Structure and Communications

Restructuring

In a piece of classic market research in 1996, the WVA canvassed the needs of its members through a series of regional meetings and used this information to design a new structure of the WVA.

The constituency of the WVA comprises the national veterinary associations and the international associations of veterinary specialists. The main bodies in the structure of the WVA are the Presidents Assembly, the Council and the Executive Committee.

The Presidents Assembly (PA) comprises the Presidents of all the member Associations. The power of the WVA rests with the PA which gives policy direction for the WVA. The Presidents Assembly meets every three years at the World Veterinary Congress (WVC) unless a special meeting is called.

The Council comprises representatives (based on the voting power in the PA) from the regions and from groups of Specialist Associate members. The Council meets annually and is responsible for ensuring that the policy direction from the PA is implemented.

The Council functions on behalf of the PA in those years between the World Veterinary Congresses (WVC). The cycle between each WVC is three years.

The Executive Committee (EXCOM) is responsible to the Council for the day to day running of the WVA and meets twice annually with additional telephone conferences when required. The EXCOM comprises the President and the two Vice-Presidents.

There are two Vice-Presidents with no right of succession to the presidency unless they attract PA voting support based on their performance during their terms.

The Vice-Presidents chair the Policy and Finance Committees which are each composed of two other Councillor members.

Communication

A major development has been the improvement in communication. This is led by the website http://www.worldvet.org/ and its associated e-mail discussion groups. As with much of the WVA activity, there is still much potential for increased activity through these media. This can be achieved with more active participation by all interested members.

An important part of the WVA communication is through moving meetings around venues to link with regional veterinary activities. This exposure is a significant shift from the meetings that were previously held regularly in Paris or at the site of the Secretariat in Copenhagen. Now there is the opportunity for significant communication with the other participants at the conference venues and for the activities of the WVA to become more visible.

The WVA has been increasingly active with "Custodians" appointed to represent the WVA at a large number of global non-government organizations. A major effort is made to link the WVA with Government and non-Government Organizations of interest to the veterinary profession at the global, international level. A whole network of representatives, custodians and the functionaries is almost in place for the promotion of relations of the WVA in the WHO, FAO, WTO, Codex Alimentarius, OIE and other organizations.