Honorary Professor recognised with OBE for services to equine welfare, research and education. Professor Natalie Waran has been made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the King’s Birthday Honours list. This prestigious award recognises Professor Waran’s services to equine welfare, research, and education across multiple organisations worldwide.This includes her work at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies as inaugural Director of the Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education, and more recently as an Honorary Professor. Welfare specialist Professor Waran is a globally recognised leader in animal welfare science who has been instrumental in developing evidence-based educational programmes that enhance the understanding and assessment of animals' quality of life. She has focused on improving equine welfare through the application of research for ensuring ethical training methods, management practices, and policy development, in a career that has spanned decades, continents, and numerous species. I am deeply honoured to receive this OBE, which I see as recognition of not just of my own work, but also the collaborative efforts of countless colleagues, students and organisations who have worked hard to develop our understanding of horse welfare needs and promote a good life for horses. I'm genuinely grateful to my University of Edinburgh colleagues for their collaborative support over many years, in advancing animal welfare research and education. Professor Natalie Waran Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies Professor Waran’s OBE is well-deserved recognition of the significant contribution she has made to improving animal, and especially equine, welfare through science, education and advocacy. Professor David Argyle Head of College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine About the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies is a one-of-a-kind centre of excellence in clinical activity, teaching and research. Our purpose-built campus, set against the backdrop of the beautiful Pentland Hills Regional Park, is home to more than 800 staff and almost 1400 students, all of whom contribute to our exceptional community ethos. The School comprises: The Roslin Institute The Roslin Innovation Centre The Hospital for Small Animals Equine Veterinary Services Farm Animal Services Easter Bush Pathology The Welfare Centre We represent the largest concentration of animal science-related expertise in Europe, impacting local, regional, national and international communities in terms of economic growth, the provision of clinical services and the advancement of scientific knowledge. Publication date 12 Jun, 2025
