Voting Open for New Council Members
Nominees for ISES Council elections 2025
CLICK HERE TO VOTE
Junior Vice President
Membership Secretary
Research Officer
- Patricia Behrens
- Ella Bradshaw-Wiley
- Lauren Maas
- Paul McGreevy
- Anna McVey
- Klára Mikulášková
- Sarah Reega
Education Officer
- Danielle Aamodt
- Lisa Ashton
- Patricia Behrens
- Anni Blanch
- Ella Bradshaw-Wiley
- Kris Hiney
- Lauren Maas
- Eva Marunova
- Klára Mikulášková
- Hanna Sassner
Governance Officer
Media Officer
Nominee Information
Danielle Aamodt
Danielle graduated with a BSc in Equine Studies from Centenary University in New Jersey and then completed a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Murray State University in Kentucky.
With a diverse background in the equine industry and a deep commitment to its sustainable future, Danielle is excited to apply for a position on the ISES Council. She believes that equestrian sport and high standards of horse welfare are not mutually exclusive—but achieving this balance requires education, collaboration, and thoughtful leadership. As the public becomes increasingly concerned with animal welfare, the industry must evolve to maintain its social license to operate, and she hopes to be a proactive part of that shift.
Danielle brings over a decade of experience leading sport development, stakeholder engagement, and educational initiatives. As Director of Driving at the U.S. Equestrian Federation, she led international team efforts and launched successful development programs – she has a keen understanding of the nuances involved in sport programs. Danielle’s teaching experience at Post University, including courses on Equine Business Ethics and Communication for the Equine Professional, reflects her passion for equipping the next generation with the tools to lead ethically and effectively, as well as research properly. And her current role at the Mustang Heritage Foundation demonstrates her dedication to supporting horses in need.
Danielle would bring a strong foundation in project development, communication, and industry insight. More importantly, she brings a commitment to practical, compassionate change—bridging gaps between science, sport, and public perception to ensure a healthy future for horses and the humans who work with them.
Lisa Ashton
With a lifelong dedication to equitation science education, Lisa brings a wealth of experience, innovation, and passion to the role. As a Senior Lecturer at Hartpury University, she teaches across multiple levels, including MSc (Level 7) Applied Equine Cognition and Learning, Level 6 Equine Ethics & Welfare, Level 5 Equine Learning & Cognition, and Level 4 Equitation Science. Her deep expertise is further evidenced by her previous roles as Course Manager and Online Tutor for Equitation Science International, and as Lecturer and Dissertation Supervisor for the MSc in Equitation Science at the University of Edinburgh.
Lisa is an active author and speaker on equine behaviour, welfare, and ethical training. Her recent contributions include the ABRS+ Webinar Series Elevating Equestrian Practices and presentations at the Finding Common Ground Summit and Coaching for the Future Symposium at the Royal Dublin Society, Ireland. She regularly speaks at conferences across the UK, Ireland, Europe, and North America, and consults for leading welfare organisations including Blue Cross, Redwings, The Horse Trust, and Bransby. Lisa also serves as Behaviour & Welfare Consultant for Mount St. John International Dressage Stud.
She is a co-author of the recent publication:
Torell Palmquist, G., Känsälä Alveheim, N., Huot-Marchand, F., Ashton, L., & Lewis, V. (2025). The Role of European Equestrian Institutions in Training Professionals: Outcomes from a Workshop on Horse Welfare in Equestrian Education. Animals, 15(2), 183. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15020183.
Lisa is certified in the Five Domains Model for Welfare Assessment and is the founder of Equicoach.Life, providing online coaching globally. From 2018–2023, she led the 'Espresso with Equicoach' Community of Practice, applying First Principles (ISES) to support professional development.
Having previously served as ISES Education Officer (2008–2012), Lisa is enthusiastic about returning to the role with a vision to bridge science and practice. Her goal is to expand access to equitation science education for professionals, students, riders, coaches, and judges, anchored in First Principles (ISES). She plans to enhance ISES’s educational reach through initiatives like global Communities of Practice, fostering curious and informed equestrians.
Lisa is deeply committed to supporting ISES members in applying First Principles (ISES), advancing high-quality education, and championing equitation science for the welfare of horses and humans alike.
