The HSA Staff

Dr Huw Golledge BSc PhD - Chief Executive & Scientific Director

Huw became Chief Executive and Scientific Director of HSA and our sister charity, UFAW in January 2020.

 Prior to taking up the role he was Senior Scientific Programme Manager for the two charities, overseeing many of their scientific activities.

Huw originally studied biology at University College London and then completed a PhD in neuroscience at Newcastle University. During this time, he developed a concern for the welfare of animals used in scientific research and went on to undertake research in laboratory animal welfare, also at Newcastle University. He was a member of the Home Office Animals in Science Committee from 2013-2016.

Huw is a strong advocate of evidence-based animal welfare and it is this that initially drew him to work for the two charities.

He is assisted in his duties by Gerda, the Miniature Schnauzer and Pete the cat.

Outside of work he likes to spend his time in the outdoors, walking and taking photographs.

Dr Birte L Nielsen MSc BSc PhD - Research Director

Birte Nielsen joined HSA in September 2020, bringing with her a wealth of experience and in-depth knowledge to the role as Research Director. During the past three decades, she has worked with rats, growing pigs, dairy cows, broiler chickens and broiler breeders, as well as horses, sows, laying hens and even ostriches, carrying out research in basic and applied ethology and animal welfare.

Her dedication to animal welfare has seen her travel from Edinburgh in Scotland, where she spent eight years, via Denmark to Paris, France where she worked on the links between olfaction, behaviour, and neuroscience. She has been a member of various expert panels and working groups, such as Chair of the Danish Animal Welfare Council. She is a former President of the International Society for Applied Ethology (ISAE), and has been the Independent Chair of the Global Coalition for Animal Welfare (GCAW).

Jane Moorman - Charity Secretary

Jane joined the staff in July 2013 having brought with her cover 25 years’ experience of working with the private and voluntary sector at a senior management level.

Her responsibilities include sound financial management and reporting, property management, legacy administration, contractual negotiations, Charity Commission and Company House compliance, and HR management and guidance.  On a personal level she was brought up in the Brecon Beacons and was an active member of the YFC.  Her links with that community still exist and she is never happier than when visiting friends on their farm.

Charles Mason HND MInstM CF ARAgS - Technical Director

Charlie grew up in the East Midlands, where his parents were in the licensed trade.  One generation removed from farming – his maternal grandfather was a tenant farmer before losing his sight – from an early age Charlie fed calves on the small dairy farm next door to his home and progressed to mixed farm work during the school holidays.  He studied general agriculture at Harper Adams, from where he graduated in 1980.  There followed eight years of milking cows and working with beef cattle and sheep, followed by livestock marketing in both the deadweight and live sectors.

This broad expertise led Charlie to the Humane Slaughter Association, where he has worked full time since 1988, starting as a Technical Officer and progressing to Technical Director in 2001.  Outside work, Charlie maintains a keen interest in farm livestock, being a member of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust and heavily involved with two local agricultural shows.  Charlie is a Member of the Institute of Meat, a Churchill Fellow of 1990 and an Associate Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Societies.

Luisa Teear - Scientific Communications & Outreach Manager

Luisa studied Bioveterinary Science at the University of West England (UWE), followed by an MSc in Veterinary Epidemiology at the University of London (Royal Veterinary College and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine).

It was whist working on research projects investigating methods for reducing the prevalence of disease in pig herds that she found her passion for science communication. Luisa enjoyed explaining the importance of the work to different groups of people including government officials, vets, scientists and farmers.

Having realised where her passion lies, Luisa moved on to work with animal welfare and veterinary organisations, helping them to convey animal health and welfare science to various audiences. Luisa joined the team at HSA and its sister charity, the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) in February 2022.

In her spare time, Luisa enjoys being trained and walked by her four border collies – Penny, Teddy, Roo and Rosie. Once the dogs are happy to rest, she enjoys watching sport (predominantly football and formula one) and musical theatre.

Eilidh Muir BA MCIOF - Fundraising Manager

Eilidh lives in the Highlands of Scotland with three dogs, one cat, eight chickens and four ducks. She joined the HSA and its sister charity the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) in November 2023 and brings more than 15 years of experience in fundraising and events both in the UK and overseas in Australia, the USA and Africa.  She graduated with a BA Law from the University of the West of Scotland in 2007 and has worked in the not-for-profit sector ever since.

