Management Board
CHAIRMAN
MARTIN TAGGART
Head of Welfare,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.
VICE CHAIRMAN
KERSTIN ALFORD BSc 
Director Equine Welfare Blue Cross
Tel: 01993 825 524
E-mail: kerstin.alford@bluecross.org.uk
Kerstin is responsible for The Blue Cross's dedicated equine rehabilitation centres and for its wider equine welfare activities. The Blue Cross Board of Governors has demonstrated a firm commitment to NEWC activities over a number of years, and fully backs the necessary commitment in time and resources required of a pro-active member of the NEWC Managing Board. She has over 10 years experience in the equine welfare charity sector, managing and delivering practical equine welfare services at both operational and strategic levels, thereby gaining a working knowledge and understanding of equine welfare demands and issues. She brings to NEWC a breadth of applicable skills, including previous experience of marketing and promotion of both new initiatives and established activities, and an up-to-date knowledge of, and a particular interest in, relevant legal issues.
Management Board Members
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 & 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.
IAIN GRAHAM BSc 
Regional Director, British Eventing
Tel: 07702 901 001
E-mail: iain.graham@britisheventing.com
Iain graduated in 1993 with an Honours degree in Pharmacy and followed that up with a Certificate in Veterinary Pharmacy from Queen’s University Belfast in 1997. During his time as a BHS Regional Chairman (Fife 1998 - 2002) Iain filled the role of Welfare officer and built up a good relationship with the ILPH and SSPCA. In 2001 he was taken on as a Technical Advisor for British Eventing and shortly afterwards became the BE Regional Director for Scotland. Iain was then approached to assist with the development of the Scottish Equestrian Association (SEA) and as a member of the Governance and Financial committee helped guide the organisation through a period of change resulting in SEA becoming a company limited by guarantee. He is currently a Director of the SEA Ltd and chairs the Competitions and Facilities committee. March 2007 saw him take up the offer of a full time role with British Eventing as Regional Director covering Scotland and the North of England which along with regional responsibility for affiliated competitions and field staff giving him national responsibility for various areas including Safety, Welfare, Discipline and Rules. As well as experience in various organisational structures and an aim to raise equine welfare awareness in the competitive disciplines He also has experience of formulating and delivering on strategic planning both in the Pharmaceutical and Equestrian fields at UK and Scottish levels.
PROF RONALD JONES OBE, JP, DVSc, FRCA, FRCVS.
Emeritus Professor of Veterinary Anaesthesia
Tel: 0151 653 9008
E-mail: rsj@rsjones.freeserve.co.uk
Ronald Jones graduated as a veterinary surgeon from Liverpool in 1960 and served as House Surgeon to Large Animal Surgery at the Glasgow Veterinary School where he developed an interest in anaesthesia and returned to Liverpool in 1962. He served as Treasurer of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1996 followed by election to President in 1996. He was awarded the OBE for services to veterinary medicine in 1998. He retired from fulll time employment in 2002 but currently teaches in Alfort, Chile, Lyon and Vienna. He is a Magistrate in the City of Liverpool and a member of the Advisory Committee on Magisterial appointments. He was senior veterinary surgeon to Chester Racecourse for 25 years and a casual Veterinary Officer with the Jockey Club and his current veterinary involvement is with the R.A.S.E.as a veterinary officer He undertakes considerable editorial work as Assistant Editor of British Journal of Anaesthesia and is the Editor of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia and sits on the editorial boards of Veterinary Journal. As a means of relaxation he is an ardent supporter of Liverpool F.C. and grows vegetables.
JOANNE WHITE BA 
Director of Campaigns and Communications ILPH
Tel: 01953 497 221
E-mail: joannew@ilph.org
Jo's passions for horses, making a difference and campaigning, have been an enormous aid to her work at the ILPH. Over the past six years she has been directly involved in managing and undertaking work which has achieved a number of important successes, that do, and will continue to have a direct and tangible impact upon equine welfare which include the campaign to end the long-distance transport of live horses for slaughter in Europe, the UK live export campaign, Animal Welfare Act and Project Romania. Jo has over 23 year’s equine experience in a variety of spheres including FE Course Tutor and FE / HE Lecturer for several equine qualifications, editor of a number specialist equine sport magazines and websites, working practically with horses as an Instructor, Rider and Stable Manager and writer, producer and co-ordinator of equine distance learning material. Jo is committed to utilising her skills and experience in order to help NEWC develop a united equine welfare movement, which can truly make a difference to the lives of even more horses, ponies, donkeys and mules. Her expertise includes a sound practical equine background, and a deep rooted understanding of how best to influence Government policy and achieve positive welfare reform. She has a proven track record of gaining public support and changing attitudes through raising awareness of issues, as well as educating those that directly impact upon equine welfare.
