Dr Jane Downes MRCVS

Biography

Jane Downes graduated in 1978 from Bristol Veterinary School and for five years worked in general practice in North Yorkshire.

On the arrival of family and part-time working she set up practice providing veterinary inspection services to Local Authorities.

She joined the Meat Hygiene Service in 1995 and was appointed as a Senior Civil Servant and the Veterinary and Technical Director in 2002, having responsibility for technical instruction and training of officials for meat inspections and compliance auditing; the approval of meat premises and any subsequent enforcement action; and, leading the change programme.

In 2010 she transferred to Acting Head of Chemical safety at the Food Standards Agency, before moving to set up an independent veterinary consultancy to the food chain.

Her current work includes projects with the major retailers on food safety programmes, with Warwick University on animal welfare research programmes and with veterinary practices and food businesses improving business efficiency, compliance and consumer safety.

As a member of NSF Consulting Group, she works with a wide range of other experts.

Jane's other interests include being a governor at Askham Bryan College, Chair of the National Zoonoses Control Programme, a member of the British Veterinary Association Veterinary Policies Group, and a board member of the Meat Training Council and a Past-President of the Veterinary Public Health Association.

Leisure time is usually spent on the golf course or walking through the glorious Yorkshire countryside with friends and family.

Committee membership

• Disciplinary Committee