Patricia Behrens
Patricia is a Pharmaceutical Industry Chemist about to retire, but she lives with 32 free horses on a farm since 2007 (part time), and fully since 2015 approx. She interacts with these horses every day and learned to know and listen and care about them in all aspects of their lives. Since 2007 Patricia has been studying all about horses and animal training by force-free methods. Patricia is the administrator of facebook pages (see Patty Behrens, Etólogia y Comunicación Equina, Etólogia Equina) to spread as much as possible about horse welfare. Patricia follows behaviourism, the science of behaviour, theory of knowledge, hooves, diet...biomechanics... animal emotions.... all considered in our interactions with horses. These are all a passion of hers, and spreading knowledge about how horses communicate their emotions and needs with their behaviour...is her mission!
Patricia can spread much English knowledge to Spanish speakers, not just through translation, but because she also loves communicating with humans. Patricia is also a Gestalt Coach (for humans) and has a PG in Marketing as well as a horse psychology diploma, among many others. She has studied cognitive dissonance, cultural resistance to change, etc., and believes she has the knowledge and qualities to do this work with passion and energy. Patricia is passionate about educating people about horses’ capacity to feel, express, learn in kind ways, and about their species specific needs. She wants to help change the world, to make it easier to horses and people live together, without taking their lives away and ignoring their needs and feelings. Patricia would like to use her skills and talents to help people and horses live together.
Anni Blanch
Anni is a well-rounded individual who has benefited from a sound Equine Science education and successfully progressed into a productive period of post graduate study. She has undertaken a Master’s and is nearing the completion of her PhD at Melbourne University researching the health and behaviour of horses after racing.
Anni is passionate about the welfare and wellbeing of horses and the ethical use of horses in sport and recreation. She has taken any opportunity to participate in research and industry facing activities to help improve equine welfare. Anni helped with the coding of survey responses to the FEI wellbeing commission initial survey. More recently she assisted in running the first symposium in the ethical framework of using animals in sport at Melbourne veterinary school with visiting academic Professor Madeline Campbell.
Anni is passionate about education and evidence based training within the equine industry, and regularly shares the knowledge she has gained with industry participants. As a person with experience of training and competing in multiple equestrian disciplines such as Pony Club, Dressage (FEI PSG), Racing (Trainer) and more recently driving, Anni has the potential to really drive 'education' within ISES forward. Anni is committed to the care of horses as they enter their golden years. Anni is clearly dedicated to making the world a better place for horses, and horse use more ethical and sustainable, and as such, recognises that the most effective way of doing this is via the next generation of equine and equitation scientists, and equestrians. Anni is currently assisting first year equine science students to develop their academic skills and thirst for knowledge around all things equine, particularly welfare related.
Colleen Brady
Dr. Colleen M. Brady is an exemplary candidate for the position of Media Officer for the International Society of Equitation Science (ISES). With a distinguished career spanning over two decades, Dr. Brady has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to disseminating research information to the equestrian community and beyond. Her extensive background in animal sciences, coupled with her dedication to improving animal welfare through education and research, makes her an ideal choice for this role.
Dr. Brady's academic journey began with a PhD in Animal Sciences from Michigan State University, followed by a series of influential academic positions at Purdue University, where she currently serves as a Professor in the Department of Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication. Throughout her career, Dr. Brady has been a prolific researcher and educator, focusing on equine welfare and the broader implications of human behavior change on animal welfare.
One of Dr. Brady's most significant contributions to the field is her research on human behavior change to improve animal welfare. Her work has explored various aspects of animal welfare, including the welfare of horses, pigs, and laboratory animals. Notably, her research on "rat tickling" has provided valuable insights into how positive human-animal interactions can enhance the welfare of laboratory rats. This innovative approach to animal welfare research underscores Dr. Brady's commitment to improving the lives of animals through evidence-based practices.
In addition to her research, Dr. Brady has been a tireless advocate for the dissemination of scientific knowledge to the equestrian community. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and presented her findings at national and international conferences, ensuring that the latest advancements in equine science are accessible to horse owners, trainers, and enthusiasts. Her dedication to education is further exemplified by her involvement in various professional organizations, including the Equine Science Society and Extension Horses, Inc., where she has held leadership positions and contributed to the development of educational resources.
Dr. Brady's commitment to equine welfare and education has been recognized through numerous awards and honors, including the Outstanding Educator Award from the Equine Science Society and the Fellow Award from the Equine Science Society.
Currently serving as the Interim Media Officer for ISES, Dr. Brady has already demonstrated her ability to effectively manage the society's communication channels. Her vision for the role of Media Officer includes leveraging digital platforms to enhance the reach and impact of ISES's educational initiatives, ensuring that the society remains at the forefront of equitation science.
