Press Office
Welcome to the PDSA Press Office, where journalists can find out all of the latest news and information from the UK’s largest veterinary charity.
If you want to find out more about PDSA, our services, spokespeople or all things pet related, then you have come to the right place. Our team of expert veterinary staff, and charity professionals, are available to provide comments, interviews and advice.
Please note, all press enquiries must be directed to the Press Office.
Meet the PR team
Follow us on Twitter: @PDSAPressOffice
Contact the PR team
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm:pr@pdsa.org.uk
Jessica Wassell
Strategic Communications Manager
Email: wassell.jessica@pdsa.org.uk
Mobile: 07983 157 893
Emily Malcolm
Public Relations Officer
Email: malcolm.emily@pdsa.org.uk
Mobile: 07585 961 364
Jodie Perkins (Midlands and Wales)
Public Relations Officer
Email: perkins.jodie@pdsa.org.uk
Mobile: 07717 360 497
Phoebe Parsons (London, South and Northern Ireland)
Public Relations Officer
Email: parsons.phoebe@pdsa.org.uk
Mobile: 07495 731 701
Spokespeople
Need a vet to comment on an animal story hitting the headlines? Looking for a friendly, well-informed vet or nurse to take part in a pet series? You’re in the right place. There are 48 PDSA Pet Hospitals across the UK, all with experienced and passionate spokespeople who can talk on a wide range of subjects, from fat pets to cloning, dog attacks to disease prevention.
Our vets are the first port of call to be spokespeople on a wide range of animal wellbeing topics and appear regularly on national news programmes including ITV’s This Morning and Good Morning Britain, The One Show, Sky Sunrise and national radio, as well as featuring in TV documentaries such as BBC2’s Young Vets and providing quotes and interviews to national and regional journalists.
To arrange an interview, please see our ‘How to reach us’ details above.
Amy Wareing-Reid, Fundraising Manager
Amy started working at PDSA in 2015, and has carried out a variety of roles since then. She has been focused on events fundraising since returning from maternity leave in 2018, developing a range of events and marketing in order to encourage supporters to raise much needed funds for the charity. Amy manages events such as the London Marathon, Great North Run, localised challenge events, as well as PDSA’s virtual events, such as the October Walkathon. Amy lives in the West Midlands with her family and Matilda the cat.
Nina Downing RVN BMid (Hons), Veterinary Communications Officer
Nina Downing qualified as a Veterinary Nurse in 2000, following the completion of her training in a mixed animal practice, where she gained experience working with horses and companion animals. Once Nina had obtained her qualification and registered nurse status, she worked out in Australia as a Veterinary Nurse, to gain experience working with exotic species. On her return to the UK Nina first joined PDSA, before branching out into emergency care, where she became Head Nurse. At this stage in her career Nina changed direction and trained as a Midwife, working for the NHS for 10 years before returning to where her passion lay; Veterinary nursing, joining a companion animal and exotic species practice. During this time, Nina trained as a dog groomer at South Staffordshire College, where she returned later to teach students Animal Care and Veterinary Nursing, until she decided to return to PDSA as Veterinary Communications Officer. Nina lives in Shropshire with her husband, three children, two dogs, two rescue cats and her ex-racehorse.
Lynne James BVSc DVM CertAVP(SAM) MRCVS, Veterinary Communications Manager
Lynne has over 20 years of experience working as a veterinary surgeon in both the UK and Canada. She has worked for PDSA since 2020, managing a team of vets and nurses, writing pet health and welfare content, and coproducing the PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report.
Lynne represents PDSA in a number of external collaboration groups, working with other charities and animal welfare organisations to improve the lives of UK pets.
She lives in Shropshire with her family, including her one eyed rescue dog and three-legged cat!
Dr Sean Wensley BVSc MSc FRCVS, Senior Veterinary Surgeon for Animal Welfare and Professional Engagement
Sean is Senior Vet for Animal Welfare and Professional Engagement at PDSA. He has a keen interest in wildlife and the environment, and he is a founder Director of Vet Sustain, which is championing sustainability within the veterinary profession.
Sean chaired the Animal Welfare Working Group of the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE) from 2019 - 2022 and was President of the British Veterinary Association (BVA) from 2015 - 2016. He has contributed to animal welfare and conservation projects around the world and in 2017 he received the inaugural World Veterinary Association (WVA) Global Animal Welfare Award for Europe. His first book Through A Vet’s Eyes: How We Can All Choose a Better Life for Animals was selected as one of the Financial Times’ Best Summer Books of 2022.
His TV appearances include numerous interviews on ITV’s Good Morning Britain and This Morning; and BBC Breakfast. He has also appeared on The One Show, Cutting Edge, The Big Questions and Channel 5 News. His radio work includes contributions to numerous national and regional radio programmes including BBC Radio 2’s Jeremy Vine and BBC Radio 5 Live.
