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Today the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) marks an important milestone in its history as Dr Emmanuelle Soubeyran officially takes up her position as the new Director General for a five-year tenure from 2024.
Dr Soubeyran, a veterinarian by profession, has vast experience and an illustrious career in veterinary public health and animal health. Once the dean of the National Veterinary School of Lyon (VetAgro Sup), from 2016 to 2021, she is also the former Deputy Director General for Food within the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Head of French Veterinary Services as well as the French National Delegate to WOAH. With over fifteen years of leadership in national and regional positions, Dr Soubeyran is well poised to lead WOAH towards attaining its objectives and furthering its mission in the global arena.
Dr Soubeyran expressed her enthusiasm for the new role, saying, “It is an honour for me and a great responsibility to have been elected by the WOAH Members as its Director General. WOAH is a 183 Member strong organisation recognised for its expertise in the field of animal health and welfare, and like all people who cherish WOAH, I want to see it continue to evolve and adapt to the challenges ahead.”
Dr Soubeyran’s five-year tenure will focus on three pillars:
- Increase visibility of WOAH: Animal Health plays a pivotal role in global issues such as food security, economy, trade, public health, biodiversity, and climate change mitigation. With a view to garner financial, technical, and public support, Dr Soubeyran will strategically mobilise significant resources by amplifying WOAH’s voice. She will convince decision makers that the cost of inaction far exceeds the cost of prevention.
- Strengthen Veterinary Services: The capacity of Veterinary Services is limited, with only 7% of WOAH Members having optimal capacities. Dr Soubeyran proposes to strengthen this workforce considering that it is critical for safe and sustainable food production.
- Modernise WOAH: In our fast-changing world, WOAH must adapt to remain agile, inclusive, and innovative. Dr Soubeyran will support increased inclusivity, digitalisation, and data-driven approaches, including big data processing and new technologies for disease surveillance.
As WOAH builds on its century of unwavering commitment to global animal health, Dr Soubeyran is uniquely positioned to usher a new era and spearhead the Organisation in charting a sustainable future. The road ahead comes with major animal health and welfare challenges where WOAH’s leadership with its partners will be critical in finding solutions. The new Director General anticipates with great enthusiasm, the opportunity to achieve the Organisation’s objectives through close collaboration with Members and their Delegates, the Council and the Regional Commissions, WOAH staff, other international organisations and all stakeholders across sectors. Because animal health is our health. It’s everyone’s health.
August 1, 2024 - WOAH
