MDPI’s Journal Cluster of Animal Science Webinar | Emerging Challenges and Priorities in Animal Welfare

School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Environmental and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Western Australia;School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Queensland;Animal Welfare Research Group, University of Winchester, UK;Andrew Knight a veterinary Professor of Animal Welfare. He received a PhD in vegan and sustainable pet food in 2024. His studies have attracted global coverage and 500+ media mentions annually in recent years, and numerous awards.

Pathobiology and Population Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, UK;Harnessing 22 years in general veterinary practice and 15 years in academia, Dan combines real-world general practice experience with the latest cutting-edge population science. With 200 peer-reviewed papers, Dan co-leads the RVC VetCompass™ Programme. He has co-authored the books ‘Breed Predispositions to Disease in Dogs and Cats’ and ‘Health and Welfare of Brachycephalic (Flat-faced) Companion Animals’. He is a founding member of Brachycephalic Working Group, Legal Advisory Group on Extreme Conformation in Dogs and International Collaborative on Extreme Conformation in Dogs. Dan has created the theory of Innate Health that underpins the new Innate Health Assessment (IHA) in dogs. Dan is also part of the Veterinary Humanities that created the Contextualised Care concept for veterinary practice. His recent awards include an RCVS Fellowship (2018), BSAVA Blaine Award for Advancement of Small Animal Science (2019), KCCT International Canine Health Award (2021), APDAWG ‘Phillippa Robinson Dog Welfare Award’ (2024) and RCVS Impact Award (2025). His ethos is that without good data, we are each left to construct our own imaginary views of the world.

Director of Equine Operations (Veterinary & Welfare), The Donkey Sanctuary, UK;Veterinary surgeon by trade with 20 years’ experience working with donkeys. Main areas of interest include pain assessment in donkeys and the use of welfare assessment tools to identify welfare issues and objectively measure the impact of welfare improvement interventions.

Animal Welfare Science and Bioethics Centre, School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, New Zealand;David J Mellor BSc(Hons), PhD, Hon.Assoc.RCVS, ONZM, spent 24 years in Australia, where he was born; 21 years in Scotland where he completed his PhD; 18 years at the Edinburgh-based Moredun Research Institute where he led the Physiology Department and established and led the Perinatal Studies Unit; and, from 1988 to date at Massey University in New Zealand. He has held a range of professorial positions, including Foundation Director of the Animal Welfare Science and Bioethics Centre, the establishment of which he instigated in 1998. Now in active retirement since 2018, as Emeritus Professor, he continues to make original contributions to Animal Welfare Science, to mentor younger researchers and/or to co-author peer-reviewed publications, many of which, since 2016, have been in MDPI Animals.

President at FEEVA – Federation of European Equine Veterinary Associations;Chief Veterinary Advisor at The Donkey Sanctuary;Graduated 1987 UCD Vet School, Dublin, and worked in equine clinical practice and as a Resident at Cambridge Vet School before completing a PhD in equine welfare supported by World Horse Welfare and working in the veterinary pharmaceutical industry. Currently employed part-time at The Donkey Sanctuary, as a member of a state medicines regulatory board and providing an education/training service. Has previously been President of Veterinary Ireland and is currently President at FEEVA.