The Directors Chair
Professional Profile
Dr Ian Robertson has the unusual distinction of being both a qualified veterinarian, and a barrister (Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand) who has combined his training and experience to become an internationally recognized legal specialist on the subject of animals and the law.
Ian originally trained as a VETERINARIAN, and ran a successful chain of veterinary practices in New Zealand. He simultaneously developed a media career as the face of veterinary medicine in New Zealand for almost 10 years through his work as presenter of all things animal as the veterinary presenter on a range of television programmes, penning columns for national magazines, publishing three books on how to care for pets, and appearances on radio every Sunday morning as a talkback host dealing with a host of owners questions from skin problems to behavioural issues. A highlight of his veterinary media career came when he was chosen to be one of a select few TELEVISION PRESENTER’s for Fox Television (USA) introducing endangered species from around the world to camera.
Ian’s veterinary expertise coupled with the research for each episode, and his interaction with scientists and politicians alike, gave Ian unique insights as to how the law endeavoured to deal with competing stakeholder interests regarding animals. So after completing the contract with Fox television he returned to New Zealand and completed a law degree with the specific intention of getting involved in the field of Animal Welfare Law. He subsequently became an enrolled BARRISTER AND SOLICITOR of the High Court of New Zealand, and while working as a solicitor in general law, he wrote the course on animals and the law which has since been taught in law schools and veterinary schools in both New Zealand and England. The courses have also been modified and adapted to suit a range of audiences from seminars for local government and authorities in England to online modules on animal law for the general public and professional groups.
Ian’s professional training and experience as a veterinarian, lawyer, businessman and media presenter enable him to provide practical perspective and insight to the forums in which he participates. He is an internationally recognised expert on animal welfare law and in addition to being a LAW LECTURER and CONFERENCE SPEAKER on the subject, Ian is also the DIRECTOR of International Animal-Law, a member of the International Advisory Board of CIWF, an external associate of the OIE (World Animal Health Organisation) and a PROSECUTOR for the New Zealand government (Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry).
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"There are only a handful of people in the world who have been trained in both law and veterinary science. This gives Dr Robertson the advantage of being able to combine practical veterinary experience with his training as a lawyer, and provide realistic insights from two of the key disciplines affecting how the law deals with animals". Dr David Bayvel |
Dr Ian A Robertson
Qualifications and Professional Appointments:
- Registered Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court (NZ)
- Registered veterinarian (NZ and UK)
- Bachelor of Law (LLB)
- Member of Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (MRCVS)
- Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc)
- Director: International Animal Law
- Director: Animal Law Professional Development
- International Advisory Board Member, CIWF
- External Associate: OIE Collaboration Centre (NZ)
- Government Prosecutor, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (NZ)
Law Lecturer – Animals and the Law
- Animal Law In Practice (Online Learning) VetScholar
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Massey University (NZ)
- School of Law, University of Leeds (England)
- School of Law, University of Canterbury (NZ)
Specialist fields:
- Compliance and enforcement of animal welfare law
- The role and legal responsibility of the (veterinary) professional in issues of animal welfare
- (Global) Governance of animal welfare
- Balance and lawful prioritisation of animal welfare in law, ethics, and science.
- Legal solutions to animal abuse and related human violence
- The development of animal law as a distinct legal discipline
Public Speaking
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Dr Lila Miller, DVM |
Ian is an internationally recognized specialist in matters of animal welfare and law whose presentations have dealt with everything from global governance of animal welfare to the role of professions and individual professionals in animal welfare issues.
“Animal welfare is a multidisciplinary, multifactorial issue that has application to a wide range of global issues. 
In addition to considerations regarding animal protection, animal law also involves issues of humane and sustainable animal welfare, food safety, disease control, international trade, climate change, conservation and much more. Humans and animals share the same planet so, although there are indeed competing interests between stakeholders in the animal welfare issue, it must also be recognized that because animal welfare is an integral part of any proposed solution to global challenges, it's a case of animals “and” us rather than a case of animals “or” us.”
In addition to his legal expertise, Dr. Robertson also brings insights from his hands-on knowledge as a veterinarian, businessman, and television presenter of "all things animal" - endangered ones, and pet ones, and very wild ones. With this background, his presentations are more than just academic, they’re also practical and realistic - and they contain a healthy amount of humour. Speaking of his experiences in South Africa, for example, he said
"Experts have said that in the moment a lioness selects her prey, it's already dead! I was reminded of that piece of information when I was doing a sunrise walk in a game park – which is feeding time in that part of the planet – and I came round a corner to find a lioness standing only 5 metres away, looking directly at me and the people I was doing the sunrise walk with. A lioness is a big animal, but it looks enormous when you’re that close and there are no fences between you and her! In that moment, the guide’s previous instructions not to run from a lioness seemed absurd, but while the guide literally gripped the arm of one girl who was about to run, the rest of us froze. It was a particularly good reminder that we don’t all see the world the same way, and that there’s wisdom in understanding and respecting another individuals point of view. Interestingly, that same principle applies in working together with people."