Having grown up in a crofting community, Eilidh is passionate about humane slaughter and ensuring that food animals are treated with respect and care.

In her spare time, Eilidh is a keen wild swimmer and enjoys writing poetry, with her first book being published in the next few months!

Dr Susan Richmond BSc MSc PhD - Technical Officer

Susan grew up in a rural area of Fife. She graduated with a BSc (hons) in Biology and Psychology from the University of Stirling in 2009. These years were instrumental in developing her interest in animal behaviour and welfare. In 2010 she seized an opportunity to collect data on the behaviour of wild chimpanzees in Uganda. She returned to the University of Stirling to complete her MSc in Behaviour and Evolution looking at novel practical ways to assess the welfare of primates used in biomedical research. 

While studying in Stirling, Susan took the chance of a placement at Scotland’s Agricultural College/SRUC and The University of Edinburgh to gain experience with livestock. This led on to her PhD project Assessing the welfare of extensively managed sheep: an evaluation of animal-based welfare indicators, which she completed in 2015. 

In October 2015 Susan joined the HSA as a Technical Officer. Susan is particularly interested in helping to organise the HSA’s participation in agricultural shows and other events which engage with the livestock industry. She also undertakes welfare assessments and helps develop HSA guidance and online training materials.

Bethan Apted BA PgCert MScR - Technical Officer

Bethan originally studied Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge, but subsequently went to work in agricultural economics, spending several years analysing market dynamics for the British red meat sectors. During this time, she became keen to be involved with work to improve farmed animal welfare and so went on to undertake a welfare-focused MScR at the University of Bristol. Having spent some time working on poultry welfare standards with another charity, Bethan joined the HSA as a Technical Officer in September 2024.

Bethan is a strong advocate for working with the livestock industry to improve animal welfare in ways that are practical and economically viable. She is particularly keen to undertake welfare assessments and help with industry guidance and training in best-practice handling and slaughter techniques.

In her spare time, Bethan also works as a wedding celebrant and is a keen amateur poler and aerialist.

Marianne Farish BSc (Hons) – Technical Officer

New to HSA in 2024, Marianne is a proud Cumbrian who rough and tumbled round the countryside gaining all manner of animal and farming experience before studying Animal Science at Newcastle in the late 90s. After milking cows and rearing beef calves she found herself enticed by pigs and their curiosity. Over the past 24 years as a Research Assistant and Experimental Manager, Marianne delved deep into animal behaviour and welfare research, specifically piglet survival, improving housing conditions for farrowing sows and pig transport and slaughter work in the UK and EU. She has worked with all manner of livestock species and is a keen chicken rescuer and smallholder. In her spare time Marianne is also a Marine Mammal Medic with British Divers Marine Life Rescue. Marianne now joins the HSA to develop the education and training portfolio.

Dr Tony Hughes BSc PhD - Technical Support (Volunteer)

Sam Griffin – Administrative Officer
Sam is the longest-serving member of staff, having worked for UFAW and HSA for over 39 years. She joined in 1985 before computerisation of our offices and remembers the first computer arriving in 1986. She is responsible for the website, memberships and subscriptions, proof reading, some accounting, conference and symposia bookings and will have a go at more or less anything else that needs doing in the office!

In her limited spare time, she enjoys walking her lurcher and greyhound, looking after her very elderly horses and three cats, as well as hand-rearing and fostering nearly 200 rescue kittens for a local charity. Over the years she has competed across the country with her ponies in both ridden and driving classes and for many years took part in the annual harness horse parade in London. She also enjoys gardening and watching football, especially champions Liverpool, and eating chocolate!

Tina Langford MCICM (grad) – Finance Assistant

Tina joined the charities in January 2019 working part-time, having worked in the ‘not for profit’ sector for 18 years as well as in the private sector.  She has a wealth of experience in a variety of areas within the field of finance and HR. 

Tina is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Credit Management, gaining her degree 25 years ago. Her responsibilities include most areas of financial accounting tasks and office administration and she supports the Charity Secretary and the admin team where needed.

On a personal level she is a lifelong animal lover, having been brought up with a whole array of different animals.  She has particular affections for dogs and horses and supports a Wolf Rescue Centre by adopting one wolf in their pack.  Tina is also an adrenaline junky, completing a number of challenges over the years. For charity, she has taken part in ‘Ride The Night’ 100k cycle twice and trekked to Machu Picchu.