Sharon Miller

Sharon founded Wildlife Vets International in 2004, and is currently Vice Chair of the Trustees. She brings with her a wide range of experience in business, politics and science.

After an initial Honours degree in Biology and Geography from Bristol University, and a Masters in Politics and Economics from the London School of Economics, Sharon worked for the European Commission and then the European Parliament. She was nominated for the Women of Europe Awards and was a successful final laureate, going on to chair the awards committee.

Subsequently, she trained in strategic management consultancy, and worked as a business management consultant before becoming CEO of an environmental health company. More recently, she retrained as a psychotherapist and is now a counsellor and coach to high profile athletes, musicians, actors and business people, primarily in the USA and UK.

Sharon has lived in Greece, Belgium and Russia, and travels extensively around the world. During her time in Russia she established AMUR – a British-Russian foundation dedicated to the conservation of Amur tigers and leopards. On her return to the UK she went on to establish WVI, having become aware of a profound need for an organisation that could provide flexible veterinary expertise to conservation projects around the globe.

Peter Coe

Peter has held a number of senior management and board director posts in the veterinary pharmaceuticals industry. He has typically focused on strategic planning, organizational development and change management and is a past Chairman of NOAH, the veterinary pharmaceuticals manufacturers’ association.

Peter became a trustee of WVI in 2012, after spending two years helping us to devise and implement a business and fundraising plan to ensure a secure and sustainable future for the organisation. Thanks to Peter’s work, we were able to increase the number of conservation projects we are able to support. He holds various other trustee positions in the not-for-profit sector. Since retiring he has been enjoying farming in Norfolk.

Peter writes, ‘Wildlife conservation is a big subject but I was drawn to WVI because it fills a crucially important yet largely unsung gap in many projects, particularly those related to endangered species. As populations decrease, or their range comes under pressure from human and domestic animals, specialist veterinary input can become key to survival.’

Louise Heathcote

As a young teenager, Louise was deeply affected by a lecture given by Born Free Foundation founder, Bill Travers, when he visited her school. The experience sparked a life-long interest in the welfare of animals in zoos and led to a profound appreciation of the need to help endangered species thrive in the wild. Following the lecture, Louise went on to correspond regularly with Bill Travers, writing assessments of European zoos for Born Free, until his death in 1994.

Meanwhile, her professional career took her into the corporate world, where she worked initially in the London asset management office of the Prime Minister of Qatar. This was followed by several years of project management for a global sports media company. Over the last 16 years, in addition to becoming a mother to three children, Louise has been involved with fundraising and event organisation for a range of charities, including Wildlife Vets International.

She believes passionately in the work that WVI does and was delighted when the opportunity arose in 2015 to become a trustee. She is particularly looking forward to helping on the fundraising side and building connections with schools and young people. Her own experience has shown her how understanding the importance of wildlife conservation at a young age can build the foundations for a lifelong passion and commitment to a vital cause.

Louise is married to WVI Patron, Peregrine Heathcote.

Dr. Miranda Stevenson OBE, MBA

Miranda is the current Chair of the Trustees. A biologist by training, she is passionate about conservation and the protection of biodiversity. She has devoted much of the past thirty years to the zoo world, and is presently focused on promoting the invaluable contribution of zoos to education and conservation. She is also currently in charge of the European Association for Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) programme to save one of the world’s most endangered primates, the cotton-top tamarin.

The many prestigious roles she has held and awards she has received are testament to her commitment and experience. In 2013 she ended ten years as Director of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquaria (BIAZA) – the professional body for zoos in Britain and Ireland. Other notable posts have included Director of Marwell Zoo and Deputy Director of Edinburgh Zoo. She is currently a government zoo inspector in the UK, as well as the co vice-chair of EAZA’s Callitrichid (marmosets and tamarins) Taxon Advisory Group.

