Natalie Cook

Natalie completed her post-graduate degree in International Animal Welfare Ethics and Law from Edinburgh University, having first completed a degree in Applied Animal Behaviour and Training.

After completing her undergraduate degree, Natalie spent three years in Singapore, working at a wildlife charity, Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres). During this time, she conducted a number of large scale projects, including a country wide Zoo Animal Welfare Check in Malaysia; advocating for change with the Malaysian government officials resulting in nationwide change of welfare standards, training of zoo staff. Her work investigating the illegal trade in tiger parts in Singapore resulted in a significant decrease in the number of shops selling parts.

For the past ten years, Natalie has worked as a Civil Servant, first as an animal behaviour and welfare scientist and then as a policy official in central government. In her current role, Natalie is the policy lead for working dogs, in this role she develops standards pertaining to the welfare, training and accreditation standards of working dogs, working closely with police and military colleagues. She is the author of the Working Dog Strategy used within government and oversees a large scientific programme. She is Chair and member of a number of cross-government working groups and governance boards.