Chairman, Nicolas De Brauwere MRCVS
Head of Welfare, Rehabilitation and Education, Redwings Horse Sanctuary
Tel: 01508 481 006
E-mail: Nde-Brauwere@redwings.co.uk
Nicolas graduated as a veterinary surgeon in 1991 from Onderstepoort in South Africa and has worked at Redwings Horse Sanctuary since then providing clinical services, herd health management, welfare department support and staff training. In 2002 he was appointed Senior Welfare Veterinary Surgeon and has dealt with many individual cases, large scale rescues in Devon, Gelligaer and Lincolnshire, worked with NEWC members – SWHP, EHPPS & World Horse Welfare (the new name for ILPH) and testified in Magistrate and Crown courts for RSPCA prosecution cases. In 2004 he was co-opted onto the NEWC Executive Committee. His interests include the theoretical and practical aspects of working with un-handled, semi-feral equines, finding solutions for equines suffering in private ownership and improving awareness of welfare issues affecting the older and/or un-handled equines by educating owners and colleagues in appropriate solutions to problems. Nic believes that he can assist NEWC to provide meaningful co-operation with other equine charities to tackle issue-driven problems and to improve understanding and communication between vets and welfare workers.
Vice Chairman, Rebecca Evans
Horses4Homes Development Manager, Hauctions
E-mail: vice-chairman@newc.co.uk
Rebecca has been involved with horses since she was 5 years old, competing at National level in her youth. She is educated to post graduate level and has been employed in the equine sector since 1999 following her passion to help disadvantaged horses, ponies and donkeys. She was employed as Equine Welfare and Grants Manager at the Horse Trust from 1999-2010 and was elected onto the NEWC Board in 2009. Rebecca has been an active participant on the NEWC Board throughout her tenure and aims to continue to help the membership to battle the welfare issues that their organisations face through partnership working and reducing the duplication of effort where possible. Rebecca is also keen to improve the effectiveness of existing legislation to protect the horse and where necessary implement self-regulation and develop Codes of Practice to improve industry standards.
During 2011 Rebecca was contracted to work for SEIB for 7 months which gave her a valuable insight into the mechanics of equine business insurance and its related risks. In August 2011 Rebecca started to develop Horses4Homes following her strong belief that something needs to be done to help the ever increasing number of unwanted horses and ponies in the UK spiralling into a cycle of neglect through poor re-homing. By offering a detailed listing and screening process Rebecca hopes to reduce the risks associated with re-homing and eradicate the frequency of owners advertising horses “free to a good home.”
Martin Taggart
Consultant, The Donkey Sanctuary
Tel: 01395 573 025
E-mail: martin.taggart@virgin.net
Martin Taggart has been an active member of NEWC since 1994, serving for most of that time on the Management Board (previously Executive Committee). In 2003 he was elected as Chairman, a position he held for 5 years.
On being elected Chairman in 2003, Martin embarked on a mission to change the NEWC constitution to make its new slimmed down management much more effective and accountable, and to enable NEWC to utilise the wide range of talent that exists throughout the 60 plus organisations – both large and small – that range under its banner.
In March 2011, Martin was appointed as External Liaison Manager at The Donkey Sanctuary; the charity generously donated a large proportion of his time towards the NEWC Management Board, in order to develop a number of projects such as re-drafting the Code of Practice and Constitution, and as Secretariat of the Equine Health and Welfare Strategy. Other projects are in the pipeline.
Martin is keen to continue offering his knowledge and experience to help develop existing projects and new initiatives aimed at providing the most effective means of supporting NEWC members’ efforts to improve the welfare of horses, ponies, donkeys and mules throughout the UK.
Lee Hackett BSc 
Senior Executive Welfare, The British Horse Society
Tel: 02476 840517
E-mail: l.hackett@bhs.org.uk
A background in management – both welfare-specific and in education – has equipped Lee with a number of skills that will prove of great benefit to the National Equine Welfare Council. Lee’s particular strengths lie in strategising and planning as evidenced by the progress that the British Horse Society has made in the field of welfare during his three years of employment. Furthermore, as NEWC continues to expand its role Lee’s public relations skills will come into play, as could his post-graduate equine science qualifications and research experience.
Dr. Mark Kennedy BSc, PhD.
Head of Science, World Society for the Protection of Animals
Tel: 020 7239 0500
E-mail: markkennedy@wspa-international.org
Mark Kennedy’s involvement with horses started when he left school in 1984 and started working in the industry. After gaining British Horse Society qualifications, he ran a riding centre for six months. Having enjoyed working practically with horses, and having gained equestrian skills he still continues to use, Mark decided to embark on a path of academic study of the horse, culminating in his Doctorate from the University of Cambridge (in the field of Animal Behaviour and Welfare). Although his doctoral thesis concerned the social behaviour and welfare of pigs, Mark’s first love and professional interest continues to be the horse. His research interests focus on the effect of traditional and novel management practices on equine behaviour and welfare. Mark has a profound belief that where valid and reliable scientific research identifies management changes which improve the welfare of equines this should be disseminated, to the entire equestrian community, in a user-friendly manner. Mark serves as a consultant on a number of equine welfare projects. In October 2012 Mark was appointed Head of Science at the World Society for the Protection of Animals.
David Boyd
Chief Field Officer, World Horse Welfare
Tel: 01953 498682
E-mail: davidboyd@worldhorsewelfare.org
David Boyd commenced his professional career with horses in 1978 when he joined the Household Cavalry. His last two roles in the Cavalry were as the second in Command of the Blues and Royals Squadron in London and as the Officer Commanding Equitation at the Defence Animal Centre in Leicestershire. These roles demanded high levels of organisation and commitment in overseeing the welfare and care of 200 horses and 100 members of staff. During this period he gained British Horse Society qualifications and was a successful event rider. In 2005 David became a Field Officer with World Horse Welfare and in February 2009 became the Chief Field Officer. This role involves liaising with the fifteen Field officers and many other equine charities to improve horse welfare across the UK. He believes his ‘hands on’ role as Chief Field Officer will bring essential skills and commitment to help NEWC develop its role as the voice for NEWC members.
Steve Carter BEng MBA
National Director for Wales, RSPCA Tel:0300 1238618 E-mail: steve.carter@rspca.org.uk
Steve’s past history includes the RAF Regiment, a Senior Consultant at TA Cook, a Regional Manager at the RSPCA before becoming the National Director for Wales at the RSPCA.
Steve is responsible for the production of the divisional strategy at the RSPCA so that the objectives set out in the Society’s strategic plan are delivered efficiently and effectively in the field.
Steve is also responsible for the integration of the work of the Inspectorate, branches, animal centres and veterinary division so that Officers are able to remove animals from risks of suffering or cruelty and to deal with complaints of cruelty in a timely way.
Steve is an active member of the Chief Executive’s Board at the RSPCA, with corporate responsibility for all decisions and participates in the Society’s strategic planning process; he is also the Society’s Equine Lead.
As a member of the NEWC Management Board Steve believes he can bring his experience as an operational planner to focus on contingency planning that is essential to enable members to work in an efficient and cooperative manner to tackle the serious welfare issues we are all currently facing.