Who we are

Tribute to Dr Jane Goodall DBE - Patron of the PVA

Few figures in modern conservation have left as profound a mark on our collective understanding of animals as Dr. Jane Goodall. From her groundbreaking studies of wild chimpanzees in Gombe, Tanzania, to her tireless global advocacy for wildlife, the environment, and compassionate coexistence between people and animals, she has transformed not only our understanding of and empathy for primates but also the way humanity thinks about its responsibilities toward other species.

As Patron of the Progressive Veterinary Association, Jane Goodall lent her unique voice and vision to our profession as it undergoes its own evolution. Veterinarians today stand at the crossroads of animal welfare, environmental stewardship, and public health. Jane’s example will encourage veterinary professionals to embrace a broader, more holistic understanding of our vocation: one that recognises the sentience of animals, respects their intrinsic value, and seeks to align medical practice with ethical responsibility.

Her support of progressive veterinary principles has reinforced the idea that good science must also be humane science. Just as her observations revealed the individuality, intelligence, and emotional lives of chimpanzees, her patronage reminds us that every animal under veterinary care deserves compassion, dignity, and respect.

Jane Goodall has shown the world that to heal animals is also to heal ecosystems and, ultimately, ourselves. Her presence as Patron is both an inspiration and a challenge: a call to veterinarians everywhere to combine knowledge with empathy, and skill with vision. She was a force of, and for, nature. May she rest in peace and may her legacy continue to inspire veterinary professionals and others to forge a kinder, more compassionate world.

Dame Jane Goodall. 1934-2025.

Peter Egan - Patron of the PVA

Peter Egan is an actor and an animal advocate. He has worked continuously as an actor for over 5 decades receiving awards for his work in theatre, film and television but is most proud of being awarded in 2017 an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Winchester for services to social justice and animal welfare.

Peter is an ethical vegan and is an ambassador or patron for numerous charities in the UK and throughout the world. Most notably Animals Asia. International Animal Rescue. Jane Goodall’s Roots and Shoots, Compassion in World Farming and For Life On Earth. He is passionate about our wonderful planet and all the different species with whom we share it.

He works tirelessly for the rights of animals, humans and the health of our planet.

Professor Ranald Munro MRCVS - Patron of the PVA

After graduation, the British Government Overseas Aid Scheme offered Ranald opportunities to help and support the animals and peoples of developing nations. Postings to East Africa, Hong Kong and the South Pacific region highlighted the immense value veterinarians bring to communities through a One Health approach. Back in the UK, a belief in the fundamental importance of pathology accompanied by a drive for innovation in diagnosis and animal welfare led to Ranald’s appointment as Head of Pathology in the Veterinary Laboratories Agency.

Long term engagement with animal welfare resulted in Ranald accepting some challenging roles - such as Chairman of the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, President of the World Society for the Protection of Animals and Chairman of the Independent Panel on the Pilot Badger Culls in England.  Recently, as the first Chairman of the Steering Group of the Certificate in Forensic Veterinary Pathology, an international standard for forensic veterinary pathology has become a reality.

Dr Iain McGill MRCVS - Director

Iain trained at King’s College London in neuroscience before qualifying at the RVC. Working initially as a clinician for the Blue Cross, he transferred to a government research role for MAFF, investigating bovine neuropathological disease with a focus on BSE and other prion diseases. He continued research on the molecular biology of prions at the Institute of Psychiatry. Iain worked with Dispatches and Channel 4 to help expose the hidden story of BSE.

He has worked in phytotherapeutics - researching novel candidates for medicinal compounds derived from plants. Whilst at ZSL, he performed disease risk analysis  (DRA) for the recovery of UK endangered species including red kites, dormice, cirl buntings, field crickets and for the re-introduction of the pool frog. Since 2012 Iain has focused on publishing scientific evidence on bovine TB in cattle and other species, and campaigning against the badger cull and for animal protection. He continues to see clinical cases.

Dr Andre Menache MRCVS - Director

Born in Belgium in 1954, Andre Menache obtained his degree in veterinary medicine in 1980 in South Africa. In 1999 he proposed an amendment to the Declaration of Helsinki to encourage the wider use of non animal methods to replace animal tests. This proposal was subsequently accepted at the 52nd General Assembly of the World Medical Association and included in the Declaration. Andre served as president of the UK organisation Doctors and Lawyers for Responsible Medicine, before joining Animal Aid as scientific consultant. He is currently scientific consultant for Antidote Europe, based in France.

Dr Poppy Bussian MRCVS - Policy and Communications Officer

Poppy obtained her veterinary degree from the Royal Veterinary College, London, in 2022. She worked for two years in small animal general practice, caring for a variety of companion animals, before moving into medical writing and clinical research. She has a particular interest in the negative impacts of extreme conformation on the welfare of companion animals, having witnessed these first hand during her time in clinical practice. As Policy and Communications Officer, Poppy continues Bronwen Eastwood’s work promoting the responsible use of animal imagery in visual media, alongside her role as PVA Membership Secretary.

Dr Mark Jones MRCVS

Mark qualified from Liverpool vet school in 1985, and worked for a number of years in companion animal practice and fish health and disease control, before spending five years travelling extensively and working on rescue and rehabilitation projects for primates, bears, birds, and reptiles in South America and Asia. He has Masters’ degrees in both aquatic and wild animal health, and several years’ experience in the non-government animal protection sector. He joined the UK-based international wildlife charity Born Free in 2014 where he is currently Head of Policy, managing a team focussed on promoting the adoption of progressive legislation and policy concerning wildlife conservation, management and trade, and the welfare of both free living and captive wild animals, at international, national and local levels. He co-founded the PVA and, after a period of time away, has rejoined the management team as a policy advisor.

Nigel Edwards KC - Legal advisor

Nigel has a reputation both nationally and internationally for his no nonsense hard fighting but fair and courteous approach to all he does and with all he meets. He is meticulous in his preparation and highly regarded for his attention to detail.

Nigel acts as KC for Lamb Building, London, and Crown Chambers in Hull, and was shortlisted for the Bar’s Pro Bono Barrister of the Year in 2022. He has a keen interest in animal protection and offered to be the PVA’s legal advisor in 2021.