Change of Management At Intervet Norbio Singapore - SINGAPORE - On April 7th last, a party was organized in the Orchid Hotel in Singapore so that friends and colleagues of Dr. Ann Tips and Dr. Luc Grisez could wish them farewell and good luck as they left Intervet Norbio Singapore (INS; R&D site for warmwater aquatic animals) after seven years. 
Ann had held the position of Assistant R&D Manager and Luc the positions of R&D Manager and Site Manager. Luc has just begun a new career in Intervet International in The Netherlands.
When Ann and Luc came to Singapore in 1999, there was nothing but a green field in an agro-industrial park. By January 2000, however, the INS facilities had been built and commissioned. Today, the well-equipped laboratory offers state-of-the-art facilities for warm water aquatic animals and employs a staff of 16.
As a surprise to the couple, Dr. Ruurd Stolp (President, Intervet International) was the first speaker, addressing the achievements of both Ann and Luc and thanking them for their much appreciated efforts. As a consequence, much is expected to come from the INS site in the future in terms of products for aquatic animal health in the Asia-Pacific region and other locations where warmwater species exist, such as Latin America. Ruurd also thanked the Singaporean governmental bodies like Agri-food Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) and the (Singaporean) Economic Development Board (EDB) for their help and support over the last seven years.
Following Ruurd, Leslie Cheong, Director, Food Supply & Technology Department and Chief Fisheries Officer of the AVA spoke and emphasized the very good relationships that exist between AVA and INS, and hoped that this will continue into the future.
Of course, on such an occasion, it is traditional for a gift to be presented. Therefore, Ruurd and Alistair Brown (Director, Aquatic Animal Heath Division) presented Ann and Luc with a framed blue print of the INS site surrounded by small photographs of many of the people which have been involved with setting up INS or who are still important to the continuing success story of INS.
Luc's successor, Dr. Brian Sheehan (see profile below), was officially introduced by Dr. Eric Rijke, R&D Director of Aquatic Animal Health. Brian has been based in Singapore since May 2006. To underscore the Site Manager "change of the guard", Luc ceremoniously handed over a symbolic key to Brian.
On behalf of Ann and himself, Luc thanked the attendees and the INS staff in particular for their enthusiasm and support over the years. He reiterated the good relationships with AVA and the (Singaporean) Economic Development Board, but also the important group of fish farm managers who collaborated with INS over the years. "Without these valuable industry contacts," Luc said, "vaccine development would be very difficult, if not impossible."
Dr. Brian Sheehan has recently taken up the position of R&D and Site Manager at Intervet Norbio Singapore. Prior to this, Brian worked as a Project Manager in the R&D Department of Intervet UK. A native of Ireland, Brian obtained a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Infectious Diseases in 1992 from Trinity College Dublin.
After graduating, Brian conducted research on the pathogenesis of a diverse range of bacteria of medical and veterinary importance, holding positions in the Institute Pasteur, Paris and Imperial College School of Medicine, London, before joining Intervet in 2001.
Brian is married with one child and, when time allows, enjoys racquet sports, football, playing the guitar (badly but noisily), and good food, wine and company. He and his family are looking forward to the challenges and opportunities ahead, and to the whole Asian experience.
Source: Intervet International b.v. - 7th April 2006
 Ann, Luc and Ruurd Stolp with the staff of Intervet Norbio Singapore. |
When Ann and Luc came to Singapore in 1999, there was nothing but a green field in an agro-industrial park. By January 2000, however, the INS facilities had been built and commissioned. Today, the well-equipped laboratory offers state-of-the-art facilities for warm water aquatic animals and employs a staff of 16.
As a surprise to the couple, Dr. Ruurd Stolp (President, Intervet International) was the first speaker, addressing the achievements of both Ann and Luc and thanking them for their much appreciated efforts. As a consequence, much is expected to come from the INS site in the future in terms of products for aquatic animal health in the Asia-Pacific region and other locations where warmwater species exist, such as Latin America. Ruurd also thanked the Singaporean governmental bodies like Agri-food Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) and the (Singaporean) Economic Development Board (EDB) for their help and support over the last seven years.
Following Ruurd, Leslie Cheong, Director, Food Supply & Technology Department and Chief Fisheries Officer of the AVA spoke and emphasized the very good relationships that exist between AVA and INS, and hoped that this will continue into the future.
Of course, on such an occasion, it is traditional for a gift to be presented. Therefore, Ruurd and Alistair Brown (Director, Aquatic Animal Heath Division) presented Ann and Luc with a framed blue print of the INS site surrounded by small photographs of many of the people which have been involved with setting up INS or who are still important to the continuing success story of INS.
Luc's successor, Dr. Brian Sheehan (see profile below), was officially introduced by Dr. Eric Rijke, R&D Director of Aquatic Animal Health. Brian has been based in Singapore since May 2006. To underscore the Site Manager "change of the guard", Luc ceremoniously handed over a symbolic key to Brian.
On behalf of Ann and himself, Luc thanked the attendees and the INS staff in particular for their enthusiasm and support over the years. He reiterated the good relationships with AVA and the (Singaporean) Economic Development Board, but also the important group of fish farm managers who collaborated with INS over the years. "Without these valuable industry contacts," Luc said, "vaccine development would be very difficult, if not impossible."
New Manager At Intervet Norbio Singapore
 Lineup of some of the team members from universities, government agencies and the private sector. |
After graduating, Brian conducted research on the pathogenesis of a diverse range of bacteria of medical and veterinary importance, holding positions in the Institute Pasteur, Paris and Imperial College School of Medicine, London, before joining Intervet in 2001.
Brian is married with one child and, when time allows, enjoys racquet sports, football, playing the guitar (badly but noisily), and good food, wine and company. He and his family are looking forward to the challenges and opportunities ahead, and to the whole Asian experience.
Source: Intervet International b.v. - 7th April 2006
