Speakers - Joint sessions

RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Veterinary Cardiology

Jane graduated from the University of Nottingham in 2014. Following graduation, she spent time working in first-opinion small animal practice in the UK and Ireland and, later, in several referral centres across the UK.  
She obtained an RCVS Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice in Veterinary Cardiology in 2019 and was subsequently accredited as an RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Veterinary Cardiology in 2020. Jane has a strong interest in veterinary interventional cardiology and completed a Masters in Interventional Cardiovascular Medicine in NUIG in 2021. She currently practices as a Veterinary Cardiologist in both the UK and Ireland through Flow Veterinary Cardiology.  
Jane is a partner in a mixed practice (Cattle and Small animal), Millstreet Veterinary Group in Co. Cork.
Jane is the current President of Veterinary Ireland. She became involved in the organisation through participation in the Recent Graduate working Group and later served as chairperson of the VICAS (Veterinary Ireland Companion Animal Society) for several years. Her current interests include sustainability of the profession, particularly in rural areas, and veterinary medicines issues as they relate to the impact of recent legislation on practice.

Dr. June Fanning has worked with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine for over 20 years in a wide range of roles across laboratory and inspectorate services. She was appointed Ireland’s first female Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) in January 2025.
As CVO, she leads policy and operational controls across animal health, animal welfare, veterinary public health, food safety, veterinary medicines, border controls, and trade in animals and animal products.
Dr. Fanning holds a research-based PhD from University College Dublin and a Professional Diploma in Economic Science of Policy Analysis from the Institute of Public Administration.
Dr. Fanning  advocates for evidence-based policy, public health protection, and the advancement of animal health and welfare across Ireland and beyond.

Niamh McGill MVB MSc (Conservation Medicine) is a member of the veterinary and animal care team at Dublin Zoo. She graduated from University College Dublin in 2008 and began her career in Australia, working in mixed animal practice and treating native wildlife. She returned to UCD in 2012 to complete a rotating internship and, subsequently moved to the UK, where she worked in small animal practice while spending extended periods supporting conservation initiatives around the world. Niamh holds a Master’s in Conservation Medicine from the University of Edinburgh, during which she undertook fieldwork at Sariska Tiger Reserve in India. Her role at Dublin Zoo allows her to contribute to the zoo’s conservation mission, working at the interface of zoo-based and global wildlife health. She is passionate about wildlife, the preservation of ecosystem health, and promoting the conservation message through veterinary practice.

Dr Rachel Brown is based in Moy Veterinary Clinic, Ballina, Co. Mayo, where she is a partner in a mixed animal practice. Rachel has over 25 years’ experience working as a veterinary practitioner. Rachel has served on the Veterinary Council since January 2018. Rachel served as the Deputy President in 2022-2023 and was elected as President of the Council in January 2024.

Rory qualified from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCD) in 1986. Following an internship in small animal clinical studies in Dublin, he obtained an MSc in drug toxicology from the University of London. After four years in small animal practice, he returned to the Dublin Vet School in 1991 as a lecturer. His PhD was obtained in UCD and involved a study of the immunopathogenesis of idiopathic pododermatitis in the dog. Rory currently teaches various aspects of small animal internal medicine, toxicology and dermatology. In addition, Rory is a member of the Advisory Committee on Veterinary Medicines (Health Products Regulatory Authority) and the Committee for Veterinary Medicinal Products (CVMP, European Medicines Agency). Rory is the Chair of the Scientific Advice Working Party (Veterinary) of the CVMP. He was Clinical Director of the UCD Veterinary Hospital from 2015 to 2023 and is currently the Head of School and Dean of Veterinary Medicine at UCD.