Even though many of our graduates will have progressed in their careers since completing a case study, they are still of interest to students who wish to gain an understanding of the world of work.

I advise staff and partners on measuring the impact of their interventions and in understanding animal welfare. I help others use the data collected from the animals to reveal the problems they’re facing and track the changes over time. I promote new resources and technology - such as capturing information on a mobile tablet app, sharing information online or creating user manuals - to make their jobs easier. I help to assess welfare and train staff in equine behaviour and welfare, both in person and remotely through creating education resources. I bring in the latest animal welfare science to the charity and organise an in house guest lecture series.

It starts by catching up with our overseas staff by email. I’ll spend the rest of the morning creating a learning resource to share with staff. In the afternoon, I’ll meet with other UK technical advisors to plan how we’ll support programmes in their work. A few times a year I travel to the countries to offer support in person. I also represent Brooke at scientific conferences and supporters’ events.

Helping staff in other countries and learning about success stories of welfare improvements. Getting to experience different cultures and work across the world. I am lucky that I get to use my degrees everyday in my job.

Being based in the UK it can sometimes feel challenging to be geographically far away from the animals we are trying to help, as I enjoy practical work. Charities are also heavily affected by the external environment, so there can be challenging times when external changes in politics or the economy mean they have to drastically change to react, which is not always best for the work they are trying to do.

Having grown up around horses, I studied animal behaviour, followed by a Masters in applied animal behaviour and welfare at Edinburgh University. Previously I worked at the international NGO Compassion in World Farming, engaging food businesses with animal welfare. I’ve travelled widely and volunteered in developing countries, which gave me an understanding of different cultural attitudes to animals.

I did a MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour and Animal Wellfare after my undergraduate degree. This gave me the specifics to use the scientific basis I had learned previously, in a practical way. Soft skills are also crucial in my role which spans charity work and research, such as team work and communication, public speaking, database management, budgeting, time planning, networking, training and facilitation, and project management.

Welfare Assessment Development Advisor - Brooke
November 2014 - Present.

Development Officer - International Society for Applied Ethology (ISAE)
July 2016 – Present, voluntary position.
I am responsible for promoting, and encouraging members to promote, applied ethology (animal behaviour science) in countries where they are unrepresented or under-represented, particularly in Eastern Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America.

Research Officer - Compassion in Food Business
September 2012 – November 2014.

I developed resources, undertook research and provided advice on animal welfare to raise minimum standards of animal welfare in the food industry. As part of the corporate engagement team, I gave guidance to leading food companies, ranging from small enterprises to leading global manufacturers and retailers. I developed tools in performance reporting. I completed meta-analyses of evidence, developed policies and standards and helped produce marketing to recognise company achievements in sustainable practices. I presented my findings at international scientific conferences.

Master of Science (With Distinction) 2011 - 2012
Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh
In Applied Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare.

One year out (2010-2011). I worked for 6 months and then travelled for 6 months in New Zealand, Ecuador and Peru. I volunteered for ten days in the Amazon in Manu National park and completed a one month internship with Organisation for Research and Conservation of Aquatic Animals in Lima, Peru.

I want to spend my career applying science as a practitioner, rather than a researcher. I want to make the most benefit to animal's lives that I can and I choose jobs where I believe I can do that, with organisations that are effective. I am planning to study clinical animal behaviour, to supplement my international and training-based work, with practical clinical sessions to help owners solve their animal's behaviour issues.

I benefitted a lot from travelling and volunteering while I was abroad. It opened my eyes to the world and opportunities available, while giving useful experience for my CV. I didn't follow a pre-defined career path but followed what I was passionate about and good at, so I recommend doing that! The charity sector is highly competitive, but if you are persistent, build your voluntary experience and contacts and can offer new skills, you will be useful to them.

I am happy to be contacted for more information.