Pet Food & Nutrition Course

Michael Bellingham

Chief Executive, UK Pet Food

Michael joined UK Pet Food in 2004. Before that he worked in both retail and food trade associations in the UK. In 2000 he moved to Brussels to run a European cereals association, which focused on international trade issues. As well as looking after the UK Pet Food Executive Committee, which has financial and strategic oversight of UK Pet Food, Michael also runs the Fish and Raw Pet Food Groups. He is Chairman of National Pet Month, a charity which promotes positive messages on human-animal bond. Michael has a degree in Politics from Durham University and an MA in European Studies from South Bank University. 

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Dr Marge Chandler

Dr Marge Chandler is an independent consultant in small animal nutrition and internal medicine, Clinical Nutritionist for Vets-Now Referrals, Glasgow, and Internal Medicine Specialist for Moorview Referrals in Newcastle. She has a BS from California State University, and a MS (Animal Nutrition) and DVMfrom Colorado State University (CSU). After several years in mixed practice, she did residencies in small animal medicine and clinical nutrition at CSU and Massey University, NZ. She is a diplomate of ACVIM and ACVN, member of the ANZCVS (SAM), Chair of the FEDIAF Scientific Advisory Committee, founding member of the European Veterinary Nutrition Educators Group, and Co-Chair of the WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee.

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Dr Alex German BVSc(Hons), PhD, CertSAM, DipECVIM-CA,

Alex German holds the position of Royal Canin Professor of Small Animal Medicine at the University of Liverpool.  He qualified with honours from the University of Bristol in 1994, and completed his PhD at the same institution in 2000.  He is a Diplomat of the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Recognised Specialist in Internal Medicine, a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.  His main clinical and research interests are obesity biology, prevention of chronic disease and the promotion of healthy growth.

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Alana Harvey-White

UK Pet Food Chair of Additives & Undesirable Substances Committee, Commercial Manager Pet & Equine at Cargill

In 1994 Alana graduated from University of Nottingham with a BSc in Agricultural & Food Sciences, specialising in animal physiology & nutrition.  She then spent time following her passion for horses in the UK & the USA.  In 1998 Alana joined the NuTec in a technical role.  During her 22 years with the company, now being part of the global company Cargill, Alana has covered many roles within the company, including quality, customer services, regulatory & account manager. 

As well as her commercial role, Alana works closely with numerous trade associations.  As well as being the UK Pet Food Chair of Additives & Undesirable Substances Committee, she is AIC Chair of Premix & Mineral Feed Committee, a member of the BETA Feed Committee & a member of the BAFSAM Regulatory & Technical Committee. Outside of her work, Alana is a keen horse rider and currently competes her ex-racehorse in dressage (dancing horses).

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Donna Holland

Technical and Regulatory Affairs Manager, UK Pet Food

Donna Joined UK Pet Food in May 2023 as Technical & Regulatory Affairs Manager in her 30th year working in the pet food industry. Previously her focus within manufacturing has been on the industrialisation and technical developments of new products and process, always ensuring pet food safety, quality, and compliance.

With UK Pet Food Donna will look after all technical and regulatory issues, acting as an intermediary between Government and the industry, and providing advice to members. Donna co-ordinates the technical and regulatory working groups at UK Pet Food as well as the quarterly Technical Review Committee.

Sarah Hormozi

Head of Science & Education, UK Pet Food

Sarah has an MSc in Animal Nutrition from the University of Nottingham and oversees all scientific communications and educational initiatives at UK Pet Food, including running conferences, speaking at external events, and designing educational tools. Following her graduation with a BSc in Zoology (2007) Sarah worked in a small animal practice in her native Iran, advising pet owners and assisting vets during treatments and operations.

Since joining the UK Pet Food in 2011, she served the organisation in a number of different roles, initiating several new projects, including the launch of UK Pet Food: Pet Food and Nutrition Course. Sarah is proud to have Levin, a handsome Shetland sheepdog.

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Dr Christine Huggett

Founder & Director of The Pet Food Consultant, The Pet Food Consultant

Christine graduated from the University of Nottingham with a Degree in Animal Sciences, followed by a PhD in Nutritional Biochemistry.  She joined the pet food industry over 30 years ago and during this time has worked for several multinational pet food manufacturers and independently as “The Pet Food Consultant”.

