisation.

What exactly do we mean by internationalisation withinthe context of Higher Education and what does this meanfor the RVC? Do we consider ourselves a truly internationalplayer today, and what should we be focusing on for thefuture in order to maintain our competitive position?

With external drivers of liberalisation, privatisationand increased competition showing no signs of abating,these issues are every bit as relevant to a small, specialistinstitution such as the Royal Veterinary College,as theyare to the large,multi-disciplinary university. In the future,the College’s position and many of its markets willdepend on strong strategic overseas partnershipsand collaborative ventures.

Truly global universities are recognised as having a globalbrand amongst their peers, excellent standards of teaching,innovative research, industry links, professional servicesand a curriculum both influenced and delivered by stafffrom different nationalities. In the global university, staffimpact upon policy decisions at an international level;the institution has strong links with international businessand visitors are welcomed to campus week in, week out.

The RVC is international in outlook.With our specialistfocus and strong reputation in the veterinary andbiomedical sciences, we are ideally placed to consolidateour position internationally and develop strong andlasting partnerships with other leading institutions,to the benefit of all.

Let’s take a look at the facts: our undergraduate studentscome from 26 countries and our postgraduate studentsfrom 48 countries.Asia and South America top the listof student origins after the EU and the US. Our academicstaff is more international in composition than in manylarger universities; 49 currently coming from outside theEU, with almost a third of this number from Australasiaor Africa.

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internationalaspirationsColin Howard, Vice Principal for Strategic Development and Professor of Microbiology

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The RVC now has four undergraduate degrees on offer, and oursmall, specialised College community is self-contained but very diverse.The RVC student community is becoming ever more inclusive. It is reachingout to all corners of London and, in fact, the globe.

Over recent years, the College has increased thenumber of courses it has on offer.With the introductionof bioveterinary science,nursing and gateway programmesit is no longer only training vets. Quick to keep up withthe changing face of the College, last year, the studentcommunity chose Ben Stileman to head up theStudent Union.

Ben was at the end of his second year when he was elected,and is the first bioveterinary science undergraduate totake up the post.This fact didn’t seem to be much ofan issue amongst the students.At the time, the outgoingSU president stated; ‘I’m a vet med and have beenrepresenting gateway, science and nursing students forthe last year.Why shouldn’t a gateway, science or nursingstudent be allowed to represent the vets?’ Now, alongwith the rest of the SU, Ben is striving to diversify ourstudent community.

reaching outJennifer Quinn, BSc Bioveterinary Sciences Year 1

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The SU has always encouraged students from differentcourses to mix, but now they are taking it one step furtherby encouraging people from different colleges to joinin. Being a part of the University of London gives RVCstudents a great chance to meet scholars of all disciplinesand backgrounds.The SU is now taking full advantage ofthis link by bringing RVC and Courtauld Institute of Artstudents together. Courtauld is a small college specialisingin history of art, and by teaming up with it, RVC studentshave gained access to a far wider community.

However, it is not just other universities that studentsare reaching out to.The Ambassador Scheme run by theEducation Liaison and Widening Participation Units allowsRVC students to get involved with the local community.Ambassadors are sent to schools all over London and theUK to promote future learning at the College. By runningmentoring programmes, organising science clubs andgiving campus tours our student ambassadors show pupilswhat College life is like and all that the RVC has to offer.

One of the greatest opportunities available to students hereis the chance to get involved in summer research projects.These take us all over the world in order to conductveterinary research and educate local communitieson animal health and husbandry.

Studying at the RVC is not for the faint-hearted. Lifeinvolves a lot of lectures and a lot of hard work, but italso gives us the chance to be part of an exciting, vibrant,growing community.This means that alongside theirveterinary education, RVC students also receive aneducation in all aspects of life.

To see the list of student awardsfor 2006-07 please go towww.rvc.ac.uk/annualreport/

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In August 2007, the Population Medicine Group launcheda new initiative in Wales; the Welsh Region Veterinary Centre(WRVC). Based at the College farm in Gelli Aur, twoVeterinary Clinical Sciences staff members,StevenVanWindenand Janneke Erkelens, work through and with local vetsto deliver farm health investigations in SouthWales.

sharing knowledgeSteven Van Winden, Lecturer in Production Animal Medicine,Director of the Welsh Regional Veterinary Centre

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One of the primary drivers for this initiative was the absenceof academic input in the Welsh farming and veterinarycommunities.TheWRVC aims to correct this deficitand, by so doing, strengthen the veterinary professionand improve the level of health and welfare on farms inthe region.

The Centre is founded on principles of teaching, service,outreach and collaboration.Alongside the Royal VeterinaryCollege, the main participants in this strategic co-operationare the Carmarthenshire College (Coleg Sir Gar),theWelsh Assembly Government, the University ofAberystwyth and the Veterinary Laboratories Agency.

In addition to serving the regional agricultural community,theWRVC provides a platform for training undergraduateveterinary students and clinical residents in the essentialskills needed for the diagnosis and management ofproblems in population health and production medicine.

Farm investigations are focused on problems that mightimpair the health, welfare or productivity of animals inthe herd or flock. Inquiries usually involve a series of farmvisits for animal examination, production evaluationand the analysis of any relevant management processes.Following data assessment, the results are condensedinto an advisory report that is sent to the farmer viathe local vet within a few days. Follow-up visits arethen arranged to discuss the report findings and assistin the implementation of any recommendations, whichare carefully tailored to the needs and circumstancesof the farming enterprise in question.

The aim of theWRVC is to grow; to take on more staffand turn the enterprise into a durable and sustainableone.There is tremendous potential to recruit studentsfor veterinary nursing training, educative programmesand research projects, all of which will involvecollaborating and sharing knowledge with a widevariety of partner organisations.

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Through the recent emergence ofinfectious zoonotic diseases suchas SARS, NipahVirus and AvianInfluenza, we have been remindedof the critical role of the veterinaryprofession in dealing with thesechallenges. Specifically, theRoyalVeterinary College hasbeen involved in studying theepidemiology of Avian Influenzathrough project activities in Asia,Africa and Europe.

small worldDirk Pfeiffer, Professor of Veterinary Epidemiology

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Much of the work is supported by the United Nation’sFood and Agriculture Organisation, and more recently alsoby the UK’s Department for International Development(DfID). It involves collaborations with partners in countriessuch asVietnam,Thailand and China, and withininternational organisations such as the InternationalLivestock Research Institute in Nairobi, the InternationalFood Policy Research Institute inWashington, theFrench Agricultural Research Centre for InternationalDevelopment and University of California, Berkeley.

A key question is the role of migratory wild birds in theglobal and local spread of Avian Influenza virus infection.Through the European Food Safety Authority, stafffrom the RVC chaired a risk assessment for the EuropeanCommission on the risk of introduction of Avian Influenzato the EU, its chances of becoming endemic in wild birdsand the risk of onward transmission to domestic poultry.The findings very much supported the currently observedpattern where within the EU Avian Influenza H5N1infection occasionally may be observed either in wildbirds or domestic poultry, but that transmission betweenthe two seems to be relatively rare.

