The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has extended the terms of four members of the Animal Welfare Committee (AWC).
Dr Romain Pizzi, Dr Pen Rashbass, Professor Sarah Wolfensohn and Dr James Yeates will now serve on the committee for an additional four years from January 1, 2024, until December 31, 2027.
The AWC 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.
Chair of the AWC, Madeleine Campbell, said: “I am delighted that Doctors Pizzi, Rashbass and Yeates and Professor Wolfensohn have agreed to serve a further term on the AWC.
“They each bring distinct, independent expertise and experience to the committee. I am looking forward to continuing to work with all of them in the interests of animal welfare.”
Extended appointments
Dr Romain Pizzi is a specialist veterinary surgeon and the former president of both the British Veterinary Zoological Society.
He is also the former president of the Scottish branch of the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
Dr Pen Rashbass has specialism in genetics, sheep and beef cattle, agroecology, conservation grazing and rewilding, and is a member of Defra’s Genetics for Livestock and Equines Committee.
Professor Sarah Wolfensohn is a veterinary surgeon and professor of animal welfare at the University of Surrey’s School of Veterinary Medicine.
She was awarded an OBE for services to animal welfare in 2012 and a Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2019.
Dr James Yeates is a veterinary surgeon with a degree in bioethics and law, and a PhD in animal welfare.
He is CEO of World Federation for Animals and authored ‘Animal Welfare in Veterinary Practice’ and ‘Veterinary Science: A very short introduction’.
