Our Conference
Our 2026 Conference will be held on Tuesday 1st December in-person in London and online.
Our 2026 Conference will be held on Tuesday 1st December in-person in London and online.
World Horse Welfare Annual Conference 2026 – A century of change: looking back to see clearly
The World Horse Welfare Conference is taking place on Tuesday 1st December (9:45am-3:00pm UTC). This will be a hybrid event – with the in-person element in London – where we will explore the theme: A century of change: looking back to see clearly.
Kindly sponsored by The Sir Peter O’Sullevan Charitable Trust
As World Horse Welfare approaches our centenary, we will reflect on today’s world for horses, what has improved and what has not. Given their changing roles since 1927, is there a link between their welfare and their relevance to society? How have traditional practices and attitudes evolved to what they are today – and why? Great strides have been made in veterinary medicine, technology and science, so why do some stubborn problems persist? And do our modern approaches help us to put horses more at the centre of the agenda? We will seek to explore the answers to these questions and many others with a wide range of expert speakers and a lively panel and would very much like you to be part of the day.
Programme for the day
Timings in UTC
9:45am Welcome Rt Hon Caroline Nokes MP
9:55am Sponsor’s introductions Nigel Payne, Sir Peter O’Sullevan Charitable Trust
10:00am Chairman’s welcome Sam Bullard
10:10am Looking back to see clearly Roly Owers
10:25am How one woman started an international movement Deborah Meaden
10:40am To be confirmed
11:00am Q&A
11:10am Morning break
11:50am Winning well and the price of progress Philippe Le Jeune
12:05pm The first donkey protection strategy: why Africa leads the way Dr Huyam Salih
12:20pm Q&A
12:30pm Discussion panel
- Chair: Louise Minchin, Author, Journalist and Broadcaster
- Professor Cathy Dwyer, Head of Animal Behaviour and Welfare Research, SRUC
- Nick Powell, Former Sports Editor and Presenter at Sky
- Dr Rebecca Doyle, Animal welfare scientist at University of Edinburgh & International Livestock Research Institute
- Malcolm Morley MRCVS, Director of UK, World Horse Welfare
1:30pm Closing address Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal
1:40pm Summing up Roly Owers
Meet our speakers and panellists
Conference Chair – Rt Hon Caroline Nokes MP
Caroline Nokes is one of the three female Deputy Speakers of the House − the first time ever there has been an all-female team supporting the Speaker. A former chair of the Women and Equalities Committee, she has been the MP for Romsey and Southampton North since 2010. Caroline has been re-elected at every election since.
In her parliamentary career, Caroline has served as a Minister at the Department for Work and Pensions and the Cabinet Office, and from January 2018 to July 2019 she worked in the Home Office as the Minister of State for Immigration in Theresa May’s Government.
Caroline was born in Lyndhurst and has lived in the immediate Romsey area all of her life. Before being elected to Parliament Caroline served on Test Valley Borough Council, representing the Romsey Extra ward between 1999 and 2011. Prior to her election to Parliament Caroline was Chief Executive of the National Pony Society, an organisation dedicated to the welfare of the British native breeds of pony, including the much loved New Forest ponies who roam free in the South Western corner of her constituency.
Deborah Meaden
Deborah is a business leader, author and is well known for her role as an investor on Dragons Den which she joined in 2006.
Deborah supports ethical, fair practice both in business and in life believing that taking care of the environment and wildlife is essential for our future security and wellbeing.
Deborah is actively involved in a carefully selected group of environmental charities; Fellow of the WWF, Patron of Tusk Trust, Patron and compassion visionary for CIWF and Ambassador for the Marine Conservation Society, World Horse Welfare, RSPB and the NRFSA.
Philippe Le Jeune
Biog to follow
Dr. Huyam Salih
Dr. Huyam Salih is the current Director of African Union-Inter Africa Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), since August 2023. Sudanese Veterinary epidemiologist with more than 20 years of extensive and diversified experience in managing, planning, and leading for livestock development using animal health interventions, disease risk assessment and prevention in livestock value chains at national, regional and global levels.
Worked in positions that aim to maintain the One Health, ensure livestock trade compliance with international sanitary and phyto-sanitary (SPS) measures, and expand livestock value chains for small holder producers through P-PPPs, while serving the government of Sudan, IFAD projects, FAO HQ and the African Union Congress.
Discussion Panel Chair – Louise Minchin
Louise Minchin is an award-winning author, journalist, accomplished broadcaster, interviewer and event host.
Alongside her career in journalism Louise is an endurance athlete who has competed in Norseman, the toughest triathlon in the world.
Professor Cathy Dwyer
Biog to follow
Nick Powell
Nick Powell is a double Royal Television Society (RTS) award winner. Nick retired in 2025 as Sky News Sports Editor and Sky Sports News Presenter. He joined Sky from Yorkshire Television in 1996.
With his Grand National coverage spanning two decades, Nick has an eye for racing but enjoys most sports. He studied Russian and German at Bradford University before completing a journalism post-grad at Cardiff.
Dr Rebecca Doyle
Rebecca Doyle is Senior Lecturer in animal welfare and the Director of the Animal Welfare Centre, at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, where the centre focuses on improving the lives of animals through research, education and outreach.
She also holds a joint appointment at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and coordinates the Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock’s Animal Welfare Action Network. Her work focuses on understanding where animal welfare sits within global systems, from livestock and aquaculture production to One Health and how animals are valued.
Her ultimate goal is to increase the recognition and consideration of animals, and to improve the lives of animals and the people who rely on them.
Malcolm Morley MRCVS
Malcolm Morley is the Director of UK at World Horse Welfare.
Malcolm is an equine vet with over 30 years of experience in frontline equine care, working with a diverse range of horses and owners across Hampshire.
A past-president of the British Veterinary Association, he now leads our UK welfare operations, overseeing rescue, rehabilitation, and rehoming while ensuring the highest standards of equine welfare.
Sponsors and supporters
We would like to thank our headline sponsor, The Sir Peter O’Sullevan Charitable Trust, and our supporters, the Horserace Betting Levy Board and Agria.
