If you contact me, please include:
What decision you are trying to make
Who the decision affects
Your timeframe
Any existing policies, standards, or protocols you are working from
2024
Governance Essentials
Institute of Directors in New Zealand
2022
Fellowship in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics, & Law (FANZCVS AWSEL)
Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists
2021
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Massey University
2016
Postgraduate Diploma in Veterinary Clinical Science (PGDipVCS)
With Distinction
Massey University
2012
Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc)
With Distinction
Massey University
I help people and organisations make clear, defensible decisions about animal care when the evidence is complex and values matter. My work combines animal welfare science, ethics, and law with practical tools and training that people can use in real situations.
I am a registered veterinary specialist in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law and Co-Founder of AkoVet. I have worked across veterinary education, policy and standards, and applied animal welfare in Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally. My research uses social science methods to understand how people make decisions about animals, especially in ethically challenging situations, and how that can be improved through clearer tools, training, and standards.
Turning evidence into actions that work in the real world
Including applied use of the Five Domains Model where relevant
Consultancy, training, and decision tools
I work with individuals, teams, and organisations on:
Evidence reviews and clear summaries for decision-makers
Ethical reasoning and decision frameworks for hard choices
Policy, standards, and protocol development and review
Stakeholder workshops and facilitation for contested issues
Training for professionals working with animals (including communication and decision-making)
Practical decision tools: checklists, planners, protocol builders, and branching simulations (some in development as software)
Veterinary teams and educators
Government and advisory groups
NGOs and industry bodies
Research teams and funders
International organisations working on animal care standards
At AkoVet, my work is organised around three pillars:
Evidence reviews, ethical and legal frameworks, standards and protocols, stakeholder workshops, policy advice, and quality improvement. This includes operationalising the Five Domains Model and other frameworks so decisions are transparent and defensible.
Competency-based training that builds real-world skills in communication, clinical decision-making, team wellbeing, end-of-life care, and antimicrobial stewardship. Where relevant, I teach applied use of the Five Domains Model in real contexts.
Practical decision aids that embed ethical, legal, and communication prompts, including checklists, planners, protocol builders, and branching simulations. Some tools are in development as software.
Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Science, Massey University (Dec 2023 to Nov 2024)
Lecturer in Animal Welfare, Massey University (Feb 2019 to Dec 2023)
Earlier roles include postgraduate support and clinical locum work
National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC), Member (from Jan 2025)
WSAVA Animal Welfare Committee, Member (from Aug 2023)
New Zealand Veterinary Association Te Pae Kīrehe, Policy Advisory Committee, Member (from 2023)
Animal Welfare Network Aotearoa (AWNA), Organising Committee (from Oct 2022)
Greyhound Racing New Zealand, Animal Health and Welfare Committee (from Jan 2022)
Morris Animal Foundation, Animal Welfare Advisory Board (from Mar 2021)
Five Domains Model chapter – Mental Health and Well-being in Animals (CABI, 2025).
Practical guidance on applying the Five Domains Model to real-world welfare assessment and decision-making across contexts.
Five Domains Model update (co-author) – peer-reviewed framework paper.
Clarifies the conceptual structure of the Model and its application to contemporary welfare assessment and policy.
Doctoral research and related publications on veterinary end-of-life decision-making, communication, and professional ethics.
Evidence informing how veterinary teams are trained to support clients through complex, emotionally difficult decisions.
CPD programme development for veterinary teams on end-of-life care, shared decision-making, and professional wellbeing.
Translation of research findings into practical training and tools.
Policy and standards advisory work contributing to the development and revision of animal welfare standards and regulatory frameworks.
Focus on defensible, evidence-based decision processes that are workable for regulators and practitioners.
Governance and advisory roles supporting national and international animal welfare organisations.
Input into policy development, professional guidance, and strategic direction.
Veterinary and animal science education research on curriculum design, ethics education, and competency development.
Work informing how future professionals are trained to reason through complex welfare and ethical issues.
Curriculum leadership and teaching across pre-clinical, clinical, and postgraduate contexts.
Emphasis on applied ethics, welfare assessment, and decision-making skills.
Qualitative and mixed-methods research on how people make decisions about animals.
Used to improve welfare outcomes by aligning evidence, values, and real-world constraints.
Current and recent projects include antimicrobial use benchmarking, companion animal management, and decision-support tool development.
A fuller list of publications, reports, and invited talks is available on request or via LinkedIn (most up to date).
Advancing Animal Care through Shared Learning