Advisory Panel

From time to time Animal-Free Science Advocacy seeks advice from experts in various disciplines. The following people do not have any decision-making power on Animal-Free Science Advocacy strategies and activities, but have contributed valuable advice from their specific areas of knowledge and expertise, for which we are very appreciative.

Dr Hugo Morandini

Since Hugo’s medical studies in 2008, he has been strongly opposed to the use of animals in laboratory and in scientific research more broadly. He believes that promoting alternatives to animal experimentation, educating people and introducing young scientists to new technological devices is the best way to make rapid changes toward better science.

Hugo previously completed a Bachelor of Psychology, a Bachelor of Neuroscience, and a PhD in Clinical Neuroscience, and feels his extensive study in the medical field, as well as his experience in clinical research, will help Animal-Free Science Advocacy in its endeavour to phase out and stop animal experimentation in Australia.

Glenys Oogjes

BBSc.

Glenys Oogjes is one of Australia’s most experienced and respected animal advocates.

Her interest in animal welfare and work in the field has spanned three decades. She is the Chief Executive of Animals Australia and represents animal advocacy groups on the new Australian Animal Welfare Advisory Committee which provides animal welfare advice to the Federal and State Agriculture Ministers.

Dr Andre Menache​

BSc (zoology), BSc(Hons), BVSc, MRCVS

CEO of Antidote Europe, André Menache is a zoologist and a veterinary surgeon. He has a particular interest in medical law and was instrumental in amending the Declaration of Helsinki.

Dr Menache’s scientific opposition to animal experimentation led him to uncover serious methodological shortcomings in human experimentation (“clinical trials”), about which he has published several papers.

Prof Andrew Knight

BSc (Vet Biol), BVMS, CertAW, DipECAWBM (AWSEL), PhD, MRCVS, pfhea

Andrew Knight is a European Veterinary Specialist in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law; a Professor of Animal Welfare and Ethics at the University of Winchester; and a Senior Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy. He has published extensively on animal issues within both academic and popular media, including a series of youtube videos. His doctorate on animal experimentation and educational animal use formed the basis for his book, The Costs and Benefits of Animal Experiments.

Dr Brett Lidbury

B.Sc, B.Sc (Hons) (Newcastle), PhD (ANU), FFSc (RCPA)

Brett Lidbury is a Science Honours graduate from the University of Newcastle, whom thereafter completed a Ph.D. at The Australian National University (ANU). Since graduation he has conducted research at other Australian universities and in the United States, primarily on virus-host interaction and pathogenesis, while remaining active in university education.

Brett is currently an Associate Professor with The National Centre for Epidemiology and Public Health, where he conducts research through a range of animal alternatives, as well as applying systems biology strategies for fundamental infectious disease research.

Brett is an advisor to the ANU Animal Ethics Committee on animal alternatives,and has established a virtual animal alternatives support unit with the ANU Office of Research Integrity.

Belinda Oppenheimer
BVSc (Hons) MANZCVS

Belinda Oppenheimer is a welfare advocate and practicing veterinarian currently working in primary and referral unusual pet practice. She has a decade of experience in animal shelter and welfare work, and is a veterinary adviser and volunteer for numerous animal advocacy groups. She graduated with honours in her veterinary degree and went on to attain her Membership of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in the field of Medicine and Surgery of Unusual Pets, indicating a high level of knowledge of the biology and care of commonly used laboratory species including rabbits, rats, mice, guinea pigs and ferrets. Her interest in the use of animals in research stemmed from witnessing the use of greyhounds in veterinary education

Prof. Anne Keogh

MBBS MD FRACP

Anne Keogh is Professor in Medicine at the University of NSW, Joint Head of the Clinical Research Program in the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute and the Senior Cardiologist in Cardiac Transplantation at St Vincent’s Hospital.

She is also a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of Physicians, Assistant Editor of the Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation and a member and a Past President of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. Anne is also founder and President of the Pulmonary Hypertension Society of Australia and New Zealand (2011).

Mr Ashwin Kumaria

mbbs bsc akc fzs mrcs frsa

Ashwin is a Registrar Neurosurgeon at the Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK.

He is a Member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.  His surgical and academic interests include traumatic brain injury, cerebral aneurysms and brain tumours.  He has published extensively on in vitro models and high fidelity simulation as alternatives to animal experimentation.

Natalie Lock MSc

As a passionate animal lover, with an embarrassingly big heart, Natalie’s goal is to improve the ethical standards of animal welfare, specifically in the field of animal research. As a bioethicist with a passion for animal ethics, Natalie aims to dedicate her expertise to creating a more ethical, compassionate, and kinder world for animals and humans alike. 

Through her expertise, Natalie has mastered the art of navigating the delicate process of solving complex ethical dilemmas, particularly in the fields of medical research, public health, and animal ethics. She also specialises in research, writing, and critical analyses of ethical, philosophical, and social issues.

This is proven by her work volunteering for Peter Singer (Moral Philosopher and Author), as an assistant writer and researcher. She has developed and written articles on ethical issues for ‘Bold Reasoning with Peter Singer’ on Substack. She wrote an article on animal ethics called ‘Balancing Religious Freedom and Animal Welfare: The Ethical Dilemma of Prior Stunning Laws.

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