Alasdair King | Executive Director
Merck Animal Health

After 11 years as a veterinary practitioner, Alasdair King joined the pharmaceutical industry.  He has taken many roles including technical adviser, pharmacovigilance manager, and government liaison.  He has been responsible for the development of avian influenza vaccine banks and led the company response in the UK to the Bluetongue serotype 8 outbreak, working with the government to establish a vaccine roll out plan.  In addition he was responsible for communications with all forms of media within MSD Animal Health and was part of the crisis management team. 
Now the Executive Director of International Veterinary Health, he has developed the emergence newsletter and website to provide information on emerging and transboundary diseases, as well as being host of the emergence podcast. He works with a number of governments and organisations on disease control plans and strategies, with a focus on vaccine accessibility and education, alongside surveillance and monitoring. His partnerships with WHO, WOAH, and FAO on projects include rabies elimination, FMD vaccine pre-qualification, training for para-professionals in developing countries, and access to medicines.