Sadly this month, we are saying good bye to Prof Nat due to her family’s decision to
return to New Zealand.
Prof Nat was invited to return to Edinburgh in early 2011 (after 6 years of working in
New Zealand) to lead the development of the newly-established Jeanne Marchig International
Centre for Animal Welfare Education (JMICAWE) within the Royal (Dick) School of
Veterinary Studies. The creation of such a unique entity was made possible due to the
generous support and vision of the late Madame Jeanne Marchig and the Marchig
Trustees.
During the last five years, Prof Nat has led the Centre’s work in building some
influential and positive relationships with Governments, Universities, Professional
organisations and NGOs, in different parts of the world. Working with our various
partners has led to whole array of different initiatives related to improving animal and
human welfare using a ‘One Welfare’ approach. Last year, we were fortunate to secure
the continued commitment of the Marchig Trust to ensure the future operation of the
Centre, and so we look forward to deepening and widening these relationships over
the coming years.
However having spent 5 years leading the Centre as the inaugural Director and
travelling to many parts of the world to work with some great collaborators, Prof Nat
has now made the decision to return to New Zealand, where she and her family
(including three dogs, three cats and two horses) will enjoy reconnecting with the
country that they call home.
She will take up her new position as Professor of ‘One Welfare’ and Executive Dean for
Education, Humanities and Health Science at the Eastern Institute of Technology in
Hawkes Bay on October 3rd 2016 and she says that she is certainly planning to remain
involved with the Centre’s work and welcomes continued contact with you all.
Prof Nat Waran says:
‘The last 5 years have certainly been challenging but also wonderfully rewarding.
It has been a huge privilege to work with all of my colleagues overseas, without
whom the work we do would not be possible. I am extremely grateful to the
Marchig Trustees and the University of Edinburgh for trusting me to lead the
development of the Centre, and the initiatives and activities aimed at bringing
about positive changes for animals, through engaging with national and
international stakeholders involved in veterinary education, policy and animal
welfare practice. It has certainly been life-changing for me, and I know that this
has also been the case for many of the people we have reached so far; not just the
veterinary and masters students studying in Edinburgh, but also the wider
international community we work with and reach through our various online
programmes. I know that there is still much to do, but I hope that the work I have
been honored to play a part in developing, will continue to grow and influence
future generations of vets, as well as the thinking and practices of policy makers
and animal carers in places where animals suffer daily, and in parts of the world
where changes in attitudes and behaviour are essential if people are to
understand why improving conditions for animals is so important for both animal
and human health and welfare. I will miss working closely with my wonderful
team, but will certainly be staying involved with the Centre in my role as Hon
Professor for Animal Welfare, and I look forward to seeing how things develop
further with all that the opportunities that a new leadership will bring’.
Prof Nat’s position as Director of the Centre will be taken up by her Edinburgh
colleague, Professor Cathy Dwyer. Prof Dwyer is an esteemed animal welfare
researcher and she is already involved in a number of the existing JMICAWE projects
and is looking forward to introducing herself to you all in due course.
Nat will be leaving us on the 22nd September 2016 and we hope you will join us in
thanking her for all that she has done and wishing her and her family all the best for
their future life in NZ, ‘The land of the long white cloud’
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