Vanessa qualified as a Veterinary Surgeon from Liverpool University in 2000, spent several years in mixed and then companion animal practice and became interested in animal ethics following her appointment as a Named Veterinary Surgeon.
Vanessa hold an RCVS Certificate in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law, a Master’s degree in medical ethics and Law (distinction) and is a recognised European Veterinary Specialist in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law.
Vanessa was awarded a Clinical Fellowship in Ethics and Society by the Wellcome Trust in 2013 to research the social and ethical implications of applying the medical concept of 'donation' to animals. In this project Vanessa aims to combine her experience as a clinician in the laboratory and her qualitative research skills to explore the nature and role of professional identities in the animal research setting, with a specific focus on the Named Veterinary Surgeon (NVS).