Cattle vet and academic elected as new RCVS Junior Vice-President for 2026/27

Professor David Barrett FRCVS was elected as RCVS Junior Vice-President for 2026/27 at the meeting of RCVS Council on Thursday 12 March 2026 and, subject to formal ratification, will take up his post at the AGM on Friday, 3 July 2026. After serving for one year as Junior Vice-President and, subject to approval by RCVS Council, Professor Barrett will serve as RCVS President for 2027/28. 

Professor Barrett has been an elected member of RCVS Council since July 2024 and is currently Professor of Bovine Medicine, Production and Reproduction at Bristol Veterinary School, as well as an RCVS-recognised Specialist in Cattle Health and Production and a European Veterinary Specialist in Bovine Health Management.

Speaking of his election to Junior Vice-President by his peers on RCVS Council, David (pictured) said: “The veterinary professions stand at a defining moment. The Competition and Markets Authority investigation and hoped for legislative reform will shape the future of veterinary regulation, practice, and professional standards. At such a time, the professions and the public need the RCVS to provide steady, confident, and principled regulation and direction, guided by experience, sound judgement, and professional credibility.

"It is a great honour to be elected to this position by my fellow RCVS Council members, and I look forward to working with them, VN Council members and RCVS staff. As Junior Vice-President I will bring experience, judgement, and a collaborative, person-centred approach to Council, supporting thriving professionals, promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion, maintaining the highest standards, and ensuring the College regulates transparently and responsibly delivering leadership the professions and public can trust now and into the future.”

Professor Barrett is from a dairy farming background in the Southwest of England and began his formal agricultural education at Brymore School before earning an intercalated BSc in Anatomical Sciences (1987) and a BVSc (1990) from the University of Bristol, and entering mixed veterinary practice in North Wales. After completing his initial postgraduate training, he joined the University of Glasgow, gaining the Diploma in Bovine Reproduction (DBR) in 1996 and Diploma in Cattle Health and Production (DCHP) in 1997. 

In 2003, David played a pivotal role in establishing the European College of Bovine Health Management (ECBHM), transforming postgraduate clinical training across Europe, and paving the way for other species-specific Colleges. He served as President of the ECBHM (2005–07) before returning to the University of Bristol in 2011, to help rebuild the farm animal teaching and research group. David also served on the Board of the British Cattle Veterinary Association for 17 years, including as the President (2018–19), and is an Associate of the Royal Agricultural Societies (ARAgS) and Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology (FRSB).

Since joining Council he has served as Chair of the Specialist Recognition Subcommittee and has contributed to the Education Committee, Advanced Practitioners Qualifications Subcommittee, Nominations Committee, Legislative Change Working Party, and Council Culture Working Group.

At the same Council meeting the following appointments were also confirmed by RCVS Council members: 

• Tim Hutchinson MRCVS as President for 2026/27
• Professor Tim Parkin FRCVS as Senior Vice-President for 2026/27
• Linda Belton MRCVS as Treasurer
• Dr Sam Bescoby MRCVS as new Chair of Standards Committee
• Dr Zara Kennedy MRCVS to continue as Chair of the Advancement of the Professions Committee
• Professor Parkin to continue as Chair of the Education Committee 

The full biographies of Professor Barrett and other RCVS Council members can be found on our Council webpage.