AWSC Staff

Prof. Andrew Fisher

Past Director of the AWSC.
Professor, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne,
28 February 1967 - 1 March 2024. 57 years.
We are proud to have called Andrew a colleague, mentor and friend. He is greatly missed.
Details of Andrew's contribution to the welfare of animals and the community can be found below

Vale Andrew Fisher

Dr. Lauren Hemsworth

Senior Research Fellow & Acting Director AWSC, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne. Research interests include the human-animal relationship and its influence on animal welfare and productivity, field welfare assessment in farm and companion animals and developing education programs for recreational horse owners.

Dr. Carolina Hess

Lecturer in Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne. Carolina’s research interests are livestock management, painful husbandry procedures and practice change.

Ms.Lucy Wotherspoon

Research assistant, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne. Lucy provides support for various research projects on pig welfare.

Ms. Rutu Galea

Research Assistant, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne. Rutu assists in the conduct of research projects across animal species.

Mr. Kym Butler

Kym held the position of Senior Biometrician with Agriculture Victoria and he applies biometric analysis to the Centre’s research projects.

Dr. Ellen Jongman

Senior Research Fellow, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne. Research interests include the effect of housing, husbandry procedures and management on the welfare of sheep, dairy cows and companion animals. Remote monitoring of animal welfare indicators is also a focus.

Dr. Peta Taylor

Lecturer Animal Science, School of Agriculture, food and ecosystem sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne. Peta's passions include the behaviour and welfare of production animals, with a particular interest in free-range poultry and effective enrichment.

Ms. Maxine Fogarty

Research Assistant, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne. Maxine directs the conduct of research projects across species and assists in the development of grant applications.

Prof. Paul Hemsworth

Hon Professor, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne. A research career studying the behaviour and welfare of farm and companion animals, particularly examining the influence of the social and physical environment on farm animal behaviour and welfare and the influence of human-animal interactions on animal welfare and productivity.

Mr. Jeremy Skuse

Executive Officer, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne. Jeremy is also Animal Welfare Lead with Scolexia P/L. His Interests include practical assessment of animal welfare, welfare assurance and training programs, including ProHand, which optimise animal welfare.

Dr. Megan Lucas

Research Fellow, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne. Megan’s research experience is in studying the effects of factors such as the human-animal relationship, housing, management practices and early life experiences on pig welfare and productivity. Working within the CRC-P ‘Eliminating pig tail removal to improve welfare and industry sustainability’

Dr. Mia Cobb

Chaser Innovation Research Fellow, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne. Helping dogs live their best lives with us. Research explores human attitudes, housing and management practices, animal behaviour, stress physiology and how animal welfare relates to the sustainability of animal-based industries. Active in science communication, emerging technologies, citizen science, welfare auditing, and all things dog.

Ms. Bronwyn Stevens

Research assistant and sessional teacher, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne. Bronwyn provides a broad range of research and teaching support.

Prof. Grahame Coleman

Hon Professor, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne. Grahame has followed a research career in aspects of human and animal behaviour associated with biological rhythmicity and sleep and changes in stress-related and reproductive hormones. Current research interests focus primarily on human-animal interactions in farm and companion animals and public attitudes to animal welfare.

Dr. Laura Field

Research Assistant, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne. Laura contributes to the Centre's research programs and is especially interested in issues around calves in the dairy industry.