Colleen Brady's career-long commitment to disseminating research information to the equestrian community, her innovative research on human behavior change to improve animal welfare, and her proven leadership in media and communication make her an outstanding candidate for the position of Media Officer for the International Society of Equitation Science. Her passion for equine welfare and education, coupled with her extensive experience and expertise, will undoubtedly contribute to the society's mission of promoting equine welfare through science and education.
Ella Bradshaw-Wiley
Ella Bradshaw-Wiley is deeply committed to promoting ethical, evidence-based horse training throughout her academic and professional career. As a PhD candidate, her research explores how different training methods influence learning speed, behaviour and the horse-human relationship. She aims to bridge the gap between scientific research and practical application, ensuring training approaches optimise both horse welfare and behaviour.
With experience as both an educator and an equestrian, Ella is passionate about making scientific knowledge accessible to riders, trainers and industry professionals. She achieves this through academic work, social media content creation and industry collaborations, actively advocating for training practices that prioritise horse welfare and effective communication. Her dedication to this cause is reflected in her long-standing involvement with ISES, including serving as an organising member for the 2024 ISES New Zealand conference and receiving the 2018 ISES Student Travel Grant to attend the Rome conference.
Beyond research and outreach, Ella has extensive experience in administrative tasks through her professional and volunteer roles. These experiences have strengthened her organisational, project management and communication skills-critical for effectively supporting both the ISES Council and its members.
Ella is eager to further ISES's mission by fostering discussion, promoting research dissemination and encouraging the practical adoption of equitation science. Through her expertise, outreach experience and enthusiasm, she hopes to expand the society's influence and inspire the equestrian community to embrace scientifically informed, ethical training practices.
Jill Humphreys
Jill’s experience and knowledge of governance structures and practices in combination with her passion for learning how to improve horse welfare can support and contribute to the mission of ISES. Jill is a life-long, horse owner, riding often and mostly recreationally. She is a recently retired Executive Officer at the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), the statutory authority for regulating health practitioners in Australia. Jill developed policy for, and administered, the ministerially-appointed Physiotherapy Board of Australia and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia for 13 years. Jill’s role included ensuring appropriate governance of those two National Boards so that their decisions and policies were fair, transparent and accountable. She is a proud 2023 graduate of the Diploma of Equitation Science (10872NAT), a passionate follower of equitation science principles and practices and tries to encourage everyone to adopt them, whatever their standard or involvement with horses. Jill believes that the timing of producing effective policy for such critical issues as social license and the horse industry in all its facets, is now. She understands the importance of maintaining clear, transparent policy and procedure that supports the work of the ISES Council.
Cathrynne Henshall
Dr Cathrynne Henshall is a Post-Doctoral Fellow and Lecturer in Equine Science at Charles Sturt University and the current Membership Secretary of ISES. She is actively involved in a range of research projects of direct relevance to industry contexts, such as the Thoroughbred, rodeo and competition horse industries. In addition to publishing cutting edge research on horse welfare, equine cognition and learning, Cathrynne has been a guest lecturer on a range of topics at universities in UK and Australia as well as animal welfare organisations such as the RPSCA. She has worked as an educator in vocational sectors teaching equine studies and livestock welfare to industry workers. She also has experience in animal welfare law enforcement on behalf of government. She is a past event manager of the Adelaide International Horse Trials three-day event, managing a team of over 40 staff and volunteers. She has extensive real-world experience, having developed her own horse training and coaching business to help horse owners apply ISES training principles and research findings in their daily practice. This breadth of experience in research, organisational leadership, industry and everyday application of science, and her academic background makes Cathrynne an excellent candidate for the Junior Vice President (JVP) role.
Since joining the Council in 2021, first as Practitioner Representative, and then appointed as Membership Secretary, Cathrynne has been an active and conscientious member of Council, regularly volunteering to take on additional duties beyond those of her designated role. In collaboration with our existing JVP, Cathrynne was instrumental in the development of our soon-to-be-released updated strategic plan - a bold and ambitious plan for the future for the society – and has demonstrated the ability to think innovatively and strategically to address the challenges and opportunities for the future of ISES and the key role it plays in the equine world. If elected to JVP, Cathrynne is ideally positioned to help implement the new strategic plan, improving horse welfare by bridging the gap between science and practice.
