Chris Walster qualified as a Veterinary Surgeon in 1983. He has had a long standing interest in aquatic veterinary medicine which has led to him working in several areas of the world mainly with ornamental and coarse fish. In 2006 he undertook a Master of Veterinary Public Health (MVPH) which developed an interest in aquatic zoonoses and epidemiology. He was Secretary and then President of the World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association (WAVMA) whose mission is, “to serve the discipline of aquatic veterinary medicine through enhancing aquatic animal health and welfare, public health and seafood safety, to support aquatic veterinarians, aquatic animal owners and industries, and other stakeholders”. This has meant that much of his spare time over the past 10 years has been spent in the development of aquatic veterinary medical services and promoting the role of the veterinarian in ornamental fish, aquaculture production and the food chain. He is a regular contributor to WAVMA education and training events as well as speaking at national and international conferences for student, veterinarian and non-veterinary audiences.