Alick Simmons, Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer

Alick Simmons qualified from Glasgow in 1978. After a few years in private practice, he became a district Veterinary Officer in the Belize government.

He joined the State Veterinary Service in 1985 holding several posts in operations and policy, the most recent of which was head of the Defra division advising on zoonoses.

In 2004 he was appointed Veterinary Director of the Food Standards Agency leading a team responsible for veterinary public health and meat hygiene.

He is a member of the governing Board of the Meat Hygiene Service and holds post-graduate qualifications in tropical veterinary medicine and animal welfare.