Animal Behaviour and Welfare

Heather Bacon is the Veterinary Welfare Education and Outreach Manager at the University of Edinburgh’s Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education (JMICAWE). She lectures internationally on welfare issues concerning companion animals and captive wildlife, and teaches courses in two postgraduate MSc programs at the university. With extensive experience in dog and cat welfare globally, Heather previously served as the Veterinary Director at the Animals Asia Foundation, an NGO focused on ending the bear bile trade in Asia. She holds a veterinary degree, a BSc (Hons) in Conservation Medicine, and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons’ Postgraduate Certificate in Zoological Medicine.

Professor Nat Waran is a prominent academic serving as the Professor of One Welfare at the Eastern Institute of Technology in New Zealand. Formerly the Jeanne Marchig Chair of Animal Welfare Education at the University of Edinburgh, she has dedicated her career to advancing animal welfare through education and research. Nat earned her Zoology degree from Glasgow University and completed her PhD at Cambridge University Vet School with support from the British Veterinary Association’s Animal Welfare Foundation. In 1990, she established the first postgraduate master's program in Applied Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare at Edinburgh, which remains highly regarded. After moving to New Zealand in 2005, she held various leadership roles, including Head of the School of Natural Sciences at Unitec Institute of Technology. Since returning to Scotland in 2011 to lead the Jeanne Marchig Centre, Nat has continued to influence animal welfare policies and practices. She teaches courses such as Animal Behaviour and Welfare and The Truth About Cats and Dogs, focusing on improving the quality of life for animals through education and advocacy.

Dr. Fritha Langford is dedicated to promoting animal welfare education as the Programme Director of the online MSc in International Animal Welfare, Ethics and Law at The University of Edinburgh. With a focus on dairy cow behavior and welfare, she has conducted extensive research on dairy cow health, including studies on organic farming and continuous housing systems. Fritha leads the educational component of the European-funded project Animal Welfare Indicators, where she develops digital learning tools to disseminate animal welfare science to students, veterinarians, farmers, and the public at no cost. Her commitment to animal welfare education aims to enhance understanding and improve practices within the agricultural sector, ensuring better outcomes for animals. Through her course Animal Behaviour and Welfare, she equips learners with essential knowledge and skills to advocate for animal welfare effectively.

Hayley Walters is a dedicated Senior Veterinary Nurse specializing in animal welfare at The University of Edinburgh. She qualified as a veterinary nurse through the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1999 and initially spent seven years in mixed animal practice in Derbyshire. In 2006, she joined the animal welfare charity Animals Asia, where she worked with Asiatic black bears rescued from the bile farming industry in China and Vietnam and managed dog shelter projects for animals displaced by the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. In 2012, Hayley transitioned to Scotland to become a Welfare and Anaesthesia veterinary nurse at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, where she trained veterinary students and nurses in anaesthesia, inpatient care, and pain management. Additionally, she has taught animal welfare and clinical skills to veterinary students in low- and middle-income countries through the Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education. Hayley currently works remotely for the University of Edinburgh while also serving as a student liaison officer at Bottle Green Training and as a locum for Vets Now. Her contributions to veterinary education and animal welfare have been recognized with several awards, including an MBE from the Queen in 2018 for her services to the field. Hayley teaches courses such as Animal Behaviour and Welfare, Animal Welfare in the Clinic, and The Truth About Cats and Dogs, focusing on enhancing understanding and practices related to animal welfare.

Dr. Jill MacKay is an animal behaviour and welfare researcher affiliated with Scotland's Rural College. Her research interests focus on human-animal interactions, animal personality, and effective science communication across diverse audiences. As a contributor to the University of Edinburgh/SRUC Animal Behaviour and Welfare MOOC, she is dedicated to enhancing understanding of animal welfare through education. Dr. MacKay actively shares her insights on animal welfare science and communication through her blog, FluffySciences. She teaches the course Animal Behaviour and Welfare, where she aims to engage learners in the complexities of animal behavior and promote best practices in welfare.