The relevance of migratory wild birds in comparison withthe poultry trade to long-distance spread of the virusis still unclear.The RVC is involved in epidemiologicalstudies conducted in African countries that investigatethe importance of human activities in contrast to wildbird exposure.A notable observation so far has been thatonly relatively few countries in Africa have been affectedby Avian Influenza H5N1 outbreaks in their poultrypopulation, suggesting that the epidemiology of the diseaseis very different from that in East and South-East Asia.

The RVC has published work demonstrating the increasedrisk of outbreaks associated with rice paddy and duckgrazing production systems inVietnam. It was also shownthat the increased poultry trade associated with religiousfestivals resulted in accelerated spread of infection.Thefindings from this work and various field activities are beingused to develop mathematical models for evaluating theeffectiveness of different Avian Influenza control methods.

State-of-the-art techniques such as participatory datacollection methods and social network analysis are usedto better understand farmer behaviour and movementpatterns of poultry trade. Usually, most of the controlefforts disproportionately affect the livelihoods ofbackyard poultry keepers, who typically also representthe poorest section of the population in these countries.If this disease is ever to be controlled successfully, it willbe important to understand the incentives influencingfarmers’ biosecurity management, and the relativeimportance of backyard, semi-commercial and commercialpoultry keeping in Asian and African countries.

The primary objective of the project funded by DfID isto protect the livelihoods of poor farmers in African andAsian countries affected by Avian Influenza outbreaks.Apart from the scientific research, the work in Asia andAfrica has involved training local veterinarians and otherprofessionals involved in Avian Influenza disease control.Our combined efforts are now further strengthened bya number of Commonwealth scholarships enablingveterinarians from developing countries to completean MSc inVeterinary Epidemiology and Public Healthat the RVC by distance learning.

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community spiritThe Reverend Dr Giles Legood, College Chaplain

In the closing years of the twentiethcentury many in the mediaperpetuated the notion that issuesof faith and talk of God wereirrelevant in the modern world.Over the past decade such talk hasbeen shown to be misjudged andmatters of belief and faith are nowat the forefront of people’s minds.In the 2001 Census nearly 73 percent of the English populationdeclared themselves ‘Christian’ anda large percentage more declaredtheir commitment to other worldfaiths. Notions of God beingmarginal or non-existent in thepublic realm are no longer an issueand the RVC provides a forum fordiscussions and practice of faith inthis scientific community.

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In the last few years the media has jumped on the faithbandwagon and started to write once more about mattersof belief and non-belief. Professor Richard Dawkins ofOxford University has helped push this agenda with aversion of atheism that continues to demand that Godis talked of even if it is in terms of non-existence. Sadly,of course, events such as the terrorist attacks in the USAon 9/11 and civil wars in Sudan, Kenya and other partsof the world have been largely driven by tribal andreligious beliefs (often these are linked). People of faithhave not always shown that their belief makes the worlda better place. Indeed, one could argue that some whoprofess religious faith are less peaceful than those without.Such an argument, however, is facile and there areplenty of examples of tyrants not being motivatedby faith commitment.

At the RVC the religious dimension of life has always beenrecognised by the College authorities and its personnel.There is an annual start of the academic year service anda long-standing commitment to university chaplaincyand the general pastoral and welfare care that this brings.Chaplains care for all those in the College community,of all faiths or none.They are able to offer a confidential,listening ear outside the formal structures of College,yet they are situated within it and understand its structuresand personalities.They also offer specific religious careand can, if appropriate, refer staff and students to otherreligious organisations off-campus and provide detailsof local places of worship.

At the RVC this commitment to the religious elementof people’s lives has been deepened by its provision in thelast two years of Prayer and Quiet Rooms.There is sucha room at each campus and their usage has been heavy.These spaces are for individuals rather than groups andprovide a quiet space for people to pray, reflect or sit fora few minutes away from the business of the working day.The rooms are used by those who profess a religiousfaith and those who do not. Indeed, they are so popularthat there is often a queue at the door to get in!

Also at College, people of different religious faiths havestarted in the past year to meet to share their faith storiesand to build up understanding of the different faithsrepresented in College.Visits have been made to localplaces of worship and to the Camden Jewish Museum.Although in its early stages this group has createdfriendships as well as a forum for sharing issues of commonconcern. Once again, in its support of this initiative,the RVC has shown its commitment to caring for thewhole individual; body, mind and spirit.

Our published Teaching and Learning Strategy has,for nearly a decade, focused on developing students asindependent, lifelong learners. Scientific and clinicalknowledge is growing exponentially, and we can teachour students only a fraction of what is known now and whatthey might need to know one day. So it is essential thatthey are equipped with the motivation and skills to learnfor themselves.The days when pumping students’ brainsfull of facts amounted to a job well done have long gone.

It is therefore appropriate that the RVC hosts the Centrefor Excellence in Lifelong and Independent VeterinaryEducation, the LIVE Centre. Funded by HEFCE tothe tune of £4.9 million over five years, since its officialopening in February 2007 by HRH The Princess Royal,it has gone from strength to strength.

LIVE is one of 74 Centres for Excellence in Teachingand Learning (CETLs) established by HEFCE acrossa range of subjects and disciplines.The majority of itswork is aimed at:

– promoting evidence-based teaching andlearning practices

– developing technology-enhanced learningand assessment innovations

– initiating new approaches to work-basedlearning within the profession

– providing practical learning opportunitiesin state-of-the-art Clinical Skills Laboratories

– increasing learner independence

LIVE is staffed by an enthusiastic multi-disciplinary team,with backgrounds in veterinary medicine and nursing,and in educational development and electronic media.It is based in a purpose-built centre which providesunique facilities, including:

– two Clinical Skills Laboratories staffedand supported by an innovative team

– purpose-built suites equipped for thedevelopment of veterinary communication skills

– learning labs where cutting-edge research intotechnology enhanced learning is carried out

never-ending journeyPaul Probyn, Head of Academic Development

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Among last year’s LIVE projects was the Haptic Cow,brought to the RVC by Sarah Baillie, a vet with a PhDin computer science.This simulator enables studentsto practise pregnancy diagnosis and other clinical diagnosesin a realistic but safe environment. Kim Whittlestoneled the progressive myPad project, in which final-yearBVetMed students use hand-held personal digitalassistants, no larger than mobile phones, to record andreflect upon their experiences in clinical rotations. PerdiWelsh led the production of the BVetMed Day One SkillsHandbook, which identifies the behaviour,attitudes andskills expected of every RVC veterinary student by the timethey graduate.

Work on more valid and reliable means of assessingstudent performance, led by Jane Tomlin, is also centralto LIVE’s work.This resulted in the addition of anExtended Matching Question (EMQ) paper in the finalBVetMed examination. EMQs are similar to MultipleChoice Questions (MCQs) but are usually based on‘clinical vignettes’ and emphasise clinical reasoningskills rather than recall of factual knowledge.

Our commitment to producing independent lifelonglearners is nowhere more evident than in the new BVetMedcurriculum; four years in the making, it was launchedin 2007. Factual content and class contact time haveboth been reduced by some 25 per cent. Students willbe expected to concentrate on core concepts and facts,but to learn them thoroughly, and have been given theprivate study time in which to do this.

