Pembrokeshire-born vet Lewis Griffiths (pictued) is the new president of the New Zealand Veterinary Association.
Lewis, the son of Mel and Elma Griffiths, of The Relm, Vale Road, Houghton, had been on the associations board for just 12 months before his appointment.
He was educated at Burton and Haverfordwest Grammar Schools before studying veterinary medicine at Glasgow University.
His first job was with Peters and Partners, Haverfordwest. During the 1980s he was invited to join a team involved in deer embryo transplants in New Zealand. He was later offered a job with a veterinary practice in Ashburton and emigrated with his family in the early 1990s.
Lewis was made a director and later bought the practice where he now employs 12 vets. His wife, Mandy, is a director and assistant manager of the practice.
He views his presidency as an honour and a challenge. His aim is to improve communications within the profession and attract new vets to counteract the current shortage in New Zealand.
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