NOAH Celebrates NCAH Top Students at 40th Anniversary Event
10th July 2026
On the 9th July NOAH recognised the outstanding achievements of the highest-performing students in the 2025 NOAH Certificate of Animal Health (NCAH) examinations at its 40th Anniversary Celebration and Awards Ceremony, held at The View, Royal College of Surgeons of England.
The NCAH qualification, which is hosted and academically accredited by Harper Adams University, plays a vital role in maintaining high standards across the animal health industry. The qualification helps ensure that animal medicines representatives can provide accurate and ethical information to prescribers and sellers of animal medicines, in compliance with the NOAH Code of Practice for the Promotion of Animal Medicines.
In 2025, a total of 31 students sat the NCAH examinations across three sittings. NOAH invited the top-performing candidates from each examination to attend the anniversary event as guests of honour and celebrate their achievement alongside colleagues from across the animal health sector. Certificates were presented by NOAH Chair, Matthew Frost, recognising the dedication and commitment shown by the successful candidates. The top students from the 2025 examinations were:
May 2025 Examination
- 1st Place – Donna Ambrose, Zoetis
- 2nd Place – James Girdler, Huvepharma
August 2025 Examination
- 1st Place – Rebecca Carter, Nimrod
- 2nd Place – Lee Hounsell, formerly MSD
October 2025 Examination
- 1st Place – Kelly Stamp, Zoetis
- 2nd Place – Rachael Bufton, Animalcare
The overall NCAH prize winners for 2025 were:
- 1st Place – Donna Ambrose, Zoetis
- 2nd Place – James Girdler, Huvepharma
- 3rd Place – Kelly Stamp, Zoetis
Speaking at the event, Donal Murphy NOAH’s Deputy CEO, Head of International and Regulatory Affairs highlighted the importance of the qualification in supporting responsible promotion of animal medicines and demonstrating the industry’s commitment to professionalism, integrity and high standards of training and reminded everyone that the NCAH qualification is a requirement for representatives working for NOAH member companies and forms an important part of ensuring that animal health professionals receive accurate, balanced and compliant information.
2025 overall Top Student Donna Ambrose said ‘Undertaking the NCAH course was truly invaluable, both in deepening my understanding of animal anatomy and physiology, and in reinforcing the importance of upholding the legislation and regulations our industry demands. For me, it’s not just a qualification; it’s a commitment to the highest standards and, ultimately, to better outcomes for the industry as a whole.”
Notes for Editors
NOAH represents the UK animal health industry. Its aim is to promote the benefits of licensed medicines and solutions for the health and welfare of all animals.
For more information contact Jenny George-Town: 07518594525 Email: j.george-town@noah.co.uk
It is a requirement of both NOAH membership and participation in the NOAH Compendium that all companies’ sales representatives involved in the direct technical selling of medicines (other than those on general sale i.e. AVM-GSL medicines) appear on the NCAH register and have taken the NOAH Certificate of Animal Health (NCAH) examination within two years of joining the industry.
For more about the NCAH see http://www.noah.co.uk/about/our-qualification-ncah-course/
For more on NOAH’s Code of Practice for the Promotion of Animal Medicines see https://www.noah.co.uk/focus-areas/promotion-of-animal-medicines/
About the 2025 NCAH top students:
May examination: top mark and overall first placed student
Donna Ambrose from Zoetis
Donna joined Zoetis in July 2023 as an Account Manager working in companion animal before being promoted to Equine Lead in July 2025; a journey she has really enjoyed. In this role, Donna leads the UK equine field sales team, driving performance across the company’s equine product portfolio whilst working closely with customers to truly understand their needs and ensure they are matched with the right solutions and support to achieve the best possible outcomes for the horses in their care. With a background rooted in equine nutrition, including serving as a nutritionist for Team GBR, Donna brings both deep personal passion and professional expertise to the role, remaining wholly committed to supporting her clients and working together for the good of the horse.
May examination: second highest mark and overall second place student
James Girdler from Huvepharma
James works for the global animal health company Huvepharma. Having joined back in 2024 he is responsible for the biosecurity portfolio in UK & Ireland with a focus on disease prevention and coccidia control on farm. After graduating from the University of Nottingham with a BscHons in Animal Science his background and experience has largely been in poultry and has previously worked at a large integrated poultry processor and animal feed companies. Jame’s current role at Huvepharma branches out across poultry, pigs and ruminants, so he is enjoying expanding his horizons.
James said the NCAH qualification has opened his eyes to the procedures and challenges in the veterinary sector and the important role of NOAH. Achieving the qualification has also helped him to engage with veterinarians in the field. Whether suppliers, vets or government – we all have to work together to support our farmers and animals.
August Examination: top mark
Rebecca Carter from Nimrod
August examination: second highest mark
Lee Hounsell previously from MSD
Lee’s background is largely in Production, but he decided to join the animal health industry after being inspired by the way that proactively protecting his birds health and welfare, also derived a significant improvement in our ability to realise the genetic potential of the birds under our care.
Lee would like to thank MSD for supporting him through this qualification, which he has found has given him the confidence and knowledge he needs to assist the industry and its customers in the safe use of medication, whilst maintaining the highest levels of integrity in conjunction with our vets…in his new role as the commercial development manager with St David’s Poultry Team.
October examination: top mark and overall third place student
Kelly Stamp from Zoetis
Kelly joined Zoetis in 2023 as a Key Account Manager in the Pig team. On the pig side they specialise primarily in pig vaccinations. Prior to joining Zoetis Kelly worked for 6 years for ABN a national animal feed compound manufacturer, again specialising in pigs. Kelly achieved a BSc first class honours in Animal Science at Harper Adam’s University, graduating in 2017. The qualification gave Kelly a great insight into everything regarding pharmaceuticals and a good grounding knowledge across a range of physiological, biological and external conditions and processes that happen with a range of different species and feels it has given her a better grounding for her day to day role.
October examination: second highest mark
Rachael Bufton from Animalcare
Rachael joined Animalcare as a Territory Sales Manager in December 2024, supporting veterinary practices across Wales and the border counties. Prior to joining the company Rachael held a variety of sales roles, and Iis also a Registered Veterinary Nurse, having qualified in 2010. Rachael’s clinical experience includes working in several veterinary settings, including a multidisciplinary referral hospital in the UK, and an emergency and critical care clinic in Perth, Australia.
Completing the NCAH qualification has been incredibly valuable to Rachael. The course provided an excellent opportunity to strengthen and expand her knowledge of the industry, particularly around the NOAH Code of Practice and the responsible promotion of animal health products. The content was engaging, relevant to her day-to-day role, and delivered by knowledgeable and passionate tutors who made the learning experience highly enjoyable. Rachael is delighted to have passed the exam and to have received an invitation to the NOAH Summer Event.