Basic sciences and clinical subjects are more closelyintegrated, so students learn topics in context, but thereis still a strong emphasis on scientific rigour. Studentswill be expected to demonstrate a grasp of the essentialDay One Skills set out in the blueprint produced byLIVE, but for the first time in a UK veterinary schoolthey will have the opportunity to specialise in studyinga species that they hope to work with after graduation.The new curriculum also places greater emphasis onthe professional knowledge, skills and attitudes requiredof a vet, and classes on this theme are a feature of theteaching every week.

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Staff throughout the College have been working hard to turn the conceptof Lifelong Learning into a reality and place it at the centre of all oureducational programmes. It also means the RVC continues to play arole in our students’ professional and educational lives long after theyhave graduated.

Time spent at The College is just the start of a lifelongjourney of professional learning and development forRVC graduates. RVC4Life is an online resource for ouralumni. It provides continuing access to all the electroniclearning materials, such as lecture notes, videos andpodcasts, that students use while they study here. Ourgraduates also have subsidised access to the RVC’s rapidlyexpanding programme of CPD (Continuing ProfessionalDevelopment) courses. In 2007,we offered over 50 courses,from up-dating days on topics such as clinical problem-solving and anaesthesia, to advanced courses on specialistareas including abdominal ultrasonography and braindisease in small animals.The College is now embarkingon an exciting new professional venture, as the only UKvet school to be an accredited assessor for the RCVS’snew Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice.

The Royal Veterinary College sees its responsibilitiesextending way beyond its own ‘four walls’; as evidencedby the launch of VETNET LLN, an innovative lifelonglearning network bringing together universities, land-basedcolleges and other education and veterinary organisations.

The goal of VETNET LLN is to enable studentsfollowing vocational courses in land-based colleges toprogress into higher education courses in veterinary-related subjects, through brokering agreements betweeninstitutions, adapting curricula to make progressionpossible and ensuring that learners receive better adviceand guidance.

The network, which has received £3.73 million fromHEFCE, is the only one of its kind dedicated to veterinaryscience in the UK and one of only two nationwide lifelonglearning networks. Led by the RVC, it also has regionalbases in Cambridge, Nottingham, Newcastle, Liverpooland Bristol.AsVETNET LLN develops, it will extendits work to support people already working in veterinarypractice and animal welfare, helping them to continuetheir professional development as well.

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In the past year, three talented individuals havejoined the VETNET team, bringing with theman impressive range of knowledge and experience.Regional Manager, John Butcher, spent fifteen yearsteaching in secondary and special schools, ten yearsworking in the education advisory and inspectionservices, and another decade in the universitysector. He introduced schemes devised to supportstudents as they moved from school and collegeinto university and became heavily involved withwidening participation activity throughout theEast of England.

Sarah Field graduated from the University of Londonin 1991 with a BSc in Animal Sciences. Sincethen she has worked for two land-based colleges;Writtle College in Essex and Moulton College inNorthamptonshire, where she was Head of HigherEducation.There she oversaw the establishmentof a modular HE curriculum and the expansionof Moulton’s higher education portfolio, andtaught parts of the National Diploma in AnimalManagement and the degree programmes in AnimalStudies. Sarah became National Co-ordinator forthe VETNET LLN in April 2007.

Last but by no means least, Sue Baddeley joinedthe regional team for the South East and London.She has extensive animal-related industry experienceand for a number of years taught in the FE andHE sectors, specializing in animal management andveterinary nursing. She has worked widely in theagricultural and zoological fields and for the RSPCAand is an experienced teacher and active veterinarynursing external verifier.

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productivepartnershipsJonathan Elliott, Vice Principal for Research

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The RVC sustains a vibrant andcollaborative research community.Over 80 per cent of our academicstaff contribute directly toour strategic research objective,which is to establish and enhanceintegrated research activity ofinternational quality in focusedareas of practical relevance withinthe broad disciplines that compriseveterinary science.

Current external research funding (202 active grants/contracts) totals £37 million, and there are 104.5 FTEresearch students studying here. Research activity hasbeen managed to ensure that growth has increasedcapacity and enhanced quality in areas of existingstrengths. New appointments have been made in linewith strategic planning for future activities and succession.

Our research strategy is delivered through groupsled by world-class scientists. Four established groups:Musculoskeletal Biology (MSK); Reproduction,Genes and Development (RGD); Cardiovascularand Inflammation Biology (CVIB); and Infection andImmunity (I&I) deliver high quality basic and clinically-related research.Two recently formed groups facilitateresearch on the clinical caseload (Clinical Research;managed through the Clinical Investigation Centre)and co-ordinate animal welfare research across the College(Animal Welfare; co-ordinated through the Centre forAnimal Welfare).

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We have continued to develop a comparative animalbiomechanics team within the MSK group that deliversfundamental, world-class interdisciplinary research.The Locomotion Barn, a gait analysis laboratory wascompleted early in 2007 and is fully equipped withstate-of-the-art tools for biomechanics research. Fundedby a BBSRC Research Equipment Initiative grant,this facility is attracting visiting scientists from all over theworld. New recruits to the locomotion team in 2007include Dr Monica Daley (from Harvard, lecturer in VBS),and Dr Andrew Spence (RCUK Biomechanics Fellow).

We are building capacity in developmental biology withinthe RGD group. Developmental biologists will workwith the MSK group on regenerative biology and tissueengineering (in partnership with UCL’s Institute ofOrthopaedics) to develop solutions for degenerativediseases of ageing.An important strategy is to expandour zebrafish facility and use this animal model to addressquestions relevant to regenerative biology. New recruits tothe RGD group in 2007 include developmental biologistsDr Claire Russell (from UCL) and Dr Brian Stramer(from Bristol).

Reproductive physiology has been an area of strength inresearch at the College for many years. Maintaining thisand planning for succession is therefore very important.World-class leadership and future direction in fundamentalcomparative male reproduction research and its applicationto ecology is assured by new recruit, Professor EduardoRoldan (from CSIC, Madrid). His appointment in 2007,facilitated by a Royal Society Wolfson Merit Award,adds a new dimension to the group’s excellent researchinto the science underpinning artificial breedingtechnologies. Moreover, it ensures continuance of thecryobiology theme headed for 30 years by Professor PaulWatson. Professor Roldan’s interests in the conservationof species will bring new relevance to our long-standinglinks with the Zoological Society, London. Other newrecruits in 2007 include Dr Mandi DeMestre (fromCornell) and Dr Simon de Graaf (from Melbourne).

Molecular and quantitative genetics (RGD group)underpin clinical research into the interaction betweengenetics and environment on disease occurrence. Newappointments in 2007 include quantitative geneticistDr Geoff Pollott (from Scottish Agricultural College)who is a senior lecturer in Veterinary Basic Sciences andDr Holger Volk who is working on the molecular andgenetic basis to pharmacoresistant epilepsy in dogs.

Building capacity and developing leadership in veterinaryepidemiology and public health to underpin high qualityclinically-related research, particularly in infectiousdiseases, is an important part of our research strategy.New recruits in 2007 include Professor Katharina Stärk(from the Swiss Federal Veterinary Office) and Dr BarbaraWieland promoted from Research Assistant (1A). Dr LisaCollins has also been appointed to a Research Fellowshipto further develop mathematical expertise within theVeterinary Epidemiology and Public Health team.

