Who we are
Meet the people and organisations who make up the Animal Welfare Evidence Centre.
Meet the team
Chief of research
Dr Jennifer (Jenny) Maher
Dr Jenny Maher is a leading criminologist and former Associate Professor at the Centre of Criminology at the University of South Wales (Prifysgol De Cymru). Over two decades, she’s pioneered research on animal abuse, illegal pet trades, and wildlife crime, helping shape green criminology and elevate animal-related harms within mainstream criminological research. Working across disciplines, her research has highlighted the importance of understanding the wider impact of animal abuse on animals and society.
Jenny has collaborated extensively with international, national and devolved governments, NGOs, and enforcement bodies, working with the European Union and Defra, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and the RSPCA.
Beyond academia, her commitment to animal welfare is reflected in over a decade of volunteer work with NGOs, during which she has fostered and rehomed more than 200 dogs.
One of my core beliefs is that robust, interdisciplinary evidence is essential to preventing animal harm, improving policy, and transforming the way societies interact with animals and the environment.
An introduction to the Advisory
Board
Advisory Board Chair
Thomas Schultz-Jagow, from the RSPCA
Thomas Schultz-Jagow is Director of Advocacy and Prevention at the RSPCA.
As an executive leader and campaigner for social and environmental justice, Thomas aims to help change the world for the benefit of people, animals, and the planet.
With a wealth of experience gained in global civil society organisations, he has led campaigns, communications, marketing and fundraising teams in Greenpeace, WWF, Oxfam, Amnesty International and World Animal Protection.
Thomas is passionate about positioning animal welfare issues at the heart of the political, corporate, influence, and public agendas. His ambition is to deliver impact for animals in need, change attitudes and beliefs, strengthen laws, and inspire everyone to create a better world for every animal.
The challenges facing animals today are huge and complex, and it’s only by working together that we can tackle the scale of harmful behaviour towards animals. The Animal Welfare Evidence Centre is a critical opportunity to deepen our understanding of what drives humans to harm animals, so we can lay the foundations for the truly transformational change we all want to see
Advisory Board member
Richard Mott, from KMCT
Along with his role as Director of the Katherine Martin Charitable Trust, Richard Mott works in market access at Sanofi to drive better options and outcomes for patients and healthcare systems.
His work in the charity sector includes leading roles at The Katie Piper Foundation and Over The Wall and reflects a personal commitment to empowering others and creating lasting, positive change.
His personal passion is driving higher standards of welfare for animals, particularly farm animals and he’s proud to be involved with the Animal Welfare Evidence Centre.
I believe the Centre will generate rigorous, trusted research that strengthens the animal welfare sector’s understanding of why harm occurs and which interventions most effectively improve behaviour towards animals, enabling more targeted, effective policy and practice. Ultimately, I want it to become a widely used, scientifically credible evidence base that helps charities, practitioners and policy-makers deliver meaningful, lasting improvements to animal welfare.
Advisory Board member
Claire Bass, from Humane World for Animals UK
Claire Bass is Senior Director, Campaigns and Public Affairs at Humane World for Animals UK.
Claire has over two decades of experience in the animal protection movement, influencing public policy, mobilising public support, and working with Parliament, governments and civil society to deliver legislative and systemic change for animals.
Following an MSc in Marine Environmental Protection, Claire conceived and co-designed the Global Ghost Gear Initiative to solve the problem of lost and abandoned fishing gear worldwide, and also worked successfully to limit whaling quotas. More recently, Claire had significant involvement in the successful passage of the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act, and now leads multiple campaigns including against the fur trade and the cruel caging of mother pigs.
She believes the Animal Welfare Evidence Centre has enormous potential to ensure that those with the power to advocate for animals, including politicians, vets, lawyers, journalists and NGOs, are fully equipped with strong and salient arguments and insights.
The Centre will act as a hub of intelligence and credibility, underpinning the UK’s animal protection movement. I’m especially interested in what we can do to better understand and articulate the economic viability and value of better animal protection. I’m excited to help ensure it builds synergies with and learnings from other social justice movements to help us advance our cause.
Advisory Board member
Sonul Badiani-Hamment, from FOUR PAWS UK
Sonul Badiani-Hamment leads FOUR PAWS UK as its Country Director. With a legal background, she has several years' experience in charity leadership, animal welfare and politics, and drives the charity’s work for farmed, companion and wild animals in the UK.
Sonul sees the Animal Welfare Evidence Centre as critical to strengthening how we advocate for animals and believes it will become a leading force for change by using evidence to reshape how society thinks about and treats animals.
Through our work at FOUR PAWS UK, we’ve seen the need for clearer, more accessible evidence to inform policy and influence behaviour. Contributing to the Animal Welfare Evidence Centre is a way to help ensure that decisions affecting animals are grounded in insight and lead to lasting improvements for animals. By connecting insights on human behaviour with issues like public health and climate change, the Centre can inform better policies, shift norms, and drive lasting improvements in animal welfare at scale.
Advisory Board member
Dr Christopher Browne, from Compassion in World Farming
Dr Christopher Browne is Global Head of Research and Policy at Compassion in World Farming. He holds a PhD in microbiology from the Royal Veterinary College and is a certified animal scientist. With over 15 years’ experience, spanning government, academia, research, and industry, Christopher brings expertise in animal health and welfare, and climate change. He has led cross-sectoral initiatives and contributed to international advocacy that has influenced global policy on sustainable food systems and animal welfare.
He believes the Animal Welfare Evidence Centre will play an integral role in strengthening the animal welfare sector by further understanding the causes of animal harm, something he feels passionate about.
As a scientist, I know the important role evidence plays in positive reform. The Centre will identify and fill in the much-needed gaps in identifying animal harm. Through building an evidence base and collaborating and working with key stakeholders, we have the potential to prevent neglect and cruelty happening to animals in the future. I’m honoured to have the opportunity to contribute.
