Prominent British animal scientist Clive Phillips has been appointed the University of Queensland’s (and Australia’s) first Professor of Animal Welfare.
The creation of the first academic position of its type in Australia has received national support from governments, rural industry, the Australian Veterinary Association and animal welfare groups including the RSPCA.
An international search filled the key position following substantial funding commitment from Federal and State Governments last year.
Professor Phillips will take up his post later this year within the Faculty of Natural Resources, Agriculture and Veterinary Science and will be based primarily at the University’s Gatton campus.
Since 1995 he has been a member of the Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine at the University of Cambridge where he co-founded the Farm Animal Epidemiology and Informatics Unit in 2000.
Prior to joining Cambridge, he spent five years at the University of Wales and has held visiting professorial appointments at Universities in Chile and Hungary.
Professor Phillips completed an Honours degree in Agricultural Science at the University of Reading in 1980 and a PhD in Animal Science at the University of Glasgow in 1983.
He has had a long-standing interest in farm animal behaviour and welfare and has published widely.
Professor Phillips will give the University of Queensland a unique position in Australia with independent expertise in the animal welfare field.
The new Chair will play a key role in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching through the Schools of Veterinary Science and Animal Studies.
The position will also develop programs to help educate the general community and facilitate leading research into a range of animal behaviour and welfare issues.
UQ School of Veterinary Science head Neil McMeniman said the establishment of the Chair reflected the increasing importance of animal welfare issues in Australian society.
“It will be a valuable teaching asset to the University while also bringing very well-credentialed expertise to research key welfare issues,” Professor McMeniman said.
“The support of governments, institutions and major rural groups for this University initiative has been most encouraging.”
A large funding commitment by peak industry body Meat and Livestock Australia would support a range of important research including an early focus on the significant live animal export trade.
The Hhad of the School of Animal Studies, Professor Wayne Bryden, said the appointment of Professor Phillips would enhance the University’s reputation.
“It will add significant value to the animal studies program at UQ Gatton,” he said.
“His background at Cambridge will be a real asset to animal welfare research in the Faculty.”
Media: For more information, contact Professor Neil McMeniman (telephone 07 3365 2784), Professor Wayne Bryden (telephone 07 5460 1257) or Anthony Smith (telephone 0409 265 587).
