Qualifications: BSc (bacteriology), PhD (avian virology), DSc (avian Virology), Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists (London).

Professor Richard (Dick) Jones

Emeritus Professor in the School of Veterinary Science, Liverpool University, UK

Current Position: (Retired)  Research Fellow in the Department of Infection Biology, Chairman of the Houghton Trust, Chairman of the Scientific Committee organising  the 2017 WVPA conference in Edinburgh.

Experience: Teaching microbiology to veterinary students at Liverpool and research into viral respiratory diseases specifically infectious bronchitis, avian metapneumovirus, infectious laryngotracheitis and also reovirus infections.  Approximately 250 peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, abstracts and articles. Awarded the Gordon Memorial Medal (2009) and elected to the WVPA Hall of Honour in 2013. He has attended 13 of the 18 WVPA conferences.  

Qualifications: PhD (Zoology); MSc (Microbiology); BSc (Hons.)(Microbiology)

Prof. Celia Abolnik
Current Position: Faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Pretoria: Associate Professor in the Department of Production Animals. Holds the Southern African Poultry Association’s Poultry Research Chair. Current research projects focus on aspects of avian influenza, Newcastle disease, Mycoplasma spp and infectious bronchitis virus.

Previous Work Experience: December 2000 - September 2003: Junior Research Scientist, Agricultural Research Council- Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute.

September 2003-July 2012: Senior Research Scientist, Agricultural Research Council- Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute.

Faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Pretoria: Associate Professor in the Department of Production Animals.

Qualifications: BVSc, (MAM, DACPV)

Dr. Natalie Armour
Current Position: Currently a PhD candidate in the Mycoplasma Laboratory at the PDRC. Research involves investigating the transmission and prevalence of M. gallisepticum and M. synoviae genotypes in commercial poultry. Have been a diplomate of the American College of Poultry Veterinarians (ACPV) since 2011, and have served on the ACPV Continuing Education Committee since 2012.

Previous Work Experience: Veterinary degree (BVSc) from the University of Pretoria in South Africa in 2004
Managed the Poultry Section at Allerton Provincial Veterinary Laboratory in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. as well as the Avian Virology and Serology laboratories from 2006 to 2009 as a state veterinarian.
Accepted (in 2009) into the Master of Avian Medicine (MAM) program at the Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center (PDRC), University of Georgia.
Received the Reed Rumsey Student Award from the American Association of Avian Pathologists (AAAP) in 2010 for research evaluating the pathogenicity and transmissibility of Mycoplasma synoviae. After graduation from the MAM program in 2010, was offered a research assistantship and awarded the Dean David P. Anderson Fellowship towards pursuing a PhD in Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Georgia.

PhD candidate in the Mycoplasma Laboratory at the PDRC

Qualifications: BVSc, BVSc (hons), MSc (Veterinary Science), Diplomate of the American College of Poultry Veterinarians (Dip ACPV)

Dr. Shahn Bisschop
Present Position (past 2 years): Chief Executive Officer Avimune (Pty) Ltd.

Previous Positions:
(2010-2012) : Consulting veterinarian at Avimune.
(2000-2010) : Director of the Poultry Reference Centre at The Faculty of Veterinary Science, Onderstepoort, University of Pretoria and Head: Section Poultry Health at the same institution.

More than 20 academic publications and numerous MSc students in Poultry Health have been supervised.

Qualifications: BVSc

Dr. Herman Bosman
Current position: Managing Director of Food Chain Laboratories.

Previous work history: Has been involved in the poultry industry for the past 20 years, consults both locally and internationally.

Managing Director of Food Chain Laboratories

Qualifications: BVSc, BVSc (Hons), MMed.Vet(Bact)

Dr. Fanie Buys
Current Position: Poultry practitioner (Avimune) since 2001

Previous work experience:
1968-1982: Poultry Section, Veterinary Research Institute, Onderstepoort Isolation of meta-pneumovirus (cause of TRT) in 1978 and meta-pneumovirus (cause of ART) in 1988.
1982-2001: Production veterinarian in broiler industry

Poultry practitioner (Avimune)

Qualification: BVSc & BVSc (Honores)

Dr. Jean Cilliers
Current position: Co-owner of Tradevet CC.

Previous work experience:
Small animal practice: veterinarian
ARC-Onderstepoort Research Institute: (South Africa) Research veterinarian Earlybird Farm:
Merial, Rhône Mèrieux, in South Africa: Poultry Marketing Manager.
Tradevet CC markets Merial range of poultry vaccines in South Africa since April 2004.

Co-owner of Tradevet CC

Qualifications: BSc.(Agric); BVSc.(Hon), MMed.Vet., MRCVS, Dip. ACPV

Prof. Steve Collett
Current Position: Clinical associate professor at the Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center (PDRC) in the College of Veterinary Medicine at The University of Georgia.

Previous work experience:
Private Practice
Rainbow Chicken Farms in South Africa: Head veterinarian Alltech Inc., North American Poultry Division: Director

Clinical associate professor at the Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center (PDRC) in the College of Veterinary Medicine at The University of Georgia.

