The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
has made three appointments to the Animal Welfare Committee
(AWC).
Professor Amaya Albalat, Dr Jessica Martin, and Mr Charlie Mason
joined the Committee on 1 August 2025 for four-year terms,
running until 31 July 2029.
They replace Dr Jane Downes and Dr Dorothy McKeegan, whose
appointments end on 30 September 2025, and Dr Troy Gibson, whose
appointment ends on 31 December 2025. They have served on the
Committee since January 2018.
Finally, Professor Simon Girling has stepped down, after serving
on the AWC since January 2023. He has also stepped down from
the Zoos Expert Committee,
which he has chaired since November 2018.
The Animal Welfare
Committee advises Defra, as well as the Scottish and
Welsh Governments, on matters relating to animal welfare,
including farmed, companion and wild animals kept by people. The
Committee also advises the Northern Ireland Executive on the
welfare of animals at the time of killing. A full list of AWC
members is available on Gov.uk.
Madeleine Campbell, Chair of the Animal Welfare
Committee, said:
I am delighted to welcome our new members to the AWC. Between
them, they bring varied and highly applicable expertise which
will help to ensure that the advice of the AWC remains
evidence-based and practical.
I would also like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to our
retiring members. We will miss the unique and valuable
contributions each of these colleagues made to the work of the
committee. All were in post when I joined as Chair, and I would
like to say a personal thank you to each of them for giving their
time and expertise so generously.
BiographiesProfessor Amaya
Albalat
- Amaya is a professor in Aquatic Animal Health and Welfare, as
well as Director of Research at the Institute of Aquaculture,
University of Stirling.
- She has expertise in fish and crustacean welfare, including
slaughter. She has worked in projects related to both the
wild-capture and aquaculture sectors.
Dr Jessica Martin
- Jessica is an Associate Professor (Reader) in Animal Welfare
and Innovation, and Chair of the Animal Welfare and Ethical
Review Body at Newcastle University.
- She has expertise in animal welfare at slaughter and killing,
in both agriculture and biomedical research settings, with a
particular focus on pigs and poultry.
Mr Charlie Mason
- Charlie is the Technical Director at the Humane Slaughter
Association (HSA), where he has worked since 1987.
- He has practical expertise and experience in animal welfare
at slaughter and killing. He holds a full slaughter licence
and is involved in training HSA stakeholders in livestock
transport, marketing, slaughter and killing for
emergencies/disease control.
- Charlie is a Churchill Fellow of 1990 and an Associate Fellow
of the Royal Agricultural Societies.
