VLA Management Structure
As an Executive Agency of Defra, VLA has a management structure which comprises representatives from VLA, Defra and also includes external members.
VLA Management Board
The senior management team is responsible for the effective long-term management of the Agency.
Professor S Edwards Chief Executive
Mr R Hancock Veterinary Director
Mr C Morrey Business Director
Professor J Morris Director of Science Strategy (until 7th April 2007)
Professor C Thorns Director of Specialist Scientific Services
Professor J Preston External Member (from 1st April 2007)
VLA Ownership Board
The Ownership Board was established in March 2006 as a top-level governance body, set up at the direction of the Secretary of State to oversee the activities of VLA. The role of the Board is to advise the Minister on all policy and operational matters relating to the Agency and to monitor on behalf of the Minister, the Defra Management Board and the Devolved Administrations, the performance, efficiency and financial and managerial regularity of the Agency.
Membership of the Board during the year was as follows:
Professor D Smith Chairman, External Member
Professor U Kihm External Member
Professor J Preston External Member
Professor C J Gaskell External Member
Professor S Edwards Chief Executive, Veterinary Laboratories Agency
Mr A Burchell Chief Operating Officer, Defra
Dr D Reynolds Chief Veterinary Officer, Defra
Mr I Grattidge Finance Director, Defra
Mr J Lowi Defra Delivery Strategy Team
Mr A Robinson Defra Laboratory Strategy Team
It is Defra policy that each Executive Agency has a corporate owner accountable to the Defra Management Board for managing the ownership relationship within the Agency, for VLA this is the Chief Veterinary Officer. The above Ownership Board structure did not meet the requirementts of this model and is to be replaced in 2007 by a VLA Owners Advisory Board. Its remit will be to advise the corporate owner on: the strategic direction for VLA, setting targets and business plans, reviewing performance, challenging the Agency on continuous improvement and setting the level of oversight consistent with capacity and risk. Membership is as follows:
Dr D Reynolds Chairman, Chief Veterinary Officer, Defra
Professor D Smith External Member
Professor C J Gaskell External Member
Professor S Edwards Chief Executive, Veterinary Laboratories Agency
Mr A Burchell DG Service Transformation Group, Defra
Dr A Grocock External Member
Professor N L Brown External Member