Meet The Team

Our Pet Behaviour Clinic is run by a small team of dedicated animal behaviour and training professionals. We have visiting behaviourists and trainers at the clinic and, following the preliminary call we can book you in with the professional who best suits your needs. As we are a teaching facility, you may have students assisting in your case but all cases will be overseen by a Clinical Animal Behaviourist registered with the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC). For more information on our staff, please see their profiles below.

Debbie Emmerson

BSc (Hons), MSc CABC, Full Member of the APBC, ABTC Registered Clinical Animal Behaviourist

Clinic Manager and In-House Clinical Animal Behaviourist and Trainer

Debbie is a HE lecturer in Animal Science at ARU Writtle. She is the programme leader for the Pet Behaviour and Welfare modules on the Animal Science and Animal Management degrees. She works on the committee for the APBC and is the APBC rep to the ABTC.

Jane Williams

MSc CABC, Full member of the ABPC, APDT and TCBTS, ABTC Registered ATI/CAB

Clinical Animal Behaviourist and Animal Trainer Instructor

Jane has had a life-long passion for animals, their behaviour and welfare. A graduate from the University of Southampton with a Diploma and a research MSc in Companion Animal Behaviour Counselling. Jane has also achieved a Zoology BSc and an MA in Education. She is a former chair of the APBC and ABTC, and is still active in both organisations as a committee and council member respectively.

Sharon Hunt

ABTC and APDT registered, member of IMDT

Animal Training Instructor

Sharon is a member of the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers (IMDT), the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) and a Registered Animal Training Instructor with the Animal Behaviour & Training Council (ABTC). Sharon is currently undertaking her final year as a BSc Animal Management student at WUC, specialising in Pet Behaviour and Welfare. She feels passionate that our pets deserve our respect, understanding and compassion, which is why she believes force free training is the only ethical option.

Nieky van Veggel

BSc, MSc, PgCert, CBiol, FHEA

Education Development Lead

Nieky is a Senior Lecturer in Animal Health at ARU Writtle. He is the course leader for undergraduate animal courses and has a special interest in knowledge exchange, curriculum development, and innovation in learning, teaching and assessment. Nieky leads the development of the online education programme at the Pet Behaviour Academy.

Darren Veitch

BSc (Hons)

Clinic Administrator

Darren graduated from Writtle University College in 2020 with a BSc (Hons) in Animal Management and now works at ARU Writtle as an Associate Lecturer in Animal Science. His main focus at ARU Writtle is being the module leader for Foundation Year biology and also teaches animal husbandry to our degree level students. Darren is the clinic administrator for the Pet Behaviour Academy, so he will likely be your first point of contact when enquiring at the clinic.