-Recipient of the 2024 EBVS Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Course of Veterinary Specialisation in Europe -Dr George C. Fthenakis, Dip.ECAR, Dip.ECSRHM, is included among the top 2% of the more influential scientists internationally in the fields of ‘Veterinary Sciences’ and ‘Animal and Dairy Science’. He is also the author with the most published scientific papers on sheep and goats in Europe. -He has received an Honorary scroll from the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society (2005), the ‘Allan Baldry’ award from the British Sheep Veterinary Society (2006), a Meritorious award from the Karditsa Society for Animal Welfare (2008) and the ‘Konstantinos Tarlatzis’ prize of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society (2009). He was elected a Fellow of the Greek Agricultural Academy in 2010. He has received three Awards of Academic Scientific Excellence in ‘Veterinary Medicine and Science’ by the Greek Ministry of Education (2012, 2013, 2014), two Prizes by the Hellenic Veterinary Association for excellent academic and scientific achievements (2013) and for the sustained support of the veterinary profession in Greece (2015), an Award of Clinical Excellence by the European College of Small Ruminant Health Management (2014) and a meritorious award by the organizing committee of the 9th International Sheep Veterinary Congress for the significant contributions at the conference (2017). -Since the 1st September 2024, he serves as the Head of School of Health Sciences of the University of Thessaly, on a three-year term. -George C. Fthenakis is a graduate (DVM) of the Veterinary School of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and has undertaken postgraduate studies (MSc, PhD) at the Royal Veterinary College, University of London. He is a Diplomate of the European College of Animal Reproduction (DipECAR) and the European College of Small Ruminant Health Management (DipECSRHM). -He is Professor (1998-today) and Former Dean (2016-20) of the Veterinary Faculty, Former Dean (2019-21) of the Faculty of Animal Science and Former Dean (2023) of the Faculty of Public and One Health of the University of Thessaly. He was the Foundation President of the European College of Small Ruminant Health Management (2008-11). He served four terms as President of Farm Animal Veterinarians - Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society (2009-21). Currently (2020-today), he serves as the Chairperson of the Greek National Veterinary Medicines Licencing Board and is also a visiting professor in the School of Veterinary Medicine of the European University of Cyprus. He was invited and lectured in the veterinary faculties of the Universities of Edinburgh, Guelph, Hannover, Liverpool, Thessaloniki and Zaragoza. -He has successfully supervised 13 PhD theses and one European Veterinary College specialisation programme. -He has managed 34 research grants, funded by the public (European Commission, Government of Greece) or the private (animal health industry) sector, among them the ‘Goshomics’ (budget: 1.8 M €, 10 partners) and the ‘Academic experience for young scientists at the University of Thessaly’ (cumulative budget: 9.5 M €) projects. -He has published 275 refereed papers (cumulative impact factor: >575.0). His publications have received over 7250 citations (h-index: 44). He has served as editor in Small Ruminant Research, BMC Veterinary Research, Journal of Dairy Research and Journal of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society, and as guest-editor in Animal Reproduction Science, Antibiotics, Pathogens, Veterinary Microbiology and Veterinary Parasitology. He has authored or edited four books. He has presented talks in conferences world-wide (548 abstracts in conference proceedings), among them 85 invited/keynote presentations. He was the organiser of the 6th International Sheep Veterinary Congress (2005), the 1st European Conference in Small Ruminant Health Management (2011) and the 11th (2009) and 13th (2015) Greek National Veterinary Congresses. Moreover, he has participated in various national or international committees, including the European Board for Veterinary Specialisation, the General Assembly of the Federation of Veterinarians in Europe, the Greek Veterinary Drug Formulary Board, the Council of the Greek Agricultural Academy, the Council of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society and the committee for ‘Welfare of sheep’ of the European Food Safety Authority. -His interests are focused on health management, diseases and welfare of small ruminants.