Miranda was awarded an OBE in 2012 for services to conservation and wildlife. Other awards and accolades include the EAZA Award for Professional Excellence, an Honourary Fellowship of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, and Life Membership of WAZA (World Association of Zoos and Aquaria). In addition, she is a previous winner of the WAZA Heini Hediger Award, which is given for outstanding service to the zoo and aquaria community.

Having also worked as an independent consultant in areas relating to zoos, conservation and animal welfare, Miranda brings with her a wealth of management experience in the conservation sphere. Throughout her career she has worked with both captive and wild animals and has seen at first hand the problems that disease and risk from disease can cause. She has been a trustee of WVI since 2012. She is also a trustee of both the World Land Trust and Marwell Wildlife.

Ken Elliott

Ken Elliott’s career included a significant period working around the globe, spending large amounts of time in Latin America, Asia and, most significantly, Africa. It was in Africa in particular that he was able to spend at least some of his leisure time enjoying the continent’s amazing wildlife reserves. This experience was the catalyst in his decision to use his skills and connections to help vets and conservationists working to save endangered species. And this in turn led him to offer his support to WVI.

Although now largely retired after a career in marketing and sales for leading pharmaceutical companies, primarily in the veterinary sector but also in public health, Ken continues with some commercial consultancy as well as mentoring for a local youth charity. His association with WVI began several years ago, when he began to give invaluable advice on strategy and funding tactics, before becoming a trustee in 2015. His help has been instrumental in building WVI into a sustainable and effective organisation.

Chris Washington-Sare

Chris is an expert in fundraising, communications and marketing, with over 25 years of experience producing strategies and campaigns for both commercial and not-for-profit organisations. A specialist in strategic planning, change management and marketing, Chris set up his own company, Pentatonic Marketing, in 2014 to work specifically in the charity sector. Satisfied clients have included Amnesty International, Alzheimer’s Society and World Animal Protection. In addition, Chris has been particularly instrumental in helping The Donkey Sanctuary transform how it functions.

Chris firmly believes in using evidence to help inform development of effective fundraising activities. He has a particular interest in helping develop and strengthen fundraising and communications cultures within organisations.  To help achieve this he uses Myers-Briggs Type Indicator methodology to help teams resolve conflict, manage stress and work more efficiently together.

Chris says: “I have had the good fortune to work with a number of great conservation and environmental organisations throughout my career. I have seen that rigorous, evidence-based approaches can have a real impact on conserving species for future generations. Wildlife Vets International’s approach to conservation is incredibly compelling and effective and I believe that the organisation has the potential to make a huge impact on conservation efforts across the globe. I am delighted to help the organisation achieve its true potential.”

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WVI is lucky to have extremely active trustees who provide leadership and we are indebted to their skills and experience, commitment and energy.

Dr. Miranda Stevenson OBE, MBA

Miranda is the current Chair of the Trustees. A biologist by training, she is passionate about conservation and the protection of biodiversity.

Read more

Sharon Miller MSc

Sharon founded Wildlife Vets International in 2004, and is currently Vice-Chair of the Trustees. She brings with her a wide range of experience in business, politics and science.

Read more

Louise Heathcote

As a young teenager, Louise was deeply affected by a lecture given by Born Free Foundation founder, Bill Travers, when he visited her school.

Read more

Peter Coe

Peter has held a number of senior management and board director posts in the veterinary pharmaceuticals industry.

Read more

Ken Elliott

Ken Elliott’s career included a significant period working around the globe, spending large amounts of time in Latin America, Asia and, most significantly, Africa.

Read more

Chris Washington-Sare

Chris is an expert in fundraising, communications and marketing, with over 25 years of experience producing strategies..

Read more

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WHO WE ARE

Vets on the frontline of conservation

WVI is a British charity which has been providing critical veterinary support to international wildlife and conservation projects since 2004.

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WVI is a British charity which has been ensuring critical veterinary support for international wildlife and conservation projects since 2004.

We are a small organisation with minimal administrative costs but access to top quality wildlife veterinary expertise across a wide range of different species.

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