As part of the ISES Council, Cathrynne has been a key contributor to the success in growing membership - bedding down the new membership system - streamlining and improving processes and governance. She has actively contributed to recent innovations, such as the inclusion of member presentations at the annual AGM to showcase the work of our members and continue sharing equitation science research in support of the Society’s vision. Throughout, Cathrynne has demonstrated not only the ability to work collaboratively with the Council team but also how to translate ideas into a thriving reality.
Cathrynne has the skills and capacity to competently assume the additional duties of the JPV role and make ISES a major focus of her work. Cathrynne is strongly committed to the fundamental principles of ISES as a learned Society - that places rigorous science and its outputs at its core. She is also passionately committed to working with the diverse sectors of industry - from pony club riders to elite competitors - to translate science into beneficial real world outcomes, so that horses and their people will benefit now and into the future. At a contentious and important time for the use of horses and their welfare, there are many challenges and opportunities for ISES. While recognising the importance of past contributions of others, Cathrynne’s commitment and clear vision for the next stage of ISES include continuing to build on our solid foundations, staying bold, innovative, uncompromising and transparent in sharing our science to engage, educate and influence the wider equestrian community, supporting the next generation of equitation science researchers and continuing to develop strategies to collaborate with our industry members.
Kris Hiney
Dr. Kris Hiney is a distinguished Associate Professor and Equine Extension Specialist at Oklahoma State University, with a profound commitment to enhancing equine welfare and educating the horse-owning public. With a PhD in Animal Science from Michigan State University, Dr. Hiney has dedicated over two decades to advancing equine nutrition, exercise physiology, behavior, and training.
Her extensive experience includes leading the equine extension program at Oklahoma State University, where she has developed and disseminated vital research and educational tools aimed at improving horse welfare. Dr. Hiney's notable contributions include the RAiSE (Recognizing Affective States in Equine) project, which has significantly impacted the understanding and recognition of equine emotional states among horse owners and professionals.
Dr. Hiney's commitment to horse well-being is evident through her numerous peer-reviewed publications and successful grant acquisitions, such as the Morris Animal Foundation grant for improving equine welfare. Her work has consistently focused on practical applications that enhance the lives of horses and their owners, making her a respected figure in the equine science community.
As an educator, Dr. Hiney has excelled in her role, earning accolades such as the 2023 Outstanding Educator Award by the Equine Science Society. Her leadership in various professional committees, including the Equine Science Society and Extension Horses, Inc., underscores her dedication to advancing equine education and welfare.
Dr. Hiney's expertise, passion for horse well-being, and commitment to educating the horse-owning public make her an exemplary candidate for the position of Education Officer at the International Society of Equitation Science. Her vision and experience, as well as her enjoyment in translating the most recent scientific information on improving the welfare of the horse to be understandable and obtainable by the general public, will undoubtedly contribute to the society's mission of promoting equine welfare through science and education.
Lauren Maas
Lauren recently returned to school in the autumn of 2024 and is in her first year of vet school at the Royal Veterinary College in London. Prior to vet school, she completed a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science (2018) and a Master of Science in Animal Biology (2024) at the University of California, Davis. During the years between her degrees, Lauren worked in the industry as a riding instructor and trainer, focusing primarily on Thoroughbreds and their transition from the track. That experience shaped her understanding of the profound impact that science-based, ethical training can have—And what a difference it can make in the life of a horse if owner, trainer, and veterinary team are on the same page.
Lauren’s decision to pursue veterinary medicine was directly inspired by the horses she encountered through her business—many of whom were initially misunderstood, chronically stressed, and ultimately sidelined by lameness and/or behavior their owners found "undesirable".
In addition to her industry and academic experience, Lauren has a strong interest in communication and outreach. She has experience managing social media for nonprofit organizations, CANTER California and the National Association of Equine Associated Academics (NAEAA), where she focused on sharing educational content, expanding public engagement, and fundraising. Lauren also has a passion for research and education that was developed during her time in graduate school, where she researched arrhythmogenesis and cardiac disease processes in horses and had the opportunity to work as a teaching assistant in the Animal Science department—an experience that deepened her appreciation for the scientific process and its translation into meaningful, real-world impact that benefits the welfare of horses.
Lauren is particularly interested in contributing to the ISES council in a capacity where her background in research, education, and media can be most valuable.
