Social Licence Working Group

Kate is an RCVS Recognised Specialist and Professor of Equine Sports Medicine at Bristol Veterinary School, where she has worked for over 20 years. Her clinical focus has been equine sports medicine, particularly the investigation of poor performance and respiratory disorders. Alongside this, she has led and collaborated on research projects to improve the health, welfare, and performance of horses in sport, and has explored the ethical challenges faced by vets working in this area. Kate also works with equestrian governing bodies on research that may inform policy. She is especially interested in how performance and welfare can be balanced in line with evolving societal and ethical expectations. At Bristol, she teaches across the veterinary curriculum and co-leads Preparing for Equine Practice, a pedagogical research programme designed to define the skills and knowledge graduates need for a successful career in equine practice.

Ian qualified from the RVC in 2006. He completed an internship at NEH in 2008 and then travelled to New Zealand where he worked as a repro and racing vet. In 2010 Ian joined Baker McVeigh in South Africa. In South Africa ian and his wife Laura began a road trip home from the southern to northern-most points in Africa. Ian moved to Chantilly, France in 2012 and returned to Newmarket in 2013 before joining the Baker McVeigh Lambourn practice in 2017. Ian joined BEVA as a Council member in 2021. He enjoys playing with his kids, watching football and riding his bike.

Imogen graduated from the RVC, London in 2000 and was awarded the RCVS Certificate in Equine Medicine and Advanced Practitioner status in 2014. She works in first opinion equine practice and mentors new graduates as a VetGDP advisor; she has also been an RVN clinical coach. She is responsible for overseeing veterinary undergraduate rotations in the clinic and examines at the University of Surrey. Imogen is a BEVA council member, sitting on the Education Committee and is current Chair of the Ethics and Welfare Committee. She is passionate about education, improving standards of clinical care and welfare.

Jo has worked as a surgeon at B&W Equine Hospital since 2014. She is an RCVS and ECVS specialist in Equine Surgery and has a particular interest in orthopaedic surgery, diagnostic orthopaedics and colic surgery. Prior to her time at B&W she undertook a surgical residency at the University of Liverpool, completed an MPhil in Epidemiology, and spent several years in equine ambulatory practice. Jo has an interest in veterinary research and education and has co-supervised ECVS surgical residency training programmes, masters research projects and PhDs and has mentored many young vets during her time in practice. She has numerous publications in the equine literature and has spoken at various international conferences. Jo has a keen interest in equestrian sport; she is a member of the Veterinary Advisory Committee for the Horse Betting Levy board and has worked at several FEI events and within National Hunt Racing. Out of work Jo has a young son and tries to find time to run and get out on her bike!

Lucy practised as an equine vet in Newmarket for fifteen years, and spent 10 of those years also on BEVA Council. In August 2022 she joined the BEVA team in a permanent role, as Veterinary Projects Officer. 'Out of hours' she's kept busy managing two small people, two Guinea Pigs, a spaniel, some ants and a busy social life... but longs to take up riding again one day!

Madeleine is Professor of Veterinary Ethics at Nottingham University, where her particular research interests focus on the ethics of the use of animals in sport. Madeleine Chairs the British Equestrian Federation's Ethics and Welfare Advisory Group, Chairs the Greyhound Board of Great Britain's Welfare and Veterinary Science Committee, and is an Independent Member of the FEI's Equine Welfare Advisory Group (having previously been an Independent Member of their Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission) and of the British Horseracing Authority's Ethics Panel. She is also an Independent Director of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain, and wrote their welfare strategy 'A good life for every greyhound'. Madeleine developed the Ethical Framework for the Use of Horses in Competitive Sport and is the author of numerous peer-reviewed papers on veterinary and animal ethics and of the book 'Animals, Ethics and Us'. In the wider context of animal welfare, Madeleine Chairs the British Animal Welfare Committee which provides expert, independent advice on the welfare of all kept animals to Defra and the Scottish and Welsh governments. Madeleine is an equine vet and a keen equestrian: she currently enjoys riding her two Morgan horses - the third and fourth generations she has bred, both of whom she has trained since birth herself.

Phil graduated from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Edinburgh, in 2005 and went on to do an internship at the Equine Medical Center of Ocala, Florida and then an equine surgical residency at Michigan State University. He is a Diplomate of the American and European Colleges of Veterinary Surgeons and is an American, European and RCVS Specialist in Equine Surgery. He has worked at Oaklands Equine Hospital and Rainbow Equine Hospital and is currently a director at Hambleton Equine Clinic, which he set up with two other directors in 2012. He is interested in all aspects of equine surgery, especially upper airway surgery and orthopaedics. He currently sits on BEVA Council, the BHA Veterinary Committee and the ECVS Exam Committee.

Roger Smith is professor of equine orthopaedics at the RVC and has particular interests in orthopaedic surgery, imaging, lameness, and tendon research. He qualified from Cambridge University in 1987. After two years in practice, he undertook a surgery residency at the RVC and then a PhD on equine tendons. He remained at the RVC and was appointed professor in December 2003. He holds the Diploma of Equine Orthopaedics, is Diplomate of the ECVS and the ECVSMR, and an RCVS Specialist in Equine Surgery. He was awarded an RCVS Fellowship in 2016 and was ECVS President in 2017.

Roly joined World Horse Welfare as Chief Executive in January 2008. He qualified as a veterinary surgeon from Cambridge University in 1992 and having spent a short time with the Blue Cross, he joined the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, which included a posting as the Veterinary Officer at the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment in London. After the army, he went to work for World Horse Welfare until 2003, when he left to take up the post of Development Director at the Perse School in Cambridge. He returned to World Horse Welfare in 2008. Since then Roly has played an active role on the steering group of the Equine Sector Council for Health and Welfare and established the Equine Disease Coalition, of which he is Chair.