Staff at UAR
Dr Branwen Morgan Chief Executive
Branwen has over 20 years of experience driving impact across academia, industry, government, and civil society in both Australia and the UK. Her career focuses on the health and medical fields, bridging sectors to drive research translation and build collaborative coalitions. She brings extensive One Health experience to her concurrent part-time role as Co-Editor-in-Chief of Antimicrobial Resistance, published by Cambridge University Press, which she maintains alongside her leadership of UAR.
Her career in communications began in London in 2002 where she remained until 2005. Here, she was a founding team member at the Coalition for Medical Progress (CMP), co-producing CMP's documentary film, 'What has animal research done for the brain?', leading development of the website, and managing events.
Most recently, Branwen served as lead of the Minimising Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Mission at Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO. She previously co-founded and directed the AI-enabled AMR surveillance initiative, OUTBREAK, and was General Manager of the strategic research alliance AusGEM. Branwen has worked as a science journalist for popular and trade publications, including the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Nature, and holds a PhD in medicine from the University of New South Wales and the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Sydney.
Hannah Hobson Head of Communications and Engagement
Hannah joined UAR in August 2015 having spent the previous five years working as a regulatory toxicologist in a global agrochemical company. Hannah leads on openness at UAR via the Concordat on Openness on Animal Research, a commitment for UK bioscience organisations to enhance their animal research communications with the public. Hannah manages UAR's external communications team which includes UAR's digital outputs and proactive press. She also provides specialist support for UAR members and other stakeholder organisations, including supporting the Laboratory Animal Science Association (LASA) as a member of the communications team.
Mary Harvie Digital Communications Manager
Mary joined UAR in 2016 after studying Animal Behaviour & Welfare BSc and working in various animal care and welfare roles. Mary has had a few roles with us during her time, originally working with our members in animal technology to develop their social media and websites, foster openness, and promote CPD training on laboratory animal care and welfare. Later, Mary moved onto managing UAR's social media channels, focusing on creating engaging content for the general public. Mary now oversees UAR's social media activities and websites, creates educational content for use online, and provides training to UAR members on communicating animal research via social media.
Agnes Jawara Office Manager
Agnes has been with UAR since 2011 and as Office Manager she helps coordinate UAR publications including the Quarterly Update, monthly newsletters, and is involved in the planning and organisation of UAR events.
Chris Magee Head of Policy and Media
Chris started his career in the NLGN thinktank before moving to Parliament as a senior researcher and then to the private and charity sectors as a policy and communications consultant. He has consequently worked, prior to joining UAR, on a very wide range of projects including building affordable housing and wind farms, improving mental health services, handling crisis communications during the 2011 riots, helping deliver the 2012 Olympics and decommissioning nuclear submarines. As Head of Policy and Media, Chris is the point of contact for all media whether national, local, international or online, proactive or reactive. He also works with stakeholders including MPs and Civil Servants in Whitehall and Westminster to create a supportive regulatory environment.
John Meredith Head of Education and Outreach
John joined Understanding Animal Research as Head of Education and Outreach after establishing a nationwide schools programme on animal research for the Coalition of Medical Progress. He had previously developed education and outreach programmes for CABE, the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, and private sector clients such as BT and Marks and Spencer having begun his career in educational publishing with the Oxford University Press. The outreach programme at UAR involves hundreds of volunteers speaking out all over the UK in schools and elsewhere as well as the dozens of talks, workshops, summer schools and training programmes delivered by John and his team each year.
Victoria Summers Communications Officer
Victoria joined UAR in 2025, having previously worked in scientific research in the UK and Japan. At the UK Health Security Agency, Victoria led in-vivo projects including SARS-CoV-2 therapeutic efficacy studies and gained experience working with a range of emerging pathogens. Prior to this, she carried out cancer immunotherapy research at Yamaguchi University in Japan, where she also managed international collaboration and taught medical students. At UAR, Victoria manages social media communications and develops digital content to help the public better understand the role of animal research in advancing science and medicine.
Jamie Yuan Video Producer
Jamie is a video producer and filmmaker, with a background in documentary and science communication. He graduated with a BA in Classic's from King’s College London, before moving into postproduction as a video editor. In 2021, Jamie directed the documentary Man Down, about men’s mental health, which aired on the BBC and TogetherTV. Before joining UAR in 2025, Jamie made films for the Marine Stewardship Council, advocating for sustainable fishing. As the video producer, Jamie creates a range of short and long form content that supports the UAR’s mission of helping people understand how and why animals are used in scientific research.
Governance
The Council of Understanding Animal Research is equivalent to the Board of Directors. Members of Council sit as individuals and bring knowledge of the different sectors that the organisation represents. Council members are voted in at AGMs. They are selected for the skills they bring, as well as having an interest in the aims of the organisation.
Council members:
Jonathan Elliott (Chair of UAR Council)
Ross Millard (Honorary Treasurer)
Mike Addelman
Simon Clark
Jonathan Elliott
Elaine Emmerson
Nienke Fishwick
Elizabeth Hurd
Mary McElroy
Clive Page
Chris Petkov
History and Structure
Understanding Animal Research was founded at the end of 2008 by bringing together two UK organisations, the Research Defence Society and Coalition for Medical Progress. It is a membership organisation with over 140 member organisations and many more individual supporters. Organisational members are drawn from various sectors including academic, pharmaceutical, charities, research funders, and professional and learned societies.
