The Future of Animal Welfare – Science, Standards and Social License

What does good animal welfare look like in a time of rapid scientific progress, shifting societal expectations, changing economic trends and growing demand for transparency?

This session will explore how the concept of animal welfare is evolving in New Zealand and globally—shaped by new research, changing regulations, and the increasingly critical role of public perception. We’ll take a closer look at how welfare is defined and assessed across different contexts, from production animals and working animals to companion and research species.

The discussion will also consider the balance between scientific evidence and ethical considerations, and how this balance informs the development of policy, standards, and compliance systems. As technology transforms how we interact with animals and monitor their wellbeing, and as public interest in animal welfare continues to grow, we’ll examine the challenges and opportunities facing both industry and government. What role does social license play? How do we stay ahead of global expectations? And what does it take to maintain trust and remain profitable in business while continually improving welfare outcomes?

Join us for an engaging conversation on the future of animal welfare—and the collaborative effort needed to navigate what’s next.

Tuesday 19 August

 4.00pm - 5.30pm

Mrs O’s Cafe, Lincoln University

We hope to see you there!

4:00pm – Arrival and networking

4:10pm – Welcome from Prof. Chad Hewitt, Provost, Lincoln University

4:15pm – Overview from Dr. David Scobie on what LU is doing in this space

4:20pm – Keynote presentation

4:45pm – Q&A

5:00pm – Networking

5:30pm – Event concludes

Dr. Kate Littin, Animals. People. Nature

Dr Kate Littin is an animal welfare scientist and experienced leader in animal welfare, agriculture and food safety policy and regulation. She is a committed One Health/One Welfare advocate dedicated to driving progress in animal welfare alongside achieving business, social and environmental goals. Her career has spanned across research, government, NGOs and an industry body, and she spends her time volunteering and working in several organisations for farmers, animal welfare and nature.