BSAVA Member Anna Meredith awarded OBE

3 January 2019

The former head vet at Edinburgh Zoo and personal chair of Zoological and Conservation Medicine at the city’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies has been appointed an OBE in the Queen’s New Year 2019 Honours List. Anna received the BSAVA’s Blaine Award in 2003 for outstanding contributions to the advancement of small animal veterinary medicine or surgery.

Anna Meredith, who is now the head of Melbourne Veterinary School in Australia, received the honour for services to animal welfare.

Prof Meredith served as chairman of the UK Government’s Zoos Expert Committee from 2010 to 2018 and is a fellow and recognised specialist in zoological medicine of the RCVS, as well as a specialist in wildlife population health of the European College of Zoological Medicine. She is also a fellow of the Zoological Society of London.

‘Deeply honoured’

She said: “I am surprised and deeply honoured to be appointed as an OBE, and humbled that others felt I was worthy. Along with many other dedicated colleagues, I strive, as a veterinarian, to improve animal health and welfare. I believe passionately we are morally obliged to safeguard animal health and welfare and that we have a duty of care for all the species with which we share this planet.

“This approach has a beneficial impact on human health and welfare and the health of the ecosystems on which we all depend.”

Prof Meredith was head veterinary surgeon at the Edinburgh Zoo for 17 years and established the University of Edinburgh’s Exotic Animal and Wildlife Unit. She lectures internationally, has written or edited a range of veterinary textbooks, and is author of almost 100 scientific publications.