Trustees

Mike graduated from Liverpool University and is now Emeritus Professor of Small Animal Medicine at the University of Cambridge and a Life Fellow of St. Edmund's College, Cambridge. He is a former Dean of the Cambridge Veterinary School and was in charge of the small animal medicine and diagnostic imaging services at the Queen's Veterinary School Hospital.

He was awarded the British Small Animal Veterinary Association Woodrow Award in 1986 for outstanding contributions in the field of small animal veterinary medicine and the B.S.A.V.A. Blaine Award for outstanding contributions to the advancement of small animal medicine in 2000. In 2014, he was awarded the World Small Animal Veterinary Association International Award for Scientific Achievement for outstanding contributions by a veterinarian, who has had a significant impact on the advancement of knowledge concerning the cause, detection, cure and/or control of disorders of companion animals. In 2016, he received the Kennel Club International Canine Awards’ Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of a career dedicated to improving canine health and welfare. He was voted Webinar Vet Speaker of the Year in 2015 and 2016 at the Annual Webinar Vet Veterinary Trust Awards. In 2019, he was awarded the B.S.A.V.A Bourgelat Award for really outstanding international contributions to the fields of small animal practice or science in their widest context by a qualified veterinarian.

He has been President of the British Veterinary Radiology Association, President of the British Small Animal Veterinary Association, President of the European Society of Veterinary Internal Medicine and President of the European Board of Veterinary Specialisation. He is a Diplomate of both the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and of the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging and was until recently President of the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. He was awarded the European Board of Veterinary Specialisation Award In 2018, for ‘outstanding contributions to the course of Veterinary Specialisation in Europe’ and has published over 200 articles in journals.

Andrew was Scientific Director and Chief Executive of the Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, from 1988-1999. He was Editor-in-Chief of The Veterinary Journal from 1991-2016 and is now the journal’s Honorary Editor-in-Chief. He served on the Ethics and Welfare Committees of the Zoological Society of London for 20 years and was a consultant for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN. He was Chair of Trustees of the Retired Greyhound Trust from 2008-2015, and has been a trustee of Dogs Trust, SPANA, the Pet Plan Charitable Trust and World Horse Welfare. He is particularly proud to have been a trustee for the iconic Animals in War Memorial in London’s Park Lane.

Andrew was Honorary President of the Anglo-Italian Society for the Protection of Animals from 2017-2022, is Chair of Trustees of the Southern Thailand Elephant Foundation (STEF), and Honorary Scientific Adviser to World Horse Welfare. In 2020, he was elected as a Fellow of the RCVS for meritorious contributions to the veterinary profession.

Graham has been involved with dogs and all things canine throughout his life, being raised in rural Wales where dogs were part of the family.

Graham trained and qualified in construction rising to be a Construction Director of a National Construction Company. In 1990 his entrepreneurial qualities encouraged him to start his own development/construction company which, during the past 30 + years has grown to a multi-million-pound turnover business.

He started breeding and showing dogs in 1965 with interest across many breeds and to date has bred and exhibited many champions.

Graham has combined his dog and business experience to contribute to the canine world in general, being President of the Gundog Society of Wales, the Rottweiler Club of Wales and the Working & Pastoral Breeds of Wales. He is Joint Secretary of The Welsh Kennel Club.

He has served on several Kennel Club Committees including the Crufts Committee, Breed Standards & Stud Book Committee, Disciplinary Committee. He is currently serving on the Show Executive Committee, Judges Committee, and continues to serve as a Kennel Club Board member.

Jennifer was born into a dog loving family and one of her first memories is being sat head height in a pushchair at a Weimaraner breed show! Some years later the family switched to German Wire-haired Pointers which is when her love for competing began. In 2000 she won the KCJO Triathlon and Quadrathon at Crufts. Since then she has continued successfully training dogs in her own right and handling for others.

She also enjoys the administrative side of the dog world and as well as serving as a Trustee to the KCCT is Chief Steward and Vice Chairman of Birmingham National Dog Society and a Group Steward at Crufts. Jennifer is passed to award Challenge Certificates in five gundog breeds.

Outside of work Jennifer spent the first part of her career as Land Agent in the Eastern Region principally dealing with estate management and land disposals and acquisitions. Jennifer now runs her own business offering support and advice to charities, albeit principally land and property owning ones.

Aside from dogs she enjoys time with her young family and bracing walks on the North Norfolk coast.

Rose Smart was CEO of The Kennel Club for 18 years, having been with the Club for several decades.  A lifelong dog lover, Rose has shared her life with pedigree dogs and a number of rescue dogs and is dedicated to work which improves the health and wellbeing of dogs.

During her career Rose established strong, collaborative relationships with welfare and assistance dogs’ charities, served as a member of the Greyhound Forum for several years and was on the Trustee Board of the Animal Health Trust.