Australia's Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Mark Schipp is this week representing Australia at the 88th General Session of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). The global virtual event marks the completion of Dr Schipp's three-year term as OIE President.
As OIE President, Dr Schipp has achieved increased member engagement and participation in international standard setting, through strong advocacy and Australian funding for international workshops on implementation of standards related to animal health and welfare.
"The challenges of the pandemic have highlighted the importance of the work that the OIE does," Dr Schipp said.
"It also presents an important opportunity for OIE members to strengthen relationships under the One Health framework-the interconnection between humans, animals and our shared environment.
"Despite the physical distance that may separate us through our collaborative, approach, we continue to address the many important global issues related to animal health and welfare.
"During the 88th OIE General Session, new intergovernmental standards for animal health and welfare will be adopted, and the current global landscape of animal diseases will be analysed.
With wildlife the source of many emerging and zoonotic diseases, during Dr Schipp's term as OIE President he has overseen the development of a Wildlife Health Framework by the OIE Working Group on Wildlife to create new approaches to wildlife health management.
Under Dr Schipp's leadership, the OIE also implemented the OIE Observatory, which is collecting data on the relevance and impact of the OIE's standards to members, allowing this information to support more effective solutions to global animal health and welfare challenges.
He also helped to increase the global veterinary voice, including with the OIE - advocating for the role of the OIE in wildlife health and One Health.
"As a veterinarian, I am very aware of the need for global animal health and veterinary services to be strong, influential and effective contributors to addressing the global animal health challenges that we face, such as antimicrobial resistance, food insecurity and identification of future pandemics at their source," Dr Schipp said.
Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Andrew Metcalfe AO, said Dr Schipp's leadership as OIE President had reinforced Australia's global influence on a large range of issues related to animal health and welfare.
"I congratulate Dr Schipp on the outstanding achievements during his terms as OIE President," Mr Metcalfe said.
"Australia's leading role in setting international standards around animal health and welfare has been strengthened by this important work."
Fast Facts
- Due to the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic, the 88th Annual General Session of the World Assembly of National Delegates to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) will be held virtually from Monday 24 to Friday 28 May 2021.
- Watch the 88th OIE General Session live
- Follow the 88th OIE General Session on the @OIEforMembers twitter channel.