In another presentation Ian illustrated how our language is full of animal related anecdotes, the accuracy (or otherwise) of those sayings, and how we can learn a lot about human behaviour by understanding what we see in the animal kingdom:
"Pick the species - fat as a ___? As big as a ____? Moving at ____’s pace? And if you think “pecking order” refers just to chickens, take a look at the work place next time and you’ll quickly figure out how to identify to top ____. How can you use this to change your own place in the pecking order? Or develop your own personal or business relationships?"
Addressing questions about education and the development of animal welfare as a global discipline Dr Robertson has said :
"Public opinion about animal welfare issues, and recognition of the relevance of animals in issues including the economy, the environment, and food safety means that studies of animals in ethics, science and law are increasing significantly.
There is an obvious need for education about animals welfare and the relevant law, but the education needs to be balanced, objective and authoritative if it is to be credible. Accordingly, there is a need for educators of animal law who have the demonstrated skills and experience to present a realistic and balanced view of the many opinions and stakeholders involved in issues regarding animals both domestically and internationally".
Ian's international work as a specialist animal welfare lawyer has him working as a prosecutor in New Zealand, a consultant in England, and an educator on both sides of the planet. His commitment to the development of animal welfare law as a recognised legal discipline also results in him appearing as keynote speaker in conferences addressing the wide application of issues associated with animals, and audiences that have a variety of animal-related interests including non-government organisations and industry. He frequently begins his presentations by having attendees consider where their own attitudes regarding animals came from, and then goes on to establish how the law is intergral to any change management process.
"In a global environment where there is increasing recognition of the importance of animal welfare to a range of 
social, environmental and economic interests; and increasing demand by all stakeholders for responsibility, transparency, and accountability, then it stands to reason that it is prudent to have a competent animal welfare lawyer at any decision table where matters of animal welfare are involved. This is because law underpins, authorises, or prohibits all activites regarding animals - no matter what discipline is involved, or whatever other experts are at the table. Whatever change proposals are envisaged, the fact is that all current activites and all proposed activities regarding animals must be lawful or they will not proceed.
There are a multitude of stakeholders with competing, and often conflicting, interests. Opinions vary as to the role of animals in society but, 
whatever the personal perspective of the individual or organisation may be, it is obvious that global concerns such as food safety, disease control, and biosecurity are issues related to animal welfare that have impacts on humans and animals.
While there is a place for critical assessment of established systems, effective progress in the field of animal law is likely to largely be the result of engagement and collaboration. Approaches that risk alienating key decision makers in matters of animal welfare simultaneously risk deferring benefits for the animals themselves. Consequently effective change management that develops "good law" and effective change is likely to require experts with the skills to apply the principles of evolution in preference to simply revolution."
Dr David Bayvel, President of OIE Animal Welfare Working Group says
"There are only a handful of people in the world who have been trained in both law and veterinary science. This gives Dr Robertson the advantage of being able to combine practical veterinary experience with his training as a lawyer, and provide realistic insights from two of the key disciplines affecting how the law deals with animals".
To enquire about having Dr Robertson as a keynote speaker and/or presenter at your next function please use the Contact
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Dr Kate Millar |
Conferences/Paper Presentations
Scheduled
- "Ethcal, Legal, and Enforcement perspectives on the future of the poulty industry" - October 2010, New Zealand.
- "The place of animal welfare law in global change management" - October 2010, Limerick University, Ireland.
- "Animal welfare law in practice"- October 2010, England
- “Risk management of legal liabilities for veterinarians ”- May 2011, England
- "How to navigate the (veterinary) conflicts between the animal's welfare, the owner's interests, and the veterinarian's business" - October 2011, Australia.
Past Presentations
- "My Kingdom for a horse - the veterinary profession and the law" - Pan Pacific Veterinary Conference, May 2010, Brisbane, Australia. - http://www.panpac2010.com/content/keynote-speakers
- "Animal Welfare and the law - the role and liability of veterinarians in large animal practice" - Pan Pacific Veterinary Conference, May 2010, Brisbane, Australia. - http://www.panpac2010.com/content/keynote-speakers
- “How to conduct a good animal welfare investigation" – May 2010, England
- “Animal Welfare in Animal Law” – October 2009, Germany
- “Powers and responsibilities of Inspectors under the Animal Welfare Act 2006" – September 2009, England
- “What’s law got to do with it? (Part 1): Identifying the legal liability of the veterinary nurse” – September 2009, England.