Eva Marunova
Eva feels her passion about improving the welfare of horses through education based on the principles of equitation science is a perfect fit for the role of Education Officer. Eva is an accredited equestrian coach based in the UK as well as a lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University. In both her roles, Eva integrates the principles of equitation science into every aspect of her teaching, ensuring that riders and students develop a critical, research-informed approach to equestrian practice. Eva’s goal is to empower equestrian professionals and horse owners with the knowledge and ethical foundation needed to shape a progressive and welfare-focused industry. Drawing upon her extensive experience in designing and delivering educational content to diverse audiences, both in academic and practical settings, she looks forward to making a meaningful contribution to the society’s mission as an Education Officer.
Paul McGreevy
Paul McGreey, BVSc, PhD, FRCVS, is a veterinarian and ethologist and a founding member of the International Society for Equitation Science (ISES), who is also an Honorary Fellow of the Society in recognition of his contribution to equitation science. He has a long history researching and advocating for the welfare of domestic horses, work that he is actively involved today. He is the author of over 300 peer reviewed scientific publications and seven books. He conducted some of the earliest research on the functional significance of stereotypic behaviour in stabled horses during his PhD, and since then his publications and work communicating horse welfare and equitation science have contributed to the increasing awareness of the horse welfare issues in the wider equestrian community. In collaboration with other ISES members, Paul has contributed to a number of ISES position statements, the Training Principles and in many other ways.
In addition to his own research work, Paul has been an enthusiastic supporter of many researchers, both young and old, who actively and enthusiastically seek research opportunities and grants as well as opportunities to showcase their work in academic and industry settings. That support is associated with a number of successful research careers in equitation science.
After a lifetime of research and contributing to equitation science, Paul is very well placed to contribute to ISES in the next phase of its history. His skills and insights are particularly relevant to Research Officer role, specifically how the design and practice of equitation science research can continue to develop and grow, the evolving challenges of the modern research environment in the light of uncertain funding, identifying research opportunities, supporting young researchers and the role of equitation science output to support horse owners and the industry as a whole to make good choices for horses to safeguard their welfare.
Anna McVey
Anna has spent nearly two decades straddling the worlds of documentary production and passionate equine researcher. She is educated to Masters level in Clinical Animal Behaviour and went on to publish her research on equine social learning in a peer-reviewed journal. Anna carried out her research at a well-known horse charity and spent many hours sat in a Norfolk field, observing herds of rescue ponies, before conducting detour tasks with a group leader demonstrator. Her primary focus has always been to improve equine welfare through improving the horse/human relationship and the use of evidence-based research to improve management practices. Anna’s strong scientific grounding provided the knowledge, but her life experience has taught her that it takes more than knowledge to promote change. This is what drove her to complete her Masters – to improve her skills empowering people, listening, understanding human behaviour change models and ultimately becoming an advocate for horses worldwide. During her MSc, Anna developed the practical skills to take detailed case histories, assess equine behavioural 'issues' and devise ethical, evidence-based treatment plans.
The roles of media/research officer are of particular interest because Anna has 17 years’ experience producing science documentaries for major broadcasters including the BBC, National Geographic, Netflix, Apple+ and Disney+. Throughout her career Anna has developed excellent contacts and worked with scientists, local communities, A list celebrities and produced content on every continent across the globe. Anna has been fortunate enough to work with a diverse array of cultures and spent time living with the Maasai and San People (ancient hunter gatherers). This has given her a unique perspective on life and also first-hand experience of the difficulties they face – for example in human/lion conflict. Anna has witnessed the resilience of local communities and how they are absolutely integral to the success of any wildlife conservation project. This is a valuable lesson she has taken with her when considering our relationship with equines.
Throughout Anna’s broadcast career her duties have included researching/writing scripts. These scripts must be evidence-based, factually accurate, balanced and with ethical storytelling at the core. Alongside documentary release she has written press releases and dealt with media outlets to promote the films. A key skill required in her job is stakeholder management for a vast array of internal and external stakeholders. She has also developed leadership skills (leading film crews in remote/hostile environments), relationship building (based on trust, integrity and honesty), is a great team player (an absolute must when filming in difficult conditions) and has a passion for working with both people and animals. In Anna’s academic career she has learned how to interrogate science papers, evaluate research methods and develop critical thinking.
Fundamentally, Anna cares deeply about both horses and people. Her career has combined rigorous scientific enquiry with impactful global storytelling. She is particularly interested in the media/research officer roles because she strongly believes impactful, evidence-based communication is essential to improving horse welfare worldwide. Anna’s blend of academia, professional media expertise and direct experience with diverse cultural perspectives enables her to effectively bridge science and practice. Serving on the ISES council would allow Anna to further support the critical dialogue necessary for advancing equitation science and positively influencing horse welfare worldwide through supporting the mission of ISES.
