Council Members

Chairman

Professor Christopher Wathes, holds the Chair of Animal Welfare at the Royal Veterinary College, University of London. He is a research scientist with interests in the environmental biology and management of farm animals.

Members

Dr Michael Appleby, welfare policy advisor for the World Society for Protection of Animals (WSPA). Member of the Scientific Committee of Humane Farm Animal Care and the Animal Compassionate Committee of Whole Foods Market in the USA. Formerly Senior Lecturer in Applied Animal Behaviour, University of Edinburgh.

Professor Richard Bennett, an agricultural economist in the Department of Agricultural and Food Economics at the University of Reading. He is currently a Member of Council of the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare and a Trustee of the Humane Slaughter Association. He is also a member of the England Implementation Group (EIG).

Professor Henry Buller, Chair of Rural Geography at the University of Exeter and currently Director of the BA Human Geography programme at Exeter. Past Chair at the University of Gloucestershire. He is also editor of the international rural science journal Sociologia Ruralis.

Dr Joanne Conington, Senior Animal Breeding Specialist in the Sustainable Livestock Systems group at the Scottish Agricultural College. Her research interests are in the development of broader breeding goals in sustainable breeding programmes for livestock systems. Past sheep specialist with the Meat and Livestock Commission.

Huw Davies JP, FRAgS, a sheep farmer from Camarthenshire. Chairman of the Steering Committee for the Implementation of the Animal Health and Welfare Strategy for Wales. Member of the Welsh Regional Board of the Moredun Research Institute.

Professor Sandra Edwards, Chair of Agriculture at the University of Newcastle. A past director of the Scottish Pig Industry Initiative, a former President of the British Society of Animal Science and member of the EU Scientific Veterinary Committee working group on pig welfare.

David Henderson, retired Head of the Division of Farms and Clinical Studies at the Moredun Research Institute, Edinburgh and past-President of the Sheep Veterinary Society.

George Hogarth, Production Director of an international chicken breeding company based in Scotland.

Gwyn Jones, a dairy farmer from West Sussex. Currently the NFU National Dairy Board Chairman and a member of NFU Policy and Governance Boards. Director of Dairy UK and board member. Chairman of Dairy UK Producer Forum.

Ruth Layton, veterinary surgeon and holder of the RCVS Diploma in Animal Welfare Science Ethics and Law. Director of the Food Animal Initiative. Consultant to food retailers and the food service sector.

Stephen Lister, partner in a poultry veterinary practice in Norfolk and a Trustee of the British Veterinary Association Animal Welfare Foundation.

Dr David Main, BVA Animal Welfare Foundation Lecturer in Animal Welfare at the University of Bristol and an RCVS recognised specialist in Animal Welfare, Science, Ethics and Law.

Professor David Morton, scientist and a laboratory animal veterinarian. Member of the European Food Standards Authority’s Scientific Panel on Animal Health and Welfare and the Board of Assured Food Standards.

Andrew Nicholson, Quality Assurance Manager and animal welfare specialist for the Co-Operative Group (CWS) Ltd. He is a member of the technical advisory committee for Assured British Pigs and the EU Technology Platform on Global Animal Health.

Reverend Professor Michael Reiss, Professor of Science Education at the Institute of Education, University of London.

Stuart Shearlaw, Former Senior Animal Health and Welfare Inspector for Central Scotland Police and Chair to the Scottish Animal Health and Welfare Panel. Now working for the State Veterinary Service (SVS) in Galashields in the Scottish Borders.

Steven Tait, Head of sales and marketing for Freedom Food. Member of the Linking Environment and Farming (LEAF) management board.

Alison Ward, consumer representative on the Food Standard Agency Committee on Toxicity in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment. Past Director of the British Bankers' Association, and formerly a Non-Executive Director in the Health Service.

Meryl Ward, Director of a commercial pig breeding and finishing business, member of the British Pig Executive and a founder member and Chairman of Agskills Training Association. She is a Council Member and Selector for the Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust and a member of the Genesis Assurance Technical Advisory Committee.