- “What’s law got to do with it? (Part 2): Practical law for the practising veterinary nurse” – September 2009, England
- “Powers and responsibilities of Inspectors under the Animal Welfare Act 2006" – April 2009, England
- "The veterinary pathologist as an expert witness” – Veterinary Pathology Conference, Palmerston North, New Zealand. November 2008
- “Law, Welfare and Animal Entertainment: The bull in bullfighting” – Spain, Feb 2008
- “Recognising animal abuse and an indicator of human violence” – Women and domestic violence conference, London, England. March 2008
- “Understanding the Law about Animals” – University of Lincoln, March 2008
- “A legal duty to report suspected animal abuse - are veterinarians ready?” Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics, Oxford, England. September 2007 - http://www.oxfordanimalethics.com/index.php?p=conference_programme
- “The concept of sustainable agriculture necessitates a duty of stewardship in contemporary animal welfare legislation” – Vienna, Austria. October 2007
- “Translating the bioethical animal into a legal animal for animal welfare legislation”, IX Annual Swedish Symposium on Biomedicine, Ethics and Society. June 2007- http://www.crb.uu.se/symposia/2007/abstracts/subsessions/robertson.pdf
- “Identifying the global legislative benchmarks of Animal Welfare” - ALDF Conference, Harvard Law School. March 2007 - http://www.cmcna.com/animal_law_conference_2007/conference_schedule.htm
Publications
Articles
- "Animal welfare in Animal Law" - Welfare Pulse, July 2010
- "Do your practice procedures put your professional kingdom at risk?" - Vetscript Magazine, July 2010
- "Veterinary Nurses (NZ): The legal responsibilities that accompany registration" - July 2010
- "Conflicts of animal welfare interest for the veterinarian" - Brisbane PanPacific Veterinary Conference Proceedings (CD), June 2010
- "Liability for "emotional harm" by animal-service providers who trade of the "emotional link" - LawTalk (NZ), 2010
- "Legally protecting and compelling veterinarians in issues of animal abuse and domestic violence - New Zealand Veterinary Journal, June 2010
- "Taking body condition scoring from the paddock to the courtroom"- Vetscript Magazine – June 2010
- "Legal risks in the veterinary apology"- Vetscript Magazine – March 2010
- "Avoid putting vet on the spot"- Dairy News – August 11 2009 Read>>
- “Minimising the risk of the veterinarians' legal liability” - Vetscript Magazine – August 2009 Read>>
- “The link between animal abuse and human violence” - Biosecurity Magazine - Issue 80, 15 December 2007 - http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/publications/biosecurity-magazine/issue-80/animal-abuse
- “Animal law issues canvassed at Harvard conference” - Biosecurity Magazine - Issue 77, 1 August 2007 - http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/publications/biosecurity-magazine/issue-77/animal-law
- “I don't want half a dog ...” - , Biosecurity Magazine - Issue 73, 1 February 2007 - http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/publications/biosecurity-magazine/issue-73/half-a-dog
Book Chapters
- A legal duty to report suspected animal abuse - are veterinarians ready? In, A. Linzey, ed. The Link Between Animal Abuse and Human Violence. Eastbourne, East Sussex, UK: Sussex Academic Press. 2009 p. 263 – 272 More>>
- New Zealand Wildlife and Law in Wildlife Law: A Global Perspective, 2008. Raj Panjwani (Editor) Edition 2 (in print).
- The concept of sustainable agriculture necessitates a duty of stewardship in contemporary animal welfare legislation - Part 7 in Sustainable Food Production and ethics: (Wageningen Academic Puglishers, 2007, p. 263 - 268
Reports and Interviews
- Guest Lawyer, Voiceless – December 2006, January 2007 -http://www.voiceless.org.au/Law/Special_Guest_Lawyers/December_2006_/_January_2007_Ian_Robertson.html
- Poisoned Pet Food Raises Questions on how the Law values Pets and Highlights Global Food Safety Issues (2006) -http://www.petsonthenet.co.nz/poisonedpetfood.htm
- New course takes comprehensive look at animals’ place in law (2006) http://www.comsdev.canterbury.ac.nz/chronicle/2006/ChronVol41-2.pdf
Books
- Noah’s Notebook – Veterinary Cat Care (Wellington, GP Publications, October 1998) pp 232
- Noah’s Notebook – Veterinary Dog Care (Wellington, GP Publications, October 1998) pp 232
- Pet Care Handbook (Auckland, Hodder & Stoughton, 1994) pp 154