Inspiring excellence in animal care and use for scientific purposes.

We are a boutique firm of regulatory compliance consultants who specialise in animal ethics and animal care and use for scientific purposes in Australia and New Zealand.

In 20 years+ of industry experience across several international regulatory environments, we’ve had just about every role possible in an animal care and use program. We use that lived experience to inspire excellence in animal care and use for scientific purposes through independent external reviews, consulting, workshops, online courses and coaching.

Photo of Dana Briggs

Hi, I’m Dr Dana Briggs, PhD (she/her).

Since the days of my undergraduate Zoology classes, I’ve had just about every role possible in an animal care and use program: student, researcher, educator, animal carer, Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) member and Chair, program manager.

I use that deep industry experience - along with my scientific and audit training - to inspire excellence in animal care and use for scientific purposes in an approachable, compassionate and professional way. To this end, I pride myself on delivering pragmatic solutions that will long outlast my engagement.

What our clients say about us:

  • "Dana did a wonderful job, she was very organized, and this helped us to work together in an organized and methodical manner."

    Review client (NZ)

  • "Dana delivered a meticulous and thoughtful consultancy service using a multi-faceted approach to examine all aspects of the regulatory, business as well as research experience process. "

    Review client (NSW)

  • The review was very detailed and the report felt slightly daunting at first but on reading it was very useful as it was made clear what were essential changes, and what were things to consider to keep improving our processes over time. We appreciate that detail so we can keep aiming for best practice. "The layout it was presented in was great. "

    Review client (NZ)

Reviews are our bread and butter. We have lived experienced working with animals in both the Australian and New Zealand regulatory environments, and we’ve been conducting reviews since 2020. In that time, we’ve leveraged our auditing qualifications and experience into an effective review program, complete with Client Manuals, seamless processes, beautiful collateral (a collection of media used to support the review) and a deliverables package which includes a summary report and follow up support.

We conduct Australian reviews in accordance with Section 6 of the Australian Code for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes and we carry out reviews under sections 105 of the NZ Animal Welfare Act 1999 in accordance with the Performance Standards for Independent Reviews of Code Holder and Animal Ethics Committees.

Our review outcomes focus on supporting institutions to achieve and maintain regulatory compliance, and inspiring institutions and individuals to improve practice across all aspects of their animal care and use program in a way that’s realistic for where they’re at.

Ensuring compliance and supporting continuous improvement in this way creates the best outcomes for all involved - including the animals - and assures the community that the care and use of animals for scientific purposes is undertaken in a responsible, ethical, and humane manner.

Independent Review

Consulting Services

  • Herd of brown and white cows looking at the camera

    Openness

    Whether you are a signatory to an Openness Agreement or not, we help you operationalise openness in your organisation.

  • A laughing kookaburra sitting on a tennis net

    Risk Management

    We design risk management solutions that reflects the size, complexity, risk appetite and goals of the organisation and its animal care and use program.

  • A school of fish swimming in the ocean

    Process Improvement

    We’ve seen what works, and what doesn’t, so we can help you analyse your processes to realise efficiencies in any aspect of your animal care and use program.

  • An Asian water monitor lizard peeking its head out of the bushes

    Custom Services

    Need something that’s not listed here? Get in touch to discuss a bespoke service that’s just right for your needs.

Learn More
Whale breaching the surface of the ocean

Workshops

We develop and deliver custom education and training designed for your people to solve your problems. On occasion we also offer workshops around Australia and New Zealand on hot topics or pain points.

Online courses

Our suite of online training courses equip animal care and use program leaders and administrators to achieve excellence in animal care and use for scientific purposes. Think risk management, compliance obligations, effective chairing, AEC management, post-approval monitoring (PAM) and more.

A team of gators sitting on a log

Coaching

Our coaching packages are perfect for:

  • getting advice on specific aspects of your program

  • professional development

  • accessing expert guidance on a project you’re executing yourself

  • leveraging external review findings into strategic plans and then executing them

We’ll help you choose your goals - be they professional development or program improvement - and help you work towards them.

Ready to get started?