Mission
Our mission is to prevent cruelty and suffering among pigs by challenging farming and research systems that fail to meet their physical and mental needs, and by promoting evidence-based change in food and research practices.
We work in the UK and internationally to raise awareness of the harms of intensive pig farming, to educate the public about the impacts of pork production and consumption on pig welfare, human health and the environment, and to support policies and practices that reduce reliance on systems that harm pigs.
Vision
Our vision is a world in which pigs are no longer farmed within commercial systems that cannot meet their welfare needs, and where societies transition away from practices that cause predictable, large-scale suffering to sentient pigs.
We envision food and research systems that respect the sentience, intelligence and social nature of pigs, eliminate dependence on harmful production models, and support dietary and technological alternatives that protect pig welfare, human health and the environment.
Our Trustees
Dr Steven McCulloch – Founder and Chair of Trustees
Dr Steven McCulloch is a veterinary surgeon and Research Fellow in Veterinary Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), where his work focuses on farmed animal welfare, sustainability, and the governance of animal protection.
He is a European Veterinary Specialist in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law, and a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (UK). He holds a PhD in political science examining how the UK government accounts for the interests of sentient species in policymaking.
His research and advocacy include published work on intensive pig production systems, including farrowing crates, the mutilation of tail docking, and the use of high-concentration carbon dioxide for stunning at slaughter. Through Pigs Protection and his academic work at the LSE, he collaborates with researchers, veterinarians, NGOs and policymakers to challenge systems that cause large-scale, predictable suffering and to promote evidence-based reform in food and farming.
Annick Huss – Trustee
Annick Hus is a Brussels-based journalist and researcher specialising in animal welfare, livestock systems, biodiversity and wildlife. Combining scientific training with investigative reporting, she brings a clear, international perspective to issues affecting animals across Europe.
Annick holds an MSc in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law and is currently completing a second MSc in Biodiversity, Wildlife and Ecosystem Health at the University of Edinburgh. She has published two journal articles on the political salience of animal protection and biodiversity—one focused on the Netherlands and Belgium, and the second on Ireland.
Her work has appeared in Dutch- and English-language media outlets across Europe. Annick also volunteers at her local shelter and with the Wolf Fencing Team, and is committed to improving the lives of farmed animals. Annick speaks Dutch and English and has a good understanding of French and German.
Helen Bowden – Trustee
Helen brings over 20 years of experience as a Senior Graphic Designer to the Pigs Protection board, specialising in translating complex narratives into impactful visual campaigns. A dedicated advocate for animal welfare, Helen’s input helps bridge the gap between the scientific evidence base and public engagement.
Helen’s expertise contributes to the Pigs Protection mission being communicated with clarity, professional rigour, and emotional resonance. Helen is committed to leveraging design as a tool for systemic industry change and advancing the protection of pigs in both livestock and research sectors.
Our Expert advisers
Chris Platt – UK Policy Adviser
Chris Platt is Co-Founder and Strategy Director of the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation (CAWF), an independent organisation working to advance the welfare of farmed animals and support a more humane, sustainable UK food system.
After a career in international finance, Chris now works full time in animal welfare, bringing experience in governance, risk management and strategic planning to the charitable sector. At CAWF he oversees day-to-day operations and provides strategic direction across campaigns, policy work and organisational development, ensuring projects are well-managed and evidence based.
Chris focuses on practical reforms that improve the lives of farmed animals while supporting British farmers, including phasing out intensive systems, strengthening welfare standards and introducing clear method-of-production and animal welfare labelling so consumers can make informed choices.
Committed to working across the political spectrum, he engages parliamentarians, policymakers and sector partners to build consensus for a farming system that is both competitive and compassionate.
Dr Stephen Blakeway - Veterinary and One Health Adviser
Dr Stephen Blakeway qualified as a veterinary surgeon in 1981 and completed an MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare in 1993 and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education in 2003. He has worked in UK mixed practice alongside periods working internationally on community-based animal healthcare, animal health service delivery, Rinderpest eradication, and working donkey welfare.
In 1997 Stephen co-founded Vetwork UK, a ‘One Welfare’ charity with the tagline ‘linking the health and welfare of animals, people and the environment’. The challenge of improving animal welfare has shaped Stephen’s life and he has puzzled over the challenge of the big, caged groups: pigs, poultry and fish. He is therefore keen to support Pigs Protection as an expert adviser.
Dr Elena Contreras – US Veterinary Adviser
Dr. Elena T. Contreras is an Associate Professor of Animal Welfare and Behavior at the Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine of Rowan University in New Jersey. She is also a Resident in the American College of Animal Welfare. Dr. Contreras received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree in 2013 from Ross University, which she attended via a diversity-related full tuition scholarship.
After vet school, Dr. Contreras completed a Small Animal Shelter Medicine and Surgery Internship and a Shelter Research Fellowship at Colorado State University (CSU). She then received her PhD in Veterinary Clinical Sciences from CSU in 2019. Dr. Contreras’s teaching and research focus on understanding behavior and affective states to evaluate animal welfare. Before becoming a veterinarian, she earned an MS in ecology and a BA in psychology with an art minor.
Our Volunteers
Emily Shore
Emily graduated from the University of Winchester with a BA (Hons) in Animal Welfare and Society in 2025. During her studies, she developed a critical interest in factory farming systems and the ethical implications of industrial farming practices on animals. This interest culminated in her dissertation exploring how injustice manifests within the slaughterhouse and the impact this has on farmed animals.
Alongside her degree, Emily volunteered with animal protection NGOs in outreach and communications. Through this work, she developed skills in audience research, campaign development and digital content. These experiences have inspired her to pursue a career in animal advocacy, with a focus on raising awareness and advancing policy change for farmed animals.
Emily has a particular interest in using social media as a tool to educate the public on animal welfare issues. She is especially passionate about improving the lives of pigs, whose intelligence and capacity for emotion are widely underestimated within modern farming systems.
Rebecca Brolin
Rebecca is a Swedish-born student at University College London whose path into animal advocacy began at the age of 16. She first became involved in local outreach before looking for more effective ways to help farmed animals on a larger scale. Rebecca was recently selected for the Fellows Programme by LEAF, an effective altruism-aligned initiative for students, where Fellows complete a project in an impactful cause area. While seeking out project ideas related to animal welfare, she was offered the chance to get involved with Pigs Protection. Rebecca cares deeply about pigs, who are gentle and intelligent animals whose immense suffering is hugely overlooked and hidden from the public by the industry. She is eager to contribute her skills to Pigs Protection and help to challenge the cycle of normalised cruelty, working towards a more compassionate world for all beings.
D'Arcy Brown
Originally from New Zealand, D’Arcy holds a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Victoria University of Wellington. He is currently an MSc Philosophy and Public Policy student at the London School of Economics.
D’Arcy is a passionate advocate for animal rights, with experience in the charitable organisations Paw Justice and the Student Volunteer Army. He has also worked for Karma Drinks, a carbon-neutral Fair Trade beverage manufacturer.
He is a keen surfer and enjoys playing music in his free time.