Trustees

Gerard is the Director of the Veterinary Services Unit at the University of Sheffield, where his responsibilities include managing the university ethical review process and a specialist central animal research support department. He brings to AWF a wealth of experience in teaching, research, operational management, strategic planning and policy development gained in the private and public sector.

Dr Simon Doherty is the Animal Science & Aquaculture Specialist for the UK Department for International Trade. He provides expert advice on trade and investment associated with animal health and aquaculture – from companion animal nutrition and livestock genetics, to veterinary pharmaceuticals and aquaculture installations.

He is a certified aquaculture veterinarian, an accredited CowSignals Trainer, and an Honorary Lecturer at Queen’s University Belfast. He has been an author on many peer-reviewed publications and reports covering topics as diverse as vaccine design, bovine mastitis, tail-biting in pigs, emerging & re-emerging diseases and salmonid feed additives.

Simon is the Senior Vice-President of the NI Branch of BVA. He is a trustee of the livestock development charity, Send a Cow, and as a STEM Ambassador, he provides careers advice and mentoring services to veterinary school applicants.

Over 40 years in practice has not diminished Graham Duncanson’s enthusiasm for his life as a vet. After graduating from Bristol, Graham spent eight years as a Government Veterinary Officer in Kenya. In 1975 he returned to work in general practice in Norfolk, where he continues to work today. A passionate animal welfare advocate, Graham regularly speaks to local groups on welfare issues.  He aims to continue working full time in practice before embarking on a fundraising cycle for AWF from Norfolk to Cape Town in 2016.

Liverpool graduate Nicola worked in a small animal practice in Shropshire before joining the PDSA.  In 2012 she was appointed PDSA’s Head of Pet Health and Welfare with responsibility for using the charity’s communication channels to educate pet owners and young people about companion animal health and welfare. Nicola’s team developed and launched the highly regarded annual PDSA Animal Wellbeing Report in conjunction with YouGov and ran the education programme which reached over 300,000 children last year.

After graduating from Glasgow, Fred enjoyed a successful and varied career in mixed and small animal practice before joining the Veterinary Defence Society. In his current role as Technical Director at VDS he contributes to the day to day running of the organisation in an Executive Director capacity. His experiences in practice have provided opportunities to compare different ethical approaches to the provision of veterinary care and their effects on animal welfare.

Kate worked in farm animal practice for 14 years managing the livestock business team as a partner in a 15 vet practice. Since leaving practice she has worked in veterinary advisory roles, first at Schering-Plough, then Defra where she was a farm animal welfare veterinary advisor and gained experience in a number of Whitehall departments. In addition to her farm animal background and a keen interest in animal welfare, AWF will also benefit from her experience in marketing and events. As a Non-Executive Director of the Moredun Foundation and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) Kate also brings experience of strategic planning. 

After working in mixed practice, Ed joined the State Veterinary Service, latterly employed at the heart of Defra's animal welfare policy. Ed prepared the successful welfare case for banning the use of crates for veal calves in the EU and a bilateral agreement which established health and welfare controls for the import of captive birds. He is a founder member and current chairman of the Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law Veterinary Association and a veterinary adviser to the Farm Animal Welfare Council.