Management Board
CHAIRMAN
NICOLAS DE BRAUWERE BVSc MRCVS
Senior Welfare Veterinary Surgeon, 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
Development Manager, Horses4Homes
Tel:
E-mail: randrevans@tiscali.co.uk
Rebecca is a graduate and has a wealth of equestrian experience having competed at national level for many years. Rebecca has worked in the equine welfare charity sector since 1999 and has been an avid supporter of the National Equine Welfare Council throughout this period. She was a key player in the production, revision and launch of NEWC’s Equine Welfare Guidelines Compendium and continues to promote NEWC to help raise equine welfare standards in the UK. Rebecca stood as Vice Chairman of NEWC from May 2009 to November 2010.
Whilst working as Equine Welfare and Grants Manager at The Horse Trust, Rebecca was responsible for managing a multi million pound programme of welfare grants covering cutting edge scientific research, post graduate scholarships, educational literature and a variety of projects to promote responsible ownership and the welfare of the horse through science and education. If you require advice on seeking funding for your organisation Rebecca has a wealth of experience in this area and would be more than happy to offer support.
Management Board Members
MARTIN TAGGART
Consultant, The Donkey Sanctuary
Tel: 01395 573 025
E-mail: martin.taggart@virgin.net
Having worked with horses in various parts of England for over 30 years, Martin first became active in the field of equine welfare in 1993, joining the NEWC Executive Committee during the early part of 1994. He served on that committee until 1998, when he moved from the equine charity sector. In 2000, following his appointment as Head of Welfare at The Donkey Sanctuary, he once again became active in NEWC committee affairs. 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 or so organisations - both large and small - that range under its banner. Martin is keen to emphasise that NEWC is not a policy making body, although he regards NEWC as being capable of providing a consensus view, following consultation amongst its members. It is in this connection that NEWC is becoming increasingly recognised as the UK’s principal source of balanced, informed comment on all matters relating to equine welfare.
NIGEL YEO
Director of Operations, RSPCA 
Tel: 0300 123 0155
E-mail: nyeo@rspca.org.uk
Nigel has represented the RSPCA on various national initiatives, particularly the EHWS and the Princes Royal’s group looking at equine issues post-Amersham, which was, of course, an RSPCA prosecution.
Nigel would be the first to admit that he has limited equine knowledge but he has considerable experience of a large organisation and the dilemma of competing strategies. Nigel has previously managed a number of national initiatives across England and Wales as a member of the Association of Chief Police Officers. Nigel believes the wider experience he would bring to NEWC, coupled with the size of the organisation that he represents, with its backroom as well as its frontline capabilities, make up for his limited equine experience. Nigel is fully committed to working in closer co-operation with other charities then perhaps has been seen to typify the RSPCA in the past.
LEE HACKETT BSc
Senior Executive Welfare, The British Horse Society 
Tel: 01926 707804
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 two 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.
Senior Lecturer in Animal Welfare, Anglia Ruskin University
Tel: 01223 363271 (ext2614)
E-mail: mark.kennedy@anglia.ac.uk
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. He 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, and to this end serves as a consultant on a number of equine welfare projects.
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 sucessful 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 liasing 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 committment to help NEWC develop its role as the voice for NEWC members.
