HallMark Supports the VPHA & AGV Conference 2026: Dealing with Actual and Potential Risks
HallMark Veterinary & Compliance Services is pleased to support the VPHA & AGV Conference 2026, taking place on 25 and 26 September at Yarnfield Park, Staffordshire. This year's conference will bring together veterinary and allied professionals from across the United Kingdom to explore the theme Dealing with Actual and Potential Risks, examining how risk is understood, communicated and managed across Veterinary Public Health and One Health.
Risk influences almost every aspect of veterinary work. Whether protecting public health, safeguarding animal welfare, supporting food safety, facilitating international trade or responding to emerging diseases, veterinary professionals are regularly required to make decisions based on evidence, experience and professional judgement. The ability to understand risk and communicate it effectively has never been more important.
This year's conference programme focuses on exactly these challenges. Delegates will explore how risk affects the way we live, work, trade, diagnose disease, manage outbreaks and engage with the public. Discussions will consider not only how risks are assessed, but also how they are explained to policymakers, industry, stakeholders and the wider public.
The conference opens with interactive round table discussions led by VPHA Student Ambassadors from veterinary schools across the UK. Participants will share real life examples of risk communication, discussing both successful approaches and situations where communication could have been improved. This collaborative format reflects the conference's commitment to encouraging open discussion and practical learning.
A distinguished panel of speakers will then explore risk from a range of professional perspectives.
Dr Alex Taxer Bristol, Associate Professor in One Health at the University of Bristol, will challenge traditional assumptions about certainty in decision making through his presentation The Certainty Trap: Risk, Trust, Communication and Action in a Rapidly Changing World. His session will explore how professionals can lead and communicate effectively when information is incomplete or uncertain.
Representing the Food Standards Agency, Dr Darren Cutts, Head of Meat Hygiene Policy, will discuss the complexities of risk communication and the challenges of translating science into policy and practical action. His presentation will examine how veterinary professionals play a vital role in helping stakeholders understand risk and make informed decisions.
Dr David Edwards from the UK Health Security Agency will focus on public health decision making during incidents and outbreaks. His session will explore how evidence, precaution and proportionality influence responses when information is limited and decisions must still be made to protect the public.
One of the most forward looking discussions will be delivered by Professor Simon Pearson, Director of the Lincoln Institute of Agri Food Technology. His presentation, New Risks in a Digital Age: What AI Means for Food Systems, will explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the food chain and the new risks that accompany its growing use, including transparency, data quality and overreliance on automated systems.
The programme also includes Dr Catherine McCarthy, Veterinary Risk Lead at DEFRA's Office for SPS Trade Assurance, who will explain how animal disease risks are assessed and communicated to policymakers. Her session will provide valuable insight into how scientific evidence supports government decision making and trade policy.
Dr Elizabeth Bruno McClung from APHA will discuss emerging infection risks in companion animals, using a real world case study to explore how uncertainty, public expectations and scientific evidence interact when managing potential threats to animal and public health.
The conference concludes with a thought provoking session from Alan Murphy, APHA Veterinary Lead for Toxicology and Chemical Feed and Food Safety. His presentation will examine how risk communication can be adapted to different audiences and why delivering the right message at the right time remains one of the profession's greatest challenges.
For HallMark, the themes of this conference align closely with the work undertaken every day across Official Controls, imports, exports, veterinary certification and compliance services. Our teams regularly navigate complex regulatory environments, assess risks, communicate with stakeholders and support evidence based decision making that protects consumers, supports industry and maintains confidence in the food chain.
Events such as the VPHA & AGV Conference provide valuable opportunities to learn from recognised experts, exchange ideas with colleagues across the profession and remain connected to the issues shaping the future of Veterinary Public Health.
As the veterinary sector continues to evolve, HallMark remains committed to professional development, continuous learning and active engagement with the wider veterinary community. We look forward to supporting this important event and the conversations that will help shape the future of our profession.
