Ryan Waters qualified as a veterinarian in 2006, and following completion of his PhD at the Pirbright Institute, completed a two year a post-doctoral fellowship in the USA at Plum Island Animal Disease Centre. Ryan re-joined the Pirbright Institute in 2014 as a biosafety officer, and in 2016 changed roles to become the Named Veterinary Surgeon (Designated Veterinarian). Ryan has experience working with a variety of livestock and small animal species, particularly in the context of infectious disease models, balancing animal welfare with biosafety concerns. In recent years Ryan has been involved in the design and occupation of a new BSL3-Ag large animal facility at Pirbright, working with Engineering, Biosafety and other stakeholders to ensure a robust occupation plan is developed and executed.