Speaker bio page for Hayley Walters

Bio

Hayley qualified as a veterinary nurse in 1999. She spent 7 happy years in mixed animal practice in Derbyshire, England before relocating to China for 3 years to work for ‘Animals Asia’ with bears rescued from the bile farming industry and dogs rescued from the illegal dog meat trade.

In 2012 she became the Welfare and Anaesthesia veterinary nurse at The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at the University of Edinburgh. Hayley was part of the teaching hospital’s anaesthesia team but also taught nursing and clinical skills in vet schools in low-middle income countries. Hayley’s passion for pain recognition, behaviour, and welfare soared in this role as she recognised these areas have the biggest impact on an animal’s experience in the clinic.

Hayley still works remotely for the University of Edinburgh and has created a MOOC on animal welfare in the clinic. She is a long-term locum nurse for an emergency and critical care veterinary provider, and a student welfare officer for Bottle Green Veterinary Nurse Training College in England.

Hayley received an MBE from King Charles III in 2018 for Services to Veterinary Education and Animal Welfare.