About
Do you love animals and nature? So does Sara. But she was told as a Biology undergraduate student that she had to choose – either become a veterinarian and care for animals OR a biologist and help conserve the environment – pick only one. This made no sense to her, as growing up on Vancouver Island surrounded by nature and wildlife, one did not thrive without the other. Sara struggled to understand why she couldn’t help both in her future career? Thankfully along the way of working diverse co-op jobs non-profits and government agencies and volunteering in wildlife rehabilitation – Sara figured out that she did not have to choose, but rather just get creative! After a BSc at UVic, she completed a MSc with the UBC Animal Welfare Program studying success in wildlife rehabilitation. Animal welfare science opened a new area of applied biology!
Sara’s first job with the BC SPCA was as a contract movie monitor in 2001-03, observing the welfare of animals used in entertainment. She went on to managing the BC SPCA’s Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre (Wild ARC) from 2004-2008. Sara took on a provincial role overseeing wildlife and exotic animal programs from 2009-13 and returned to the Animal Welfare Program in 2010 to pursue her PhD with new research questions based on her experiences in wildlife welfare, conservation and policy. Sara became the BC SPCA’s Chief Scientific Officer in 2014 following completion of her PhD and now directs province-wide welfare science operations, education and advocacy projects. She leads four teams of staff experts in animal welfare and policy (Companion, Farm & Wildlife Welfare, AnimalKind Accreditation). Her role also aims to develop relationships with academia and advocate for animals used in science, helping to establish the Canadian Society for Humane Science.
A Registered Professional Biologist, she lends her expertise to various non-profit organizations and student research projects, consults with industry and governments, and speaks at international conferences, with the goal of advancing humane policies and practices. Sara wanted to ensure that any other students who loved animals AND nature had opportunities for hands-on experiences to launch their compassionate careers. She created and offers APBI 496 Applied Animal Biology Practicums every term so that undergraduate students can gain experience outside the classroom – in roles of animal care, policy, outreach, and advocacy – learning how to help both animals and nature.
Education
B.Sc. (UVic)
M.Sc. and Ph.D. (UBC)