Jill Fernandes

Dr. Jill Fernandes is an animal welfare scientist and consultant dedicated to shaping a better world for animals. Growing up on a farm in Missouri surrounded by cattle, horses, dogs, cats, foxes, deer, and quail, Jill has a deep-seated interest in the workings of nature and the social behavior of animals, including humans.

Jill has a PhD in Environmental Science and Policy from The Leonard and Jayne Abess Center at the University of Miami. She is a Fulbright Scholar and a Graduate Research Fellow of the National Science Foundation. She undertook interdisciplinary research on a range of topics in the environmental and animal sciences at The University of Queensland before moving into animal welfare consulting. Through her company, Animal Centric, she writes about current science on animals, offers practical courses, and develops strategies with zoos, aquariums, farms, and other organizations with animals under their care to ensure that all animals can live the best lives possible.