Kate Fletcher

PhD candidate, Royal Veterinary College (funded by World Horse Welfare) 

May 2021 to Present (estimated completion March 2025) 

Investigating pre and post slaughter welfare issues in horses, mules and donkeys across the world (with data collection conducted in the UK, Europe, West Africa and Central America), including behavioural indicators of stress, factors affecting welfare at lairage and pathophysiology to demonstrate humane slaughter methods.   

Publication of research in high-impact, peer-reviewed scientific journals, with this resulting in proposed changes to UK legislation and the development of international guidelines for equid welfare at slaughter that can be used by NGOs and policy makers to make context-specific improvements. 

Presented research at international conferences, including the European College of Animal Welfare and Behavioural Medicine, the Humane Slaughter Association, and DEFRA. 

Postgraduate representative on the Clinical Research Ethical Review Body, reviewing ethical applications for research projects within the RVC on a range of species. 

Managed project budget throughout; completed institutional qualification in teaching at higher education; assisted in the development of animal welfare modules at the RVC; and supervised undergraduate and Masters-level students in their research.  

Founder/Director, Welfare Aware – Consultancy for Animals 

February 2021 to Present 

External Advisor for major UK equine charity, advising on strategy and policy development within the organisation and overseeing the recruitment, training and mentoring of animal welfare team. 

Facilitating research projects on animal behaviour and welfare between academic institutions and NGOs to enable the practical application of evidence-based welfare assessment. 

Providing animal welfare advice and consultancy services on national events or activities involving animals, from initial risk assessment and pre-planning through to overseeing the event itself, involving complex stakeholder collaboration. 

Senior Manager, Global Animal Welfare, Brooke – Action for Working Horses and Donkeys 

January 2020 to May 2021 (FTC parental leave cover, with contract then extended to focus on specific projects to meet strategic needs within the organisation) 

Strategic coordination of global animal welfare work taking place across Brooke’s country programmes, promoting working animal welfare and supporting others to do so. 

Created and delivered a defined work plan and budget for the Global Animal Welfare Team, including line Management of UK Global Animal Welfare Advisors. Contributed to the development of Brooke’s Global Strategy (2021-onwards), including researching and producing an organisational review of animal welfare assessment to feed into the new strategy and for discussion at Board level. 

Chair of Brooke’s Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Body (AWERB) and animal welfare representative for the International Research Group. Produced the externally available document, AWERB 'guidelines for researchers', outlining ethical considerations for research in low-middle-income countries, prospective compromise for animals and humans involved in research, and ways to mitigate these concerns. Recruited lay members onto the committee and provided organisational training on animal welfare ethics. 

Worked with local and international governments and organisations, including the World Organisation for Animal Health, to advise on the development of animal welfare policy and legislation, including disaster preparedness and strategic animal welfare response to Covid-19. 

Scientific Information and Knowledge Officer, RSPCA 

July 2019 to January 2020 

Supporting the work of the Companion Animals Department through gathering, coordinating and disseminating information on companion animal behaviour and welfare. 

Joint lead on the national Performing Animals project, consulting on various productions using animals to ensure welfare standards are met within the entertainment industry. 

Chair of the Knowledge Steering Group, ensuring consistency in policies and messaging across the organisation through effective communicating and strong working relationships  

Inspector, RSPCA  

May 2010 to July 2019 

Project management of legal investigations including multiple equine cases, giving evidence in Court, liaising with media contacts, fundraising, witnesses, defendants and solicitors, and representing the RSPCA externally at national events. 

Lone worker covering high crime volatile areas of the South East, building relationships with local police, other welfare organisations, social services and council representatives 

Tutor Inspector responsible for coaching and mentoring trainee or less-experienced colleagues  

Royal Veterinary College: May 2021 to (estimated completion) April 2025 

PhD in International Animal Welfare (Equid Welfare at Slaughter) 

University of Portsmouth (Sparsholt University Centre): September 2018 to October 2019 

MSc in Equine Behaviour, Performance and Training 

University of Wales, Swansea: September 2005 to June 2008 

BA English Literature with Creative Writing: 2.1 hons 

Queen Mary’s College, Basingstoke: June 2004 to June 2005 

English A-Level: A; Sociology A-Level: B; Psychology A-Level: C 

The Weald School, Billingshurst: September 1996 to August 2001 

11 GCSE’s: A*-C (including Maths and English)