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Another priority is responding to present and futurenational and global priorities in infectious diseases byestablishing a critical mass of multi-disciplinary scientists,and recruiting leaders in all disciplines.Teams ofresearchers are working to devise practical measuresto control endemic diseases.Their efforts will be reinforcedby a team led by Professors Werling,Wathes and Pfeiffer,supported by the award of a £2.4 million multidisciplinaryprogramme grant by BBSRC’s Combating EndemicDiseases of Farmed Animals for Sustainability (CEDFAS).

Future emphasis will be placed on tackling emergingzoonotic infectious diseases in partnership with humanmedicine. New recruits in Infection and Immunityresearch in 2007 include Professor Declan McKeever(from Edinburgh), Dr Liam Good (from the KarolinskaInstitute), Dr Sharon Kendall (promoted from RA1A),Dr Hermosilla (from Geissen) and Dr Solano-Gallego(from Padova).

We are establishing the necessary infrastructure fordisciplined study of the clinical caseload, and appointingresearch-trained clinical specialists supported by a teamof clinical trials nurses. Co-ordinated through the ClinicalInvestigation Centre, this work will result in clinicalresearch that truly informs clinical practice. New recruitsin 2007 include Dr Arthur House and Dr AnneliesseStell, both of whom completed their PhD trainingat the RVC before taking up academic posts withinVeterinary Clinical Sciences.

To see a full list of 2006-07 Research grants please go towww.rvc.ac.uk/annualreport/

Animal Welfare has been established as a new researchdiscipline championed by strong leadership. Integrationwith established research groups has been achieved throughtwo programme grants in the areas of Musculoskeletaland Developmental Biology (Fetal programming:pre-hatch environmental influences on subsequentmusculoskeletal health of chickens) and InfectiousDiseases.New appointments in this area in 2007 includeDr Siobhan Abeyesinghe, who was awarded the RCUKFellowship in Animal Behaviour and Welfare.Future publicoutreach initiatives are planned as part of this fellowship,and will emphasize the animal welfare implications of allour research activities.

In summary, our research activities continue to flourish.The strategic appointments made have assured our currentand future ability to progress our research strategy andundertake focused, high quality investigations of theutmost practical relevance to veterinary science throughoutthe world.

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The expansion of the EducationLiaison function at the RVC,coupled with the continued outreachwork of the Widening ParticipationUnit, has increased the College’sability to communicate and buildrelationships with prospectivestudents, education providers andthe wider public across the UK.

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openingdoorsJulia Hewett, Education Liaison Officerand Jon Parry, Project Director – Widening Participation

2007 saw the development of numerous projects andactivities providing those interested in the RVC witha deeper insight into life at the College and within theveterinary profession in general.The RVC on Tour grewto a total of 11 events, attracting close to 500 visitorsat venues across the UK. Such events enable students,teachers and parents alike to find out more about what theCollege can offer, and allow the RVC and the veterinaryworld to expand into communities.We are developinglong-standing links and relationships with people froma wide range of backgrounds, including those who perhapswould not otherwise choose to engage with the Collegeor the profession in general.

The design and extensive use of veterinary-relatededucational materials, such as portable Clinical Skills Kits,bring elements of teaching and learning methods employedby the College to a wider audience.This, alongsideadditional web content such as podcasts and studentprofiling, provides prospective students with a genuineinsight into the RVC community before they even arriveat the College.

Widening Participation activities have been both regionaland national. Our link with a school inWolverhamptoncontinues to encourage and engage its pupils, aspostgraduate and postdoctoral RVC students travel totheWest Midlands to discuss scientific and medical topics.In London, schools from several boroughs have attendedour popular Wednesday Afternoon Tasters.An increasingnumber of primary schools have also become involved.The College is working with other central London HEIson Gateways to the Professions,a project to engage youngpeople in professional careers. Our African-CaribbeanSaturday Schools remain popular and we are stimulatinginterest in Life Sciences through sponsorship from theLondon Development Agency.Yet again we have organisedsummer schools on veterinary subjects forYear 10andYear 11 students in the London area.

Overall, the RVC continues to increase its engagementwith the wider public and hopes this will lead to a greaterinterest in and understanding of the veterinary andscientific fields.

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harnessing talentKatharina Stärk graduated from the University of Zürichand developed an interest in epidemiology becauseshe found its multidisciplinary and applied natureappealing. She obtained a PhD from Massey University,New Zealand,working on the epidemiology of infectiousdiseases in pigs, including classical swine fever andrespiratory diseases. During a post doc in Denmark,Katharina’s interest shifted to veterinary public healthtopics, specifically risk assessment along the foodproduction chain.

In 2000, Katharina returned to Switzerland to take ona senior position at the Swiss Federal Veterinary Office.She was responsible for the design of national surveillancesystems for both animal health and food safety issues.She developed a risk assessment team with a mandateto conduct import/export risk assessments but alsoassessments on domestic food safety and animal healthhazards. Over the following years, the design of effectiveand efficient surveillance programmes became her researchfocus, including the application of risk assessmentmethods to set priorities in surveillance and diseasecontrol. She was also teaching veterinary public healthat theVETSUISSE Faculty in Bern.

Katharina’s international experience includes workfor Codex alimentarius and the Food and AgricultureOrganisation and participation in working groups of theWorld Health Organisation, the World Organisation forAnimal Health and the European Food Safety Authorityin the role of a surveillance and risk assessment expert.She is currently president of the European College ofVeterinary Public Health.

At the RVC, Katharina is Professor for Veterinary PublicHealth and designated Director of the new Centre for theControl of Veterinary Infectious Diseases and Zoonosesto be opened in 2008. Her teaching goals are to raisean awareness of veterinary public health duties in youngveterinarians. In her research she plans to continue towork on risk-based surveillance, particularly in a systemscontext at the human-animal interface.

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Professor Declan McKeever, MVB PhD MRCVS,is our new Chair of Immunoparasitology and Head ofDepartment, Pathology and Infectious Diseases.Aftertwo years in clinical veterinary practice, he undertooka PhD project at the Moredun Research Institute onthe immune responses of the sheep to the orf parapoxvirusof sheep.This work involved the use of lymphaticcannulation, a technique that underpinned muchof his subsequent research.

Having completed this PhD,he moved to the InternationalLaboratory for Research on Animal Diseases (ILRAD) inKenya to study function of bovine afferent lymph dendriticcells (ALDC).This work determined the heterogeneityof this cell population and examined the capacity ofdifferent subsets to process and present soluble antigen.He also studied the bovine immune response toTheileriaparva at the level of the lymph node, using lymphaticcannulation and cytotoxicT lymphocyte (CTL) precursorfrequency analysis.This work confirmed that immuneCD8+ T cells provide protection against T. parva, basedon adoptive transfer between monozygotic twin calves.

When the International Livestock Research Institute(ILRI) was formed in 1995,Declan was given responsibilityfor the Immunology and Vaccines project. In additionto the work described above, the project involvedresearch on the immunopathogenesis of Trypanosomacongolense infection of cattle and improved vaccinesfor Cowdria ruminantium.

