The SCAS Board

  • Sir Roger Gale, MP

    PATRON

  • Emeritus Professor Sam Ahmedzai, FRCP FFPM

    HON. VICE PRESIDENT

  • Dr Roger Mugford

    HON. VICE PRESIDENT

  • Dr Elizabeth Ormerod, BVMS CF

    CHAIRPERSON

  • Barbara Cooper, Hon Assoc RCVS Cert Ed Lic IPD DTM RVN

    VICE CHAIR

  • Greg Warman

    TREASURER, TRUSTEE

  • Dr Kris Hill, PhD

    TRUSTEE

  • Dr Clare Thomas-Pino, PhD, SFHEA

    TRUSTEE

  • Dr Evangelos (Vangelis) Diamantakos

    TRUSTEE

  • Victoria Turner

    Administrator

SCAS Working Groups

The SCAS working groups are composed of board members and volunteers, with each group focusing on activities that are central to meeting SCAS’ core aims. The working groups meet every 6 weeks and work together to achieve their individual goals. If you are interested in joining any of the working groups, please send a CV and cover letter to info@scas.org.uk.

  • Research

    Dr. Kris Hill & Dr. Clare Thomas-Pino (Co-chairs)

    Prof. Sam Ahmedzai, Dr. Elizabeth Ormerod, Dr. Helen Winter, Dr. Jon Bowen, Dr. Brinda Jegatheesan, Dr. Roxanne Hawkins, and Dr Helen Tedds.

    The SCAS Research Working Group oversees the selection and administration of SCAS funds to support research into the human-companion animal bond. 

  • Animal Assisted Services & Education

    Dr. Elizabeth Ormerod (Chair)

    Barbara Cooper, Dr. Evangelos Diamantakos, Prof. Jo Williams, Lucy Llewellyn, Tracie Faa Thompson, Jenny Stephany, Jane Fossey, Dr. Jon Bowen, Dr. Clare Thomas-Pino, Dr. Brinda Jegatheesan, Cara Johnston, Ann Radford, Dr. Helen Lewis, Dr. Nieky van Veggel, Debbie Morgan, Victoria Turner, Katie Bristow, and Julie Milsom.

    The Animal Assisted Services and Education Working Group are focused on promoting evidence-based educational resources and developing the SCAS Code of Practice for AAS. 

  • Conference

    Barbara Cooper (Chair)

    Dr. Elizabeth Ormerod. Dr. Kris Hill, Dr. Clare Thomas-Pino, and Victoria Turner.

    The SCAS conference working group is primarily responsible for organising the annual Society for Companion Animal Studies (SCAS) conference, which has been an online event since 2020.

The Communications Team

Dr. Sandra McCune (Chair)
Dr. Kris Hill, Dr. Émilie Crossley, Parizad Baria-Unwalla, Dr. Elizabeth Ormerod, Victoria Turner, Neha Arora and Judith Billingham.

The team of communication officers are responsible for providing strategic content that highlights the interests, activities and achievements of SCAS and its partners to its members and beyond.

Communication volunteers support the main communications team by writing articles for SCAS and working on specific projects related to the promotion of  SCAS values and activities.

Communications volunteers: Dr. Lori Hoy and Anita Franklin

SCAS and Collaborative Working

SCAS embraces collaborative working. Our Working Groups benefit from the expertise of SCAS members representing a wide range of professions, from academia and practice. SCAS also welcomes collaborative working with other organisations. It is currently a member of the International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organisations (IAHAIO), the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC), the Links Group UK, the Animal Welfare Education Alliance (AWEA), Green Care Coalition, and the International Steering Group on Pets in Housing.

 In our parliaments, SCAS is represented in Westminster on the  All Party Group on Animal Welfare and the All-Parliamentary Dog Welfare group (APDAWG) All-party Parliamentary Dog Advisory Welfare Group. In Scotland, SCAS is a member of the Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Animal Welfare.  Animal Welfare | Scottish Parliament Website

SCAS has also been a member of Pet Partners, International Society for Anthrozoology (ISAZ), Latham Foundation, the Pet Health Council, and World Animal Protection (WSPA). Over the years, SCAS has regularly been represented on the Pet Advisory Committee, Pathway, and the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA).

Colin Murray Parkes, SCAS Patron

Colin Murray Parkes OBE 1928-2024

Colin Murray Parkes, internationally recognized as a pioneer in the field of bereavement care, was a SCAS Patron until his death.

His distinguished career spanned over six decades. His contributions, characterized by dedication, empathy, and scholarly rigour, have profoundly influenced the understanding and support of grief on a global scale. He is esteemed among both professionals and volunteers for his significant impact.

He played a crucial role in numerous major national and international disaster responses, including the Aberfan disaster, the Lockerbie bombing, the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York, the Indian Ocean tsunami, and the Grenfell Tower fire. In each instance, he provided compassionate support to bereaved families and professionals.

In 1982, he co-founded the journal Bereavement Care, which has been instrumental in shaping the global discourse on grief. His work at St. Christopher’s Hospice, initiated by Dame Cicely Saunders, led to the establishment of the first hospice-based bereavement service and set the standards for evaluating hospice care.

Colin was a strong supporter of SCAS Founder Dr. Mary Stewart's research into pet loss and bereavement. Her pioneering work led to the development of the Pet Loss Support Service. This was introduced by SCAS in 1994 following years of planning.