RSPCA announces Professor Ian Jacobs as new chair

A lifelong animal lover, Professor Jacobs has devoted his career and volunteer work to improving social welfare and human wellbeing through health and education and now wants to lend his expertise to advance the cause of animal welfare. 

Professor Jacobs will join chief executive Jo Rowland, who took on the role in December last year, at the 201-year-old charity at a critical time for animal welfare.

RSPCA Chief Executive Jo Rowland said: "We're pleased to welcome our new RSPCA chair Professor Ian Jacobs, a highly experienced leader across health, higher education and civil society, who has the skills and expertise to drive forward our ambitious strategy for animals. A specialist in women’s cancer treatment, he has driven life-changing work improving the health of women. Ian has devoted his life to improving the welfare of society and now he brings that passion and dedication to the cause of animal welfare.

"As we enter our third century, we are at a critical time for animal welfare and Ian’s expertise and inspirational leadership will be crucial as we enter our next important chapter. We are focused on delivering the greatest impact for animals and I am looking forward to working closely with him to bring the whole organisation together behind our ambitious goals. I would like to thank Stuart Howells and Amanda Bringans for their skilled leadership, stepping into the role over the past year." 

Professor Ian Jacobs has devoted his career and volunteer work to improving social welfare and human wellbeing through health and education and brings huge expertise in governance and strategic transformation. 

He has chaired the boards of a number of high-profile and complex institutions, and is currently chair of Barts Health NHS Trust and City St George's University in London. A specialist in the surgical treatment of women’s cancers at St Bartholomew’s Hospital and University College Hospital in London, for the past 40 years, he has led life-changing work on early detection and risk prediction of cancer. 

In 2005, he established the Uganda Women’s Health Initiative. He is a former President of the British Gynaecological Cancer Society and the European Society of Gynaecological Oncology and a Trustee of the Eve Appeal charity, which he founded in the 1980s.

Professor Ian Jacobs said: "I am honoured to have the opportunity to become chair of the RSPCA. My wife Chris and I have had a lifelong love for animals and our two dogs Jamie and JoJo, are a huge part of our lives. Throughout my career and volunteer work, I have been committed to advancing the welfare of our society, through healthcare, research and education. I’ve been fortunate to have opportunities to lead large and complex organisations focused on human welfare and wellbeing. It is an enormous privilege to now have the opportunity at the RSPCA to use that experience to advance a cause I am passionate about - animal welfare.

"I am inspired by the quote attributed to Gandhi that ‘the greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated’. Over the last two centuries the RSPCA has played a key role in taking our society on a journey to improve animal welfare, making the case both ethical and practical to advance the cause of animals. Sadly, there is much, much more to do and this a critical time for animal welfare. So, I join the efforts of Jo, our Trustees, the executive team and RSPCA supporters in branches and centres across the nation, with a determination to create a better world for every animal."

Find out more about the RSPCA’s ten-year strategy, Together for Animal Welfare.

I am honoured to have the opportunity to become chair of the RSPCA. My wife Chris and I have had a lifelong love for animals and our two dogs Jamie and JoJo, are a huge part of our lives. Throughout my career and volunteer work, I have been committed to advancing the welfare of our society, through healthcare, research and education.