He left ILRI in 1999 to take up a joint chair establishedby the University of Edinburgh and the MoredunResearch Institute.With support from the WellcomeTrust, he established a project in 2002 to evaluate theinfluence of bovine CTL responses on the populationstructure of T.parva.This became Declan’s major researchinterest and he obtained additional funding from theTrust in 2005. In May 2007, he relocated to the RoyalVeterinary College, where he plans to continue hisresearch on Theileria and broaden his interests toother pathogen systems.

In 2007, the RVC attracted manyinvaluable new members of staff.Some joined our academic andresearch teams, others came toaugment our administrative andsupport services. Five of them areprofiled here.

25

Jonathan Forrest, our new Development Director,graduated from St Edmund Hall Oxford in 1981. Hebegan his career with an international water and paperengineering group before completing an MBA at theCranfield School of Management in 1986. He then spentsix years with Citibank in London designing and launchinga retail banking business and co-ordinating marketdevelopment across a part of Citibank’s Europeanproduct portfolio.

In 1992 Jonathan joined the fundraising team at ActionAid,the international development NGO, and eventuallyco-ordinated fundraising development across theirinternational operations and managed the funding planningfunction.During this period he also developed ActionAid’swork with major corporations, spoke on the emergingfield of corporate social responsibility and establishedan independent development agency in Greece.

In 2000 Jonathan joined the Parnham Trust, a small designcollege, becoming its Chief Executive and subsequentlymerging it with the Bloomsbury-based ArchitecturalAssociation, the oldest and perhaps most importantarchitectural school in the UK.

Meanwhile, in 2001 he helped set up the InforceFoundation and served as its Finance and OperationsDirector. Inforce is a charity involved with the forensicinvestigation of mass fatality events, with the developmentof international standards and operating procedures formanaging the aftermath of atrocities, and with trainingand educating forensic practitioners. Over a period ofsix years, Jonathan worked in Iraq, Rwanda and Cyprusas well as with a number of international agencies,governments and emergency services.

At the RVC Jonathan is keen to establish the roleand purpose of the Development Office, which is a newfunction here. His goals are to help the College developits core activities and secure the funding that will makesuch initiatives sustainable.

26

Fiona Nouri joined the RVC in August 2007 after eightyears as Student Support Officer at the Royal College ofArt (RCA). She came to the UK from Kenya in 1980 asan international student, has lived and worked in Spainand Zimbabwe, and has a smattering of several unusuallanguages, not to mention a degree in Farsi.

For the past 25 years Fiona has made her career workingwith students, with a particular interest in those fromoverseas. Building up non-existent or minimal studentsupport services in small specialist central Londoninstitutions has become her ‘specialism’. She is veryfamiliar with the particular stresses that studyingfor intense highly-achieving courses can bring.

Fiona has extensive experience in all aspects of studentsupport.As accommodation secretary for hostels and hallsof residence; as the person responsible for placing upto 4000 language students a year with 500 host families;and as manager of private rented accommodation fora number of colleges.

She was also project manager for a HEFCE-fundedStrand One project entitled ‘Improving Provision forDisabled Students’, and responsible for developing a fulldisability service at the RCA.Fiona also has a proven trackrecord in student finance, general welfare and immigration(she is a member of the Executive Committee forthe Association of International Student Advisers).

Our new Director of Finance,Andrew Dyer, graduatedfrom the University of Brighton with a BA in Accountingand Finance in 1996.As a graduate trainee in theFinance Department of the University of Hertfordshirehe split his time between accounting work and systemsdevelopment, and helped to strengthen the financialfunctionality of a new room-booking system.

In 1999 Andrew assumed responsibility for four of theUniversity’s trading subsidiary companies, including asecurity company offering manned guarding and accesscontrol systems to a range of public and private sectorclients. During this time he also played a major role incompiling and consolidating the annual financial accountsfor the University and all eight of its subsidiaries.

Pursuing his interest in budgeting, forecasting and costingactivities, in looking forward rather than back,Andrewcompleted a Chartered Institute of ManagementAccountants (CIMA) qualification in 2000. Followinga promotion to Management Accountant, he led a teamof Finance Advisors based throughout the University.As he took on additional responsibilities, the role expandedand was finally re-designated.When he was DeputyDirector of Finance, Andrew facilitated changes to theUniversity’s strategic planning processes and monitoredand reported on a budget of £180 million.

He completed an MBA last year, just before joining theRVC: ‘I believe I have joined at an exciting time in theCollege’s long history and I am really looking forwardto helping shape and support its future development.’

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changing rolesDan Messum has been promoted to the position of ITHelpdesk Manager. He kick-started his career at BP Oil asa mainframe computer operator.The ‘desktop publishing’revolution presented an opportunity to move into ITsupport within the Faculty of Visual CommunicationatWatford College in 1989, and he has been working inthe higher education sector ever since.To keep pace withthe Internet revolution, Dan completed a BSc in 2000,combining computer-networking studies with audioand video engineering.

He has been manning our IT Helpdesk since September2001. He joined as an Audio Visual/IT Technician justas we embarked on a comprehensive AV and IT upgrade;and as the services we offer our staff and students havecontinued to expand, so have Dan’s responsibilities.Working closely with IT and Academic Support andDevelopment colleagues in e-learning and e-media,he hashelped to enhance teaching and business-related servicessuch as video-conferencing, voting systems, and ongoingPC replacement and installation programmes.

Dan’s role involves him in supporting the growing rangeof hardware and software in use by staff and studentsacross the College. He and his team and their colleaguesin Systems and Applications are presented with newchallenges on a daily basis, and it can be anticipatedthat, as the College continues to evolve, so will the ITservices provided.

2007 was also a notable year for new professorships.No less than five of our distinguished academics wererecognised and promoted in this way, and to all of themwe would like to extend our hearty congratulations:

Professor Kathy Botham 1

Professor Dan Brockman 2

Professor Andrew Rycroft 3

Professor Dirk Werling 4

Professor Alan Wilson 5

Over the course of the last year,a number of our brightest starshave taken on new roles andresponsibilities and two, sadly,have moved on to pastures new.

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1

Director of Finance,Reggie Blennerhassett, left the RVCin 2007 to take up a new post at Roehampton University.When he joined the College in 1991 as Deputy FinanceOfficer he arrived with specialist qualifications, which helater supplemented with an MBA from Imperial College.Utilising his business experience,Reggie quickly developedan understanding of the Higher Education FundingCouncil’s regulatory requirements, and the complexitiesof the then small, specialist Royal Veterinary College.Turnover then was £10.5 million.Today it is £55 million.

When Reggie became Finance Officer in 1999 he seizedthe opportunity to introduce new professional disciplinesand working practices.With quiet persistence he improvedaccounting systems and procedures, developed strategicplanning models and financial forecasts and ensuredthe College’s approach to risk and risk management andto business continuity planning was widely understood.Over the last ten years, his careful stewardship of ourfinances has allowed significant building developmentsof some £44 million.

Reggie’s charm and sense of humour were always apparentin even the most difficult circumstances. He could deliverunwelcome financial news with accompanying solutionsand optimism,and rarely left a senior management meetingwithout having made a lively contribution to the debate.He assisted with student tutorial work, and his tutorialmeetings in the hostelries of London were legendary.Reggie was a popular colleague and a friend to many staffand students here, and we wish him well in his new role.