Most of her time has been spent in Research & Development (R&D), designing, formulating, and developing diets. Whilst working predominantly in the arena of dog and cat nutrition, her expertise and passion for rabbits and rodents has also been recognised. Christine was once described as “The UK’s Leading Rabbit Nutritionist” (The Times, 2006), served as chairman of the FEDIAF Small Pets Working Party, and has had advice columns in several journals. 

Christine is a member of the European Society of Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition (ESVCN) and is an Honorary Professor at the University of Nottingham.

: http://www.petfoodconsultant.co.uk/
: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinehuggett/
: @https://twitter.com/PetNutritionist

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Dr Isabelle Kalmar DVM, PhD

R&D Expert, Versele-Laga Belgium and Co-chair of Fediaf Small Pets Working Group

I

sabelle graduated as a veterinarian in 2004 and obtained a PhD on nutrition and feeding behavior of parrots at the faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Ghent University. She obtained a second PhD in the field of nutrition related metabolic diseases in broilers at the department of Animal Sciences of Wageningen University. After her postdoctoral studies in immunology at Ghent Univesity, she worked as a senior veterinary scientist for the Veos Group. Next, she became R&D Manager at Versele Laga. Since 2019, she works as an independent R&D Expert for Versele Laga. Isabelle published 40 papers in scientific journals.

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Neil Leach

Animal By-Products Consultant and former DEFRA Policy Advisor

Neil’s career at DEFRA, from which he recently retired, included leading on Animal by-products (ABPs) and TSE policy from 2003 to March 2020, including latterly the impact of Brexit. He also set up and became the Government Non-Executive Director of the National Fallen Stock Company which collects and disposes of animals which die on farm. During this period Neil developed extensive experience in Brussels and the EU, negotiating and lecturing on all aspects of EU ABP and TSE legislation and regulation including rules on trade in ABPs.  He also gained an in-depth knowledge and developed excellent relationships with key stakeholders in the ABPs industry including the pet food sector. Neil is now an independent consultant advising on all aspects of the ABPs industry.

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Dr John Lowe

Nutrition Consultant, Tuttons Hill Nutrition

John is a consultant nutritionist with a degree in animal nutrition and physiology and a PhD on zinc nutrition in dogs. John worked initially in the farm animal feed industry moving into the pet food industry some 38 years ago - initially as a nutritionist and then as technical director for a UK dry pet food company. John is now an Associate Professor in canine and feline nutrition to both undergraduate and postgraduate students at Nottingham University and continues his consultancy work for his clients around the world. John has published a wide range of papers and chapters on pet food in various books and publications. He is also a Past Chairman of the PFMA

: john-lowe-35950817

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Ian Mealey

Product Marketing Director, Format Solutions

Product Marketing Director at Format Solutions with 30+ years' experience in the application of formulation technology in the feed, petfood and food industries. Leading product marketing strategy and commercial delivery of our formulation software solutions, helping to improve our clients' efficiency and profitability.

 

: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-mealey/

Dr Donna Snellgrove

Research Scientist, Mars Petcare

Donna has a PhD in Fish Nutrition and Physiology from University of Plymouth and has worked as a Post-Doctoral Scientist at University of Connecticut, USA. In 2004 she joined MARS Incorporation where she has worked primarily on fish nutrition studies as a Research Scientist.

Donna is also a visiting lecturer at University of Nottingham and an active member of UK Pet Food Fish Group where she is involved in drafting a Fish Nutritional Guidelines.

: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-snellgrove-917a4

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David Southey BSc (Hons)

Southey Consultants

David graduated from The University of Leeds with an honours degree in animal nutrition and physiology and has since worked for over 30 years in the global animal health and nutrition sector. After graduating he spent 2 years working alongside vets in zoos and wildlife sanctuaries, specialising in nutritional aspects of primate care. Following this he spent 9 years with the German chemical company BASF as their European companion animal specialist, where he lead a multi-national team of 12 nutritionists. His following appointment was as Nutritional Sales Director for the UK’s largest private-label pet food manufacturers near Preston, where he established and developed their technical, sales and customer service departments, and lead the company’s growth into 42 countries.

David established his own consultancy business in 2007, which now employs 4 nutritionists and zoologists, working on nutrition and product development projects for 140 clients in 32 countries around the world. He is also past Chairman of the Additives Committee for UK Pet Food.

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