Steve Sloan, the CEO of the pioneering livestock vaccine charity, GALVmed has been named the Microsoft Emerging Director of 2008 by the Institute of Directors IoD Scotland. Following an open competition and selected from a short-list of leading high-achievers, Mr. Sloan received the award from Stephen Neilson, Head of Small & Medium Business, Microsoft Scotland at a prestigious ceremony in Glasgow on March 5th. Mr Sloan was also Runner-Up in the category of Voluntary Sector Director.

The competition is designed to seek out the top executive and non-executive directors in the Scottish private, public and voluntary sectors. The Awards not only focus on individual achievement but also on the importance of the Director's role in the community and the commitment and expertise contributed to businesses large and small. The Emerging Director Award was open to leaders of new or established businesses who have been in the post of director for fewer than five years.

GALVmed, a not-for-profit global alliance currently funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the UK Department for International Development (DFID), is working with key partners to make a sustainable difference in access to animal health medicines for poor livestock keepers. GALVmed seeks to protect livestock and save human lives by producing livestock vaccines for neglected animal vaccines.

Steve Sloan commented:

I am delighted to receive this honour from the Institute of Directors Scotland. It is a privilege to be involved in the pioneering work of GALVmed to develop and make affordable and accessible livestock vaccines for many of the world's poorest people. Millions in the Developing World who live on less than 50p a day, rely on their livestock for survival. We are working with our partners to protect livestock and save human life by making available vaccines for neglected animal diseases. I would like to thank my dedicated Board, Staff and our Partners. This award is encouraging for all of us here at GALVmed working to empower poor Livestock Keepers to enable them to feed, clothe and educate their families and offer them the dignity of choice.

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