Qualifications: BVSc, MMedVet(Aves), Dip. ACVP

Prof. Neil Duncan
Current position: Associate Professor: Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria: Pathology Section

Previous work experience:
C4africa: Private consultant:

Associate Professor: Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria: Pathology Section

Qualifications: MMedVet (Gyn) University of Pretoria, Dr.med.vet (Zurich Switzerland)

Dr. David Gerber
Current Position:
Head: Research and Development, V-Tech (Pty) Ltd. Manages country wide antimicrobial resistance surveillance for poultry clients and runs their residue monitoring program since 2007.

Previous work experience:
1989-1990: Resident at Clinic of Veterinary Medicine, Section Production Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Zurich, Switzerland

1991-1992: Veterinarian in production animal practice in Wermatswil, Switzerland

1992-1994: Resident at Department of Andrology and Gynaecology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Zurich, Switzerland

1994-2007 (Associate Professor: 2003): Section of Reproduction, Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria

Author and co-author of numerous papers in refereed journals; MSc and Dr.med.vet. students have been supervised.

Qualifications: B.V.Sc, M.Med.Vet (Aves), MRCVS

Dr. Roger Horner
Current Position: Registered Specialist Poultry Veterinarian with extensive field and laboratory experience in the detection, diagnosis, containment and control of outbreaks of poultry diseases. Co-author of the South African National Avian Influenza Contingency Plan.

Previous Work Experience: Deputy Director - Veterinary Laboratory Services, KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture
1997-2005. Specialist Poultry Veterinary Consultant
2005 - present.

Registered Specialist Poultry Veterinarian

Qualification: BVSc MSc (Physiology)

Dr. Christie le Roux
Current position: Consultant Veterinarian in Poultry Health and Production Various talks given on Poultry Disease and Production in South-Africa, Zimbabwe, Morocco, Turkey and Brazil.

Previous work experience:
1986 – 1990: Small Animal Practice 1991 – 1996: Rainbow Chicken Farms: Production Veterinarian, Group QA Manager,
1997 – 1999: Onderstepoort Faculty of Veterinary Science: Professor and Head of Dept of Poultry Health,
1999 - 2000: Extraordinary Professor in Dept of Poultry Health, Onderstepoort
1999 – 2012: Namajaca Broiler Breeders: Managing Director and co-owner

Consultant Veterinarian in Poultry Health and Production

Qualifications: BVSc

Dr. Adriaan Olivier
Current position: Research Veterinarian: Klein Karoo International. Advisory Veterinarian: South African Ostrich Business Chamber.

Previous work experience:
1996-1998 Research Veterinarian [Ostrich Unit] – Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute [OVI-ARC], Pretoria
1998-1999 Animal Health for Developing Farmers at the Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Onderstepoort.
1999-2001 Lecturer – Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria
2001-Current Research Veterinarian and Laboratory manager; Klein Karoo International (part of Klein Karoo Group).

Research Veterinarian: Klein Karoo International. Advisory Veterinarian: South African Ostrich Business Chamber

Qualification: BVMCh

Dr. Comfort Phiri
Current Position: Head: English Speaking West Africa – East Africa – Southern Africa, Animal Health Business Unit, Novartis South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Previous Work History:
Novartis South Africa (Pty) Ltd: Technical Services Manager, Professional Services Veterinarian (Pig and Poultry) Export Manager
Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute: Senior Researcher
Department of Agriculture North West Province: Deputy Director Animal Health, District Veterinary Officer

Head: English Speaking West Africa – East Africa – Southern Africa, Animal Health Business Unit, Novartis South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Qualifications: BVSc, MMedVet (Altil), BA

Dr. Carine Pienaar
Current position: Regulatory Affairs Official, Deltamune (Pty) Ltd

Previous work experience:
1985-2011: Department of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries (State Veterinarian): Responsibilities involved poultry disease control, importation of poultry and –products, Technical advisor: Poultry vaccines and –products (Advisor to Registrars: Act 36/1947 and Act 101/1965);
2011-2012: Senior Lecturer (Poultry), Veterinary Faculty, University of Pretoria (Onderstepoort)
2012-current: Deltamune (Pty) Ltd: Regulatory Affairs Official.

Regulatory Affairs Official, Deltamune (Pty) Ltd

Qualifications: BVSc. MMedVet (Altil)

Dr. Fambies van Biljon
Qualified as a veterinarian from the University of Pretoria in 1991. Obtained a Master’s degree in Veterinary Medicine with specialization in Poultry Diseases and Production from the University of Pretoria in 2002.

Current Position: Joined Sovereign Foods in 2007, currently Group Veterinarian for this integrated Broiler Company.

Previous Work Experience:
1996: Veterinarian and Technical Advisor for Earlybird Farm, a division of Astral Foods.
Worked as a Specialist Poultry Veterinarian and Director at Avimune and Deltamune.
Technical Manager for Pigs and Poultry at Ceva Animal Health, South Africa.

Group Veterinarian: Sovereign Foods

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