I joined Halesowen College in 2018 after 6 years working in zoos. Having worked with a wide range of taxa, I have a wide spread general knowledge base.

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As a unit manager, I believe in empowering my team to use their own knowledge and experience to drive welfare standards within our unit. 

I have 23 years’ experience in the animal/education industry, starting my career at Woburn Safari Park working around my studies as a volunteer before progressing up to Head of Section.  After 7 years, I decided to move in to education to bring in an employer expectation to create the next generation of animal keepers.

I have been Director of Animal at Hartpury since 2018, where I lead the strategic direction of the department to meet the future needs for both university and college.

I'm currently manager of the Animal Centre at Easton College and have been working within the education sector since 2018. 

My career with animals started back in 2007 at a bird of prey centre and I went on to work in a number of large zoological collections as part of their displays team.

I began working in the animal sector in 2003, predominantly within the pet industry, alongside some voluntary work in zoological and private collections. In 2011, I started my career in the education sector as an Animal Technician and am now the Animal Centre Manager at Moulton College.

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Through collaboration and the sharing of best practice, I am keen to support the development of our industry, promote high welfare, and uphold high standards. I am passionate about providing practical resources that equip users with the skills and experience needed for their future careers.

I currently manage the Animal Management Unit at Hadlow College, part of the North Kent College Group. I have worked to maintain and develop this large collection over the past 7 years'

I have a varied background and experience with most taxa, however, my heart will always lie with the more commonly seen domestic animals that tend to reside in college environments. 

I have been Animal Centre Co-Ordinator at Usk Campus, Coleg Gwent for the past 3 years. My journey so far has included experience in zoo keeping, animal physiotherapy and I have been teaching in the college Land Based department for 10 years. 

I feel it is really important that learners and the wider animal industry have assurances that the sector's future animal carers are being given practical skills and knowledge that demonstrate best practice and the highest standards of animal welfare.  

I have worked in the animal industry most of my life, starting with volunteering with horses when I was 12. This progressed to working at farm parks, travelling to South African and Borneo to work with animals in the wild and then becoming a zoo keeper for 10 years. 

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Moving into education in 2020 I progressed to Animal Centre Manager. Having worked with a wide variety of taxa I am keen to push forward high welfare standards in education settings. 
 

I began my career in the animal care sector as an Animal Technician in 2000 before leaving in 2002 to pursue a degree in Animal Behaviour and Welfare. After graduating in 2005, I joined Twycross Zoo as a Primate Keeper, where I was fortunate to work with a wide range of primates over eight years, progressing to Senior Primate Keeper. In 2012, I briefly taught at Moulton College before returning to Twycross Zoo later that year as a Senior Large

Mammal Keeper, focusing on animal training and elephants.

In 2017, I moved to Rodbaston Animal Zone at South Staffordshire College, where I have remained since. My role here is incredibly varied, but I feel extremely fortunate to continue working with my two main passions – primates and animal training.

After studying Animal Behaviour and Welfare at university, I started out as a mixed taxa zookeeper at Tilgate Zoo in 2017. I then worked as the senior team lead, then the acting zoo manager before moving to Reaseheath College & Mini Zoo in May 2024.

My passions are animal training (becoming an ABTC ATI in 2024), behaviour and native invertebrate conservation- working with BIAZA to launch Project DUNG. My role at Reaseheath is very varied- I'm a registrar, a conservation leader, an animal trainer, a zookeeper, an educator, a sustainability officer, a kiosk attendant, and more... I'll cover anything!

I have worked in further education since 2010 and have been the Head of the Animal Welfare & Science Department at Coastland College (formerly Kingston Maurward College) since 2021 – where I have oversight of the curriculum development and our onsite animal collection. My academic career has been supported by a personal interest in exotic animals and equestrian sports; alongside voluntary and paid work in rescues, vet practices and working with horses.

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I believe in sharing best practice and improving welfare standards for animal collections, alongside problem solving and “thinking outside the box” when challenged with operational or logistical concerns related to animal welfare, collection management or staff/student engagement.