Lajos Bognar | Subregional Representative, Brussels
WOAH

Lajos Bognár is currently the WOAH Sub-Regional Representative in Brussels. He has been the chief veterinary officer of Hungary for 8 years and 19 years the delegate of Hungary to the WOAH. He was responsible for the official control of the whole food chain in Hungary: animal health and welfare, food and feed safety, soil conservation, plant reproductive materials, plant health and plant protection, animal breeding. He has long experience in leadership and direct management of the competent authority, having been on the forefront of the establishment of the Hungarian food chain control system from soil to fork, within the framework of the National Food Chain Safety Office. He has experience in handling emergency situations and leading crisis management and communication concerning several animal diseases (FMD, HPAI, ASP) and food crises (dioxin, E. Coli food scandals etc.) He has built his career at the intersection of national policy-making and international cooperation. He thrives in complex, high-stakes international environments. He has been the Chair of the FAO EUFMD (European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease) Executive Committee for 3 years. Titles held:

• Ph.D. degree in 2020 at the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
• Honorary Associate Professor of the University of Veterinary Medicine in Budapest.
• Knight's Cross of the Order of Merit of Hungary.