Ketan Patel has returned to Reading University, fromwhence he joined the RVC five years earlier as Reader inDevelopmental Biology in the Department of VeterinaryBasic Sciences. His career prior to that included an MRCFellowship at the National Institute of Medical Research,followed by aWellcome Trust Career DevelopmentFellowship in Professor Cheryl Tickle’s group at UCL,a world leader in the field of developmental biology.

Ketan proved to be a phenomenally hard-working,energetic and successful member of the VBS team. Hisgreat enthusiasm for teaching was recognised by a JimBee Prize for Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching in2005. His work on the PATHE programme led to anMA and to full membership of ILT. Ketan is a prolificresearcher, but also found time to lead the Molecular,Cell and Developmental Biology module on the BVetMedcourse. He was a staunch defender of his subject andvery popular with his students.

Ketan’s research focuses on the developmental biologyof skeletal muscle and he has made a number of importantcontributions to the field. He established a large, activeresearch group here and attracted talented researchersfrom all over the world. His activities were supported byproject grants from the BBSRC, the Wellcome Trust andthe British Heart Foundation. He published 29 paperswhile at the RVC, all in high quality journals, and becamea Professor in 2006.

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2 3

4

5

1 2 3 4

September 2006The Clinical Investigations Centre opens at theHawkshead Campus.Along with its Director, theCentre now employs nine veterinary nurses anda research scientist

November 2006Following a win over The University of Greenwichthe RVC Men’s Rugby Team was promoted up a leaguein BUSA

1 December 2006Building work begins on the new extension to theQueen Mother Hospital for Animals.This will makethe QMH one of the largest referral hospitals in Europewhen it officially opens in Spring/Summer 2008

2 December 2006Refurbished Hawkshead House student area opens

January 2007The RVC joinsVMCAS, theVeterinary MedicalColleges Admissions Service, for recruitment ofNorth American students

3 February 2007HRH The Princess Royal officially opens theLIVE Centre

4 April 2007Several RVC staff including Mike Archer, EmmaMitchell and Quintin McKellar run the LondonMarathon to raise funds for the ACT

April 2007London BioScience Innovation Centre (LBIC) winstop EU Award for its work in enabling bioscience andrelated knowledge-based companies to thrive, expandand succeed. LBIC is seen as a model of best practiceacross Europe and one which is transferable acrossother sectors

May 2007The RVC holds its first Summer partyfor staff and family at Hawkshead Campus

May 2007Professor Joe Brownlie and colleagues discoverthat Foot and Mouth Disease virus can cross theplacenta in sheep and cause fetal death.This is animportant discovery in the context of national diseasecontrol strategies

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college lifethe year at a glance

5 6 7

2006-07 was an eventful year in the long and distinguished history of theRoyal Veterinary College; academically, administratively, ceremoniallyand socially.

5 July 2007The RVC graduation ceremony takes place at LoganHall in Central London.The first Foundation Degreestudents graduate from the RVC

July 2007RVC spinout,VetCell Bioscience Ltd wins a specialaward from UK Trade and Investment, followingon from its award for Outstanding Achievement,announced earlier in the year

August 2007 RVC submits application to the Privy Council fordegree awarding powers

6 September 2007RVC on Tour visits over 500 students around the UK

September 2007218 students from six countries enrol on the BVetMeddegree.The curriculum has been radically revised

7 October 2007RVC Opening Ceremony address given byDr Christianne Glossop, Chief Veterinary Officerfor Wales and an RVC alumna. Dr Glossop discussedthe important and challenging role of the veterinaryprofession in modern life as well as rememberingher happy experiences as a BVetMed student

October 2007Thirty 1965 graduates attend the RVC 65Club Reunion

November 2007LBIC reaches 90% occupancy and reports its first profits

November 2007Launch of Innovation China-UK, an initiative ledby Queen Mary University, and including RVC, KingsCollege London and the Universities of Nottinghamand Southampton.Minister for Science and Innovationand the Ambassador for the People’s Republic ofChina address an audience of academic and businessleaders from both countries

November 2007Privy Council approves revisions to the College’s Charterand Statutes to modernise Governance arrangements

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The Royal Veterinary CollegeFinancial Year Ended 31 July 2007Income and Expenditure Account

1 Turnover has increased by £7.1m (16%).

Endowment and investment incomeOther operating incomeResearch grants and contractsAcademic fees and support grantsFunding Council grants

10

20

30

40

50

60

Total income for five years + percentage increase

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

11%

13%

15%

16%

£m

2 Income from Funding Council grants has increasedby £2.6m and represents 46% of Total Income(47%, 2005-06; 50%, 2004-05)

2006-07 Income

Funding Council grants 46%

Academic fees and support grants 10%

Research grants and contracts 16%

Other operating income 26%

Endowment and investment income 2%

exceeding targetsAndrew Dyer, Director of Finance

The College remains in a financially sound and secure position. In 2006-07we generated a surplus of £1.5 million,or 2.7 per cent of income.Turnoverfor the year rose by £7.1 million,or 16 per cent, and it was another excellentyear for research grants and contracts, which increased by 34 per cent.

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3 Income from Research Grants and Contractshas increased by £2.1m (34%) mainly as a resultof increased funding from Research Councils andUK Government Bodies.

4 Income from Other Operating Income has increasedby £1.0m (8%) a result of increased activity in thesmall animal and equine hospitals.

5 Staff costs have increased by £3.3m (13%) as a resultof additional recruitment to support increased teaching,research and clinical activity and pension costs.

6 Depreciation has decreased by £60k (1%).

7 Other operating expenses have increased by £3.6m(24%) primarily reflecting the increased activity inclinical services, educational expenditure, researchgrants and contracts. In addition,utility charges wentup by 12% and expenditure on estates building projects,minor works and estate maintenance increased by 148%.

8 The surplus from continuining operations for theyear is £1,528k (2.7% of turnover). Including thedisposal of assets the surplus is £3,461k (6.7%).

The Royal Veterinary CollegeFinancial Year Ended 31 July 2007Balance Sheet

9 Expenditure on additions and improvements to theestates has been £5.3m. During the year the LIVE!Centre for Excellence in Teaching & Learning wascompleted together with the Animal Welfare Barn,a research facility.

Good progress was made on Phase 3 of the QueenMother Hospital for Animals together with astart on the Centre for the Control of VeterinaryInfectious Diseases, which is funded by HEFCE.

10 A net cash inflow of £6.2m from operating activitieshas improved the College’s cash position with anincrease in cash for the year of £2.5m.

11 Legacies of £0.97m (£0.5m, 2005-06) have beenreceived by the College and the Animal Care Trustduring the year.After taking account of appreciationof and expenditure against endowments, the overallvalue of the funds has increased by £2.1m (18%)(2005-06, £1.4m (14%)).

12 The College’s investment portfolio is managedby Black Rock Investment Managers Limited.The market value of the College’s EndowmentAsset Investments has increased by £911k (9.9%).

