I graduated in 1993 with a science degree majoring in physiology and ecology and in 1997 with a veterinary science degree, both from Massey University in New Zealand. Between 1997 and 2003 I worked in several zoos, wildlife rehabilitation centres and conservation projects in Australia, Thailand and Cameroon. From 2003 to May 2018 I was veterinary officer as part of the Chester Zoo Animal Health team, and as interim clinical manager for 2012. This not only gave me the enhanced clinical skills to provide for the health and welfare for the animals at one of the top zoos in the world, covering almost every taxa, but also introduced me to academia and scientific publishing. I’m a recognised specialist in Zoo Health Management as a Diplomate of the European College of Zoological Medicine. I was the veterinary coordinator for the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance veterinary programme and am currently co-facilitator for the Orangutan Veterinary Advisory Group (OVAG – https://www.ovag.org ). Both these organisations focus on and promote capacity building of local primate and wildlife veterinarians. OVAG won the BIAZA gold award for conservation in 2017. In May 2018, I became an independent wildlife and zoo consultant, with contracts with Wildlife Impact, IUCN, Dubai Safari and others. I am also developing a primate gut microbiome programme with colleagues in the USA, Europe and SE Asia, and continuing my work with PASA, OVAG, Chester Zoo and the Arcus Foundation.