Klára Mikulášková
Klára was the ISES Communications Officer (2018-2022) before her maternity leave. In this role she was taking care of the website, and later on, she started the Instagram platform for ISES.
After her graduation with a PhD in 2022, Klára worked as a research assistant at the Ethology department at Institute of Animal Science (VUŽV) in Prague and also as an external teacher for the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CZU). Klára had experiences with internships abroad (Copenhagen University, Aarhus University, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences) and with a collaboration on a project with Janne Winther Christensen, Maria Vilain Rørvang, and Aleksandra Górecka-Bruzda.
Klára always wanted to be a part of the horse industry from a different perspective, therefore she also teaches practical lessons at the high school focused on race horse training (Střední škola dostihového sportu a jezdectví) in Prague. In her free time, Klára enjoys working with young horses and helping people to understand horse behaviour as a consultant.
Sarah Reega
Sarah is a member of the ISES 2025 Organising committee and has shown sound progression in all things Equitation Science since her academic career – spanning undergraduate research, Masters and PhD, and shortly will be commencing a post-doctorate position at Purdue University. Sarah has a valuable interest in horse-human interactions with a strong focus on the rapidly growing, and concerningly unregulated in some parts of the world, discipline of equine-assisted services since her undergraduate career. Sarah is an exemplary Equitation Science Research scientist, addressing real-world questions and gathering data from authentic field-based settings. She competes in eventing and at the highest national level of endurance. Sarah is also an Advanced Level Therapeutic Riding instructor through the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International, alongside other certifications in equine-assisted services. Sarah has made significant contributions to industry practice through her studies, additional qualifications and equestrian activities. Sarah is an excellent communicator, well-able to deal with challenging discussions and extremely committed, diligent and timely in all she tackles.
Hanna Sassner
Hanna Sassner, PhD is an applied ethologist with research experience in equine behaviour, welfare and management. She has a combination of academic expertise as well as many years of experience of equine science education both at academic level (BSc Equine Science) and in practitioner focused settings at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and at the Swedish National Equestrian Centres. Her teaching spans from trainer education to supervising PhD-students. She has published several popular texts on equine behaviour and welfare and has consistently demonstrated her ability to communicate complex scientific concepts in accessible and engaging ways. Her contributions to workshops, symposia and outreach activities on equitation science reflect an understanding of the needs of the society. As Education officer, Hanna would bring creative and strategic insight to the role and her vision include development of educational resources and promoting the implementation of scientific theory and principles into practice both on FEI level and in the stable.
Nat Waran
Natalie is an internationally recognised animal behaviour and welfare scientist based in New Zealand. She has an exemplary education in animal behaviour and welfare which has culminated in the education of many of today's leading animal welfare scientists and equitation scientists. She supervises undergraduates and postgraduates across a wide range of disciplines and is a genuine mentor of early and mid-career educators, and indeed professorial peers. She has had an impressive career bringing sound animal (and especially equine) welfare science principles into allied disciplines, e.g., veterinary science, and into the professional and practicing world. She was one of the co-founders of Equitation Science as a discipline and of ISES as a forward thinking learned society, and set ISES firmly on its path, writing the original ISES Strategic Plan. Natalie has been the voice of reason within ISES from its inception but never had the opportunity to be the Honorary President, being appointed to the SVP position in the inaugural Council for this very reason. She always has a vision and succeeds in bringing these to light in an authentic, meaningful way to benefit both horse and human kind. She is currently the director of Companion Animals New Zealand's new ‘A Good Life for Animals Centre’ which focuses on animal welfare research and human behaviour change and is a world-leading collaborative centre of excellence. Her knowledge, expertise and skills in governance are recognised by her various national and international appointments. Since 2021 she held the ministerial appointed Chair for the New Zealand National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee (NAEAC) and is also an active and progressive member of the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC). Natalie has advocated for a Good Life for Horses through her impressive career. She has made immeasurable changes to horses globally, in line with the ISES Mission, being invited by the FEI to Chair a new Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission in 2022. Natalie has been the chair/co-chair of several ISES international conferences (2012 Edinburgh, UK; 2017 Wagga Wagga, Australia; 2022 Online and 2024 New Zealand), in addition to contributing to numerous scientific committees since 2005. She is currently an ISES Honorary Fellow and was a previous Trustee of the society.