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

Other operating expenses for five years + percentage increase

20072006200520042003

13%

24%

12%

15%

£m

32

34

36

38

40

42

44

Fixed assets and investments for five years

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

£m

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combined effortsJonathan Forrest, Development Director

Fundraising is undertaken by the Animal Care Trustwhich is a registered charity administered by the College.2006-07 was a particularly good year for the ACT.

We raise funds to support the hospitals and the other workof the College in a range of ways.Our principal fundraisingwork during the year was for the Queen Mother Hospital.

Paws for a Cause

Our major appeal to support the expansion of the QueenMother Hospital had a wonderful year and we weredelighted to receive support from many new and generousdonors.With a healthy stream of pledges, the appealhas now exceeded £3 million.With a target of £5 millionto reach, donations are still being gratefully received!

We say good-bye to the Paw Trail…

At the end of 2006 we closed the Paw Trail so that theold Queen Mother Hospital could be refurbished. It hasbeen a huge success and the 4000 paws have contributedover £42,000 to the Paws for a Cause appeal.Thatis enough to equip an operating theatre! So we owea huge debt of gratitude to all our Paw Trail donors.

...and hello to the Paw-folio!

Paw prints will no longer adorn the walls, but they arebeing re-homed in our new Paw-folio which is a bookmarking your donations and celebrating the names ofyour pets. It is not too late to put your pet’s print in thePaw-folio.

The effort and joy of fundraising

Of the many ways that our donors found to support us,running was a theme for the year. In October twenty-fiverunners took on the Great North Run whilst an eight-strong team led by Principal Quintin McKellar enteredthe 2007 Flora London Marathon. Between them ourteams raised an astounding £18,000!

In July 2007 the RVC appointedits first Development Director andcreated a department that bringstogether the work of the AnimalCareTrust with alumni relations.The Development Office will helpthe College achieve its ambitioustargets for expanding and improvingits estate, for promoting researchand teaching, for supportingstudents and for developing newand exciting fields of academicand commercial endeavour.

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Trading and investmentsDonations and giftsLegacies

250

500

750

1,000

1,250

1,500

Animal Care Trust income

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

£000

35Animals matter

Income for 2006-07 totalled over £1.4m. Income fromlegacies was particularly strong at £968,057.We wouldlike to take this opportunity to thank all of our manysupporters who have remembered our work in their Wills.

This strong income performance has meant that we havebeen able to increase our campaign funds for the QueenMother Hospital appeal by £996,000. Our total fundshave grown to £3.26m and will be drawn down in 2008as the Queen Mother Hospital is opened.

Thanks to the magnificent generosity of our donors wehave also been able to increase our grants to the RoyalVeterinary College by 18% to £238,000. Here are someexamples of those grants.

A grant of £19,570 helped the Beaumont Animals’Hospital to refit and equip an isolation ward and a newsmall animal ward.This expands our capacity to treatcats, rabbits and other small animals.

Grants of £110,996 to the Equine Hospital were spenton a range of equipment including a new ultrasound unitproviding us with the highest level of ultrasonographicimaging available anywhere in the UK.

In the Queen Mother Hospital a grant of £18,267 madeit possible to purchase a phacoemulsification system usedin the treatment of cataracts.

Finally the Farm Animals Project was granted £6,200to purchase an innovative recovery tank for downed cows;saving them by lifting them and supporting their weightusing warm water.

You can help

The Animal Care Trust is always pleased to hear yourideas for raising funds in support of the College’s work.We are committed to the welfare of animals, the educationof our students and the progress of our College. If youwould like to get in touch,make a donation, leave yourpet’s print in our Paw-folio or make a gift in your Will,please contact Joanne Hussain on 01707 666237,email jhussain@rvc.ac.uk or visit www.rvc.ac.uk/act

The Animal Care Trust is a registered charity(number 281571).

The Development Office team including students Bev, Becky and Nikki

During his time at the College Lord Salisbury has seenit develop considerably, improve its performance in thefield of research and respond ‘in a distinguished manner’to the recent crises that have affected the veterinary world.

‘The College has broadened its appeal to meet the demandsof a changing world,’ comments Lord Salisbury. ‘Thefact that the College has adjusted to this increase in sizeso competently is a great tribute to the management ofthe College and the sense of loyalty of its members. Iwas very pleased that the College Council maintainedits cohesion and sense of focus during a period of greatchange and at no time allowed the lesser considerationsto get in the way of discussions about the greater goodof the College.’

Looking over his time spent as Chairman Lord Salisburyconcedes that he does have just one regret: ‘That I didn’tsee more of the students, something that is difficult for apart-time Chairman with a busy life.’

However,Lord Salisbury feels that he is leaving the Collegein a strong position to face the future. He cites the RVC’swidening participation work, its increasing connectionswith international institutions and its ability to attractstudents from overseas as evidence of the College’sability to succeed when faced with future challenges.

‘The College has a great sense of itself as an ancientinstitution whose members have its best interests at heart.Whatever else it does to adapt to the demands of the future,it can do no wrong if it maintains that sense of collegiality,which is I think its greatest strength.’

Although Lord Salisbury’s tenure as Chairman has nowcome to an end he hopes to maintain contact with theCollege and sees his new role as a great opportunity todo so. ‘I have been enormously honoured to have beenelected a Fellow of the College, a distinction whichis accorded to few and in which I take great pride.’

Lord Salisbury adds: ‘Anything that I can do in the futureto serve the College’s interest will be something which Ilook forward to with pleasure.’

In December 2007,The Most HonThe Marquess of Salisbury steppeddown as Chairman of the RVCCouncil, a position he had held foreight years.The incoming ChairmanisThe Rt Hon The BaronessShephard of Northwold.As theseprofiles reveal,when it comes to theRVC, they have views, values andgoals in common.

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common groundhanding over the Chairman’s baton

Lady Shephard comes to the role of Chairman withextensive experience in education,agriculture and politics.She was the Minister for Agriculture in 1993 and theSecretary of State for Education from 1994 until 1997,andis currently Chairman of the Association of ConservativePeers andTrustee of theWorkers’Educational Association.

Coming from an agricultural background Lady Shephardhas long admired the veterinary profession and recognisesthe important role that it plays in the economy. LadyShephard acknowledges that she has ‘a lot to learn aboutthe world in which the College operates’, but is lookingforward to ‘the whole challenge’.

‘I have the utmost admiration for the history and thereputation of the College. It has maintained its highstandards for many years and over many changes. I’mreally thrilled to have the chance to work with so manydedicated and distinguished academics and professionals,and extremely enthusiastic and focused students.’

Lady Shephard’s experience and contacts are certain tobe of benefit to the College. ‘Political experience can onlybe useful in the role of Chairman. UK higher educationis deeply involved in the political process not least becauseof funding but also because of other issues, such as ethics,animal welfare and strategic planning.’

Having chaired all kinds of bodies during her long careerin public life, Lady Shephard lists listening as one of themost important attributes that a Chairman must have;‘on occasions a Chairman has to lead, but when you arenew you really can’t listen enough.’

The RVC Council plays an important role in theleadership of the College, deciding on strategic matterssuch as capital projects and international development.An effective governing body should, according to LadyShephard, ‘have a strong sense of strategy, be able to faceup to changing circumstances realistically and objectivelyand be able to make difficult decisions when the goingmight be a little rough,’ she adds: ‘It’s very importantfor the reputation of the College to be jealously guarded,but this has to be done in a way that enables the Collegeto make the most of opportunities that are offered to itglobally, nationally and locally.’

