Dr. Emmanuelle Soubeyran has officially taken up her role as the new Director General of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) on its 100th anniversary. With a wealth of experience in veterinary public health, she aims to lead the organization into a new era of innovation and inclusivity.
Dr. Emmanuelle Soubeyran, a veterinarian with an illustrious career, has started her five-year tenure as the Director General of WOAH from 2024. Previously the dean of the National Veterinary School of Lyon and the Deputy Director General for Food within the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Soubeyran brings extensive leadership experience to her new role.
“It is an honor for me and a great responsibility to have been elected by the WOAH Members as its Director General. WOAH is a 183 Member strong organization recognized 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 stated.
Dr. Soubeyran’s tenure will emphasize three main pillars:
- Increasing the visibility of WOAH,
- Strengthening veterinary services, and
- Modernizing the organization.
She plans to amplify WOAH’s voice to garner financial, technical, and public support, highlighting the critical role animal health plays in global issues such as food security, economy, trade, public health, biodiversity, and climate change mitigation.
A critical focus will be on enhancing veterinary services, with only 7% of WOAH Members currently having optimal capacities. Dr. Soubeyran aims to bolster this workforce, vital for safe and sustainable food production.
Dr. Soubeyran will support increased inclusivity, digitalization, and data-driven approaches, including big data processing and new technologies for disease surveillance.
Founded in 1924 as the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) and renamed as the World Organisation for Animal Health in 2003, and headquartered in Paris, WOAH collaborates with over 70 international and regional bodies and operates through Regional and Sub-regional Offices worldwide.