Published: 09 May 2022 | Last Updated: 10 May 2022 13:57:04

The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) is delighted to announce that Dr Christine Thuranira-McKeever has been appointed as Vice Principal for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), taking up the post from 1^st May. This new role will further strengthen the RVC’s commitment to promoting and enhancing an inclusive environment.

Dr Thuranira-McKeever joined the RVC in 2008 as the Director of Distance Learning Programmes and became the Chair of the Equality and Diversity Committee in 2020 – this is the group charged with the strategic leadership for EDI across the institution. She has significant experience in EDI and has been involved in different aspects of this work for over 10 years at the RVC, including chairing its first Athena SWAN self-assessment team, achieving bronze status. Athena SWAN is a national charter mark that recognises the advancement of gender equality in higher education.

With an academic background in agricultural economics, Dr Thuranira-McKeever spent the early part of her career working in international development and research across several countries, including East and Southern Africa and South Asia. Her interest in international institutional partnerships that support distance learning students, particularly those from low-income countries, has helped forge collaborative initiatives with overseas veterinary faculties and bolstered EDI initiatives and efforts taking place at the RVC.

In pursuing its mission to educate, undertake research and provide clinical care, the RVC is committed to creating an inclusive, diverse, and welcoming community, where professionalism, mutual respect and collegiality are at the core of all activities.

While continuing in her role as Chair of the Equality and Diversity Committee, Dr Thuranira-McKeever’s new position will further enhance the visibility of EDI across the RVC. This will see her become the strategic lead for the development and implementation of a strategy relating to all aspects of EDI to advance the institution’s work and support all staff and students.

Dr Thuranira-McKeever will work alongside other members of the Principal’s Advisory Group and College Executive Committee to drive forward actions and behaviours that support the RVC’s existing initiatives and programmes, consult on new policies and procedures, and increase collaboration and communication on all EDI related matters to promote positive change at every level.

Of her appointment, Dr Thuranira-McKeever said:

“I’m delighted to be taking on this role and building on the important work taking place across the RVC to promote equality, diversity and inclusion. These values are critical to our success as an institution and we must champion them in all our activities and continually consider and challenge approaches and practices.

“I look forward to further advancing the RVC’s commitment to EDI and to working with colleagues to ensure that all our work is underpinned by values that allow our students and staff to feel equally valued and empowered to thrive.”

Professor Stuart Reid CBE, President and Principal of the RVC, said:

“I am delighted that Dr Thuranira-McKeever is stepping up to this critical role at the RVC. Her leadership in addressing issues of equality, diversity and inclusion within our community has been significant and sustained. The creation of this senior position was the first and priority recommendation of the recent Racial Equality Task Group chaired by Professor Dan Chan and I am delighted the subsequent recruitment process identified Christine as the successful candidate.”

Notes to Editors

For media enquiries, please contact:

• jasmin.devivo@plmr.co.uk or rvc@plmr.co.uk
• Press Line: 0800 368 9520

About the RVC

• The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) is the UK's largest and longest established independent veterinary school and is a Member Institution of the University of London.
• It is one of the few veterinary schools in the world that holds accreditations from the RCVS in the UK (with reciprocal recognition from the AVBC for Australasia, the VCI for Ireland and the SAVC for South Africa), the EAEVE in the EU, and the AVMA in the USA and Canada.
• The RVC is ranked as the top veterinary school in the world in the QS World University Rankings by subject, 2022.
• The RVC offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in veterinary medicine, veterinary nursing and biological sciences.  
• A research led institution with 79% of its research rated as internationally excellent or world class in the Research Excellence Framework 2014.
• The RVC provides animal owners and the veterinary profession with access to expert veterinary care and advice through its teaching hospitals and first opinion practices in London and Hertfordshire.