Lady Shephard adds:‘I have a lot to learn but Lord Salisburyhas left a splendid legacy.’

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38 Patron

His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh KG KT OM GBE

The Council(as at 31 July 2007)

The Officers of the Council

ChairmanThe Most Hon The Marquess of Salisbury PC DL

Vice-ChairmanProfessor P M Biggs CBE FRS DScDVM FRCVS FRCPath FIBiol

Hon TreasurerJ H Chatfeild-Roberts BA

Members appointed by organisations

Privy CouncilThe Rt Hon Frank Dobson MP

Secretary of State for Environment,Food & Rural AffairsProfessor J C Milne BVetMed MRCVS

Royal SocietyProfessor P M Biggs CBE FRS DScDVM FRCVS FRCPath FIBiol

Royal College of Veterinary SurgeonsR Green BVetMed MRCVS

Corporation of LondonI Luder BSc(Econ) FCA FTII FRSA

British Veterinary AssociationE A Chandler BVetMed FRCVS

Academic Board of the CollegeProfessor D Church BVSc PhDMACVSc MRCVS

Professor S May MA VetMB PhDDVR DEO FRCVS DipECVS

Professor J Price PhD BVSc BSc

Professor N Stickland BSc PhD DSc

Professor D C Wathes BSc PhD DSc

Professor A Williams BVMS PhD MRCVS DipECVP

Members co-opted by the Council

The Most Hon The Marquess of Salisbury PC DL

J H Chatfeild-Roberts BA

I B Flanagan FRICS

Professor D Noakes BVetMed PhDDSc DVRep DipECAR FRCVS

Miss V Collingwood

Dr G Schild CBE DSc

governance

Ex-Officio

Professor Q A McKellar BVMS PhDDVM DipECVPT CBiol FIBiol FRAgSMRCVS FRSE (Principal)

Secretary to the CouncilMrs E C Acaster

Fellows of the Royal Veterinary College

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal GCVO (1987)

Professor P M Biggs CBE FRS DSc DVMFRCVS FRCPath FIBiol (1983)

W Plowright CMG FRS DVSc FRCVS (1987)

Miss W M Brancker CBE FRCVS (1989)

Professor L C Vaughan DSc FRCVS DVR (1995)

The Right Hon The Earl Cadogan (1997)

The Right Hon Lord Prior PC (1999)

Professor L E Lanyon CBE BVSc PhD DSc MRCVS FMedSci (2005)

Honorary Fellows

Edmund Vestey TD DL (1994)*

Mrs Jean Sainsbury (1994)**

George H R Ward FCA (1994)

Sir Gordon Shattock MRCVS (1994)

Dame Bridget M Ogilvie ScD FIBiol FRCPath (1994)

John K Pool (1994)

Tony Veal (1994)

Robert Luff CBE OStJ (1994)

Mrs Jessie Nye (1994)

The Rt Hon Lord Wolfson of Marylebone (1994)

Lady Harris DBE DL (1994)

Patsy Bloom (1997)

Professor Leo Jeffcott MA BVetMed PhD DVSc FRCVS (1997)

Sir Brian Fender CMG (2001)

Professor Ken Goulding BSc PhD HonDSc CBiol FIBiol (2001)

Christopher Sporborg CBE (2001)

Richard Carden (2003)

Brigadier Andrew Parker Bowles OBE (2003)

*Died – November 2007**Died – February 2007

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corporate governancefor the year ended 31 July 2007

1 The purpose of this statement is to enable readers of the College’s Report and Accounts to obtain a betterunderstanding of the governance and legal structure of the College.

2 The College endeavours to conduct its business inaccordance with the seven Principles identified by the Committee on Standards in Public Life, namelyselflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability,openness, honesty and leadership. It also actsin accordance with the guidance provided by theCommittee of University Chairmen in its Guide forMembers of Governing Bodies of Universities andColleges in England,Wales and Northern Ireland,in a manner appropriate to the circumstancesof the College.

3 The College is an independent corporation, whoselegal status derives from a Royal Charter granted in1956, although the College can trace its history as acorporate body back to 1791. Its objects, powers andframework of governance are set out in the Charterand its supporting Statutes.

4 The Charter and Statutes require that the government of the College shall be vested in the Council, whichhas management and control of the College andadministers all its property and income.The Councilhas a majority of members from outside the College(known as lay members) from whom the Chairman,Vice-Chairman and Treasurer are by custom elected.None of the lay members receive any payment forthe work they do for the College, apart from thereimbursement of expenses.

5 The Statutes also require that there shall be anAcademic Board,members of which are the Professorsof the College and representatives of the teaching staff,and of which the Principal is Chairman.The Boardadvises the Council on all academic matters.

6 The principal academic and administrative officer of the College is the Principal, who under the Statutes isresponsible for the conduct of the College.Under the termsof the formal Financial Memorandum between the Collegeand the Higher Education Funding Council for England,the Principal is the designated officer of the College andin that capacity can be summoned to appear before thePublic Accounts Committee of the House of Commons.

7 Although the Council ordinarily meets three times a year, much of its detailed work is initially discussed in Committees, in particular the Finance Committee,the Audit Committee, the Nominations Committee andthe Senior Staff Remuneration Committee.All CouncilCommittees are formally constituted with terms ofreference and specified membership. Many include asignificant proportion of lay members.All Committeesreport formally to the Council.

8 As Chief Executive of the College the Principal exercises considerable influence on the development of institutional strategy, the identification and planningof new developments and the shaping of institutionalethos. Senior academic and administrative officers all contribute in various ways to these aspects of theCollege’s affairs but the Principal remains responsiblefor the conduct of the College.

9 The College maintains a register of interests of members of the Council.

10 Any enquiries about the constitution and governance of the College should be addressed to the Secretary to Council.

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London CampusRoyal College StreetLondon NW1 0TUTelephone +44 (0) 20 7468 5000Fax +44 (0) 20 7388 2342

Hertfordshire CampusHawkshead LaneNorth MymmsHerts AL9 7TATelephone +44 (0) 1707 666333Fax +44 (0) 1707 652090

The London BioScienceInnovation CentreTelephone +44 (0) 20 7691 1122

Communications Management(Press Office)Telephone +44 (0) 1727 733889

Animal Care TrustTelephone +44 (0) 1707 666237Fax +44 (0) 1707 666382

www.rvc.ac.uk

To view this publication on the web please go towww.rvc.ac.uk/annualreport/.Whilst all reasonable carehas been taken in the compilation of this publication, theCollege can accept no liability which might arise from an unintentional inaccuracy. Readers are recommendedto verify current circumstances for themselves wheneverthey need to do so.

Produced by the Royal Veterinary College, London

Designed by Crescent Lodge, London

Printed on Revive 75 Silk,a 75% recycled paperThe pulp is bleached using an elementalchlorine free (ECF) process

The College has charitable status

Established in 1791, RVC is the UK’s longest-standing veterinary college – with a proud heritage of innovation in veterinary science, clinical practice and education.

Cover image: Dr Donald Palmer and student Annisa Chand