Professor Natalie (Nat) Waran OBE is well respected as an influential animal welfare expert, whose  work has helped shape global animal welfare education, policy and organisational practice. Recently awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the King's Birthday Honours list for her services to equine welfare, research, and education internationally, Nat has created her new venture - Navigate Animal Welfare - to enable her to share her knowledge and experience with others. 

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Educational Leadership and Innovation

One of Professor Waran's most significant contributions to advancing global animal welfare has been through her commitment to animal welfare education. She became the programme director for the first ever, PG Masters in Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare when it was set up at the University of Edinburgh in 1990, and later, as the inaugural Director of the Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, she established what became a world-leading hub for animal welfare education. Her vision extended far beyond traditional academic boundaries, creating animal welfare educational approaches and opportunities that have influenced veterinary and animal welfare curricula worldwide.  As the developer and one of the key lecturers on the University of Edinburgh's massive open online course (MOOC) on animal welfare and behaviour, she democratised access to high-quality animal welfare education globally. This innovative approach to distance learning has reached thousands of students internationally, extending the impact of her educational philosophy far beyond Edinburgh's walls.

She has developed numerous professional development programmes and provided hands-on training for enhancing knowledge and performance within education and research institutes, not for profits and government bodies in many different parts of the world.  

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International Organisational Leadership

Over the past 20 years, Nat has been a member of senior leadership teams involved in organisational transformations in both the UK and New Zealand. She was the international Dean for the veterinary school at Edinburgh University where she developed strategic partnerships for education, research and professional development with Tertiary Institutes, professional veterinary/agricultural/equine organisations, animal related businesses and government bodies in a range of countries including; China, India, Hong Kong, Singapore and others. In her role as Executive Dean at EIT in NZ, she had responsibility for developing and implementing strategy, staff, finances, operations, research and innovation, partnerships, product development and service quality.  In her most recent role as Director of the CANZ Good Life For Animals Centre (a new research and education initiative),  she led the development of an innovative collaborative virtual centre committed to advancing companion animal welfare through evidence-based approaches and community engagement.

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Professor Waran's influence extends through her various governance roles in major international animal welfare organisations as well as other humanitarian NGOs. These include serving as a board member of Brooke (Action for Working Horses and Donkeys) India and Brooke Pakistan, having joined the Brooke Working Equid Charity as Trustee in June 2013; serving as an IFAW UK Trustee,  being Director of SPCA Auckland and most recently serving as the Chair of Companion Animals New Zealand. As a founding member of field of equitation science and the international society (ISES) she has provided strategic guidance as a the senior Vice president, an Hon. Fellow and an an inaugural trustee. In 2022 she completed the NZ Company Directors' Course. 

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Policy Impact 

Professor Waran has led various committees established to review and reform education, research and animal welfare policy and practice. Most recently she was the invited chair of a new FEI appointed Equine ethics and wellbeing commission, established to engage with equestrian stakeholders worldwide to deliver a strategic approach with recommendations to serve as a blueprint for future-proofing equestrian sports. 

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As the world's first Professor of One Welfare, a concept she developed when working in developing countries whilst at Edinburgh University, she was  instrumental in promoting the 'One Welfare' concept whilst in New Zealand. The framework  recognises the interconnections between animal welfare, human wellbeing, and environmental sustainability, and the approach has played an important role in changing how governments and organisations approach welfare policy.

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She has worked with government departments in India, to provide expert advice and professional development to help shape new animal welfare directions and policies, and in ​her NZ Ministerial appt as the Chair of the National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee along with her invited membership on the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee,  her expertise contributes to policy frameworks to safeguard the welfare of animals. 

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Her leadership in the development of strategic policy papers such as the "Good Welfare for Horses" white paper developed for Eurogroup for Animal Welfare, demonstrates her ability to translate scientific findings into comprehensive policy guidance to influence positive change for animals.

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Research Leadership

With over 150 research publications  including more than 6,000 citations of her work, Professor Waran's, and her student and collaborator's research contributions have provided the scientific foundation for evidence-based animal welfare improvements and policy decisions worldwide. She is an invited Hon Professor at various Universities including; Edinburgh, Charles Sturt, Hartpury and EIT. Her research contribution spans farm, companion and laboratory animal behaviour and welfare, with specific expertise in equine behaviour, equitation science, quality of life assessment and human behaviour change for animal welfare. Her lifetime work has directly informed welfare standards and practices across multiple species and contexts. 

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Professor Waran's strength lies not just in her individual achievements, but in her transformative approach to animal welfare research, education,  and policy development. By fostering international collaboration, innovative educational delivery, and evidence-based policy development, she is committed to driving change to improve animal lives globally whilst also developing the next generation of animal welfare leaders.

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