The Trustees of The Donkey Sanctuary have ultimate responsibility in law for the charity, its assets and activities.

They are appointed because of their commitment to The Donkey Sanctuary and their experience and skills which enable them to undertake the responsibilities of trusteeship of a large and complex charity.

Emeritus Professor Jim Duncan

Jim was a Veterinary practitioner in the UK and Kenya for six years before returning, in 1970, to a Fellowship in equine parasitic diseases at the University of Glasgow.. He first became involved with the Donkey Sanctuary after meeting Dr Svendsen in Scotland in the early 1970's. Subsequently he became a Trustee of the International Donkey Protection Trust and, through personal contacts at the Veterinary Faculty of Addis Ababa University, had a special interest in the welfare of working donkeys in Ethiopia.

Recently Jim renewed his contact with the Donkey Sanctuary and joined the Board of Trustees in 2007. He moved from Scotland in 2003 to live in the warmer climes of South West France.

Stuart W. J. Reid BVMS PhD DVM DipECVPH FRSE MRCVS

Graduating from the University of Glasgow as a veterinary surgeon in 1987, Stuart is Professor of Veterinary Epidemiology and Informatics holding the unique, joint chair between the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde since 1997. The focus is on quantitative epidemiology applied to human and animal health issues, at all levels of resolution, and has over 100 publications and over £15M in competitive grants to his name. Previously an Associate Dean and now Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Glasgow, Stuart leads one of the world's premier veterinary schools.

A vet with experience of the private and public sector, he has worked in Africa, the USA, is a Visiting Professor at the University of Sydney, is senior vice president of the European College of Veterinary Public Health and a member of the UK Veterinary Products Committee. He currently serves on the Scottish Science Advisory Committee and, until recently, was a member of the international scientific steering group of the Danish EpiLab. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Scotland's National Academy, and sat on the Society's inquiries into Foot and Mouth Disease and Infectious Salmon Anaemia.

John Sewell-Rutter MSc BSc(Econ)

John Rutter's early career was in marketing in companies including Nabisco, Cadbury's and a leading international advertising agency. Then followed managing director roles in two manufacturing companies over a 20 years span, with extensive overseas business activity.

As a lifelong animal lover, John delighted in ending his career with 7 years as chief executive of The Blue CrossThe Blue Cross animal welfare charity, during which time relationships were fostered with many charities including the Donkey Sanctuary.

In "retirement", John will be volunteering as a Prince's Trust mentor to young entrepreneurs, offer charity consultancy services, and continue as trustee of two animal charities. He is "tickled pink" to have been invited to join the Donkey Sanctuary, where he hopes his extensive business and large charity experience will be of use. He has been privileged to have in his family various donkey companions over a period of 37 years and regards donkeys as 'kings of the equine world'.

Bill Tetlow

Born in Halifax West Yorkshire Bill now resides in Bedale, North Yorkshire with his wife Carol. He was educated at Clare Hall School and Bradford Polytechnic, where he took an HNC in Business Studies.

After leaving school Bill ran his own farming business up until joining the Donkey Sanctuary as a Regional Welfare Officer in 1991. Since 1976 he has owned and shown donkeys for a hobby and has bred several British Champions. He was Chair of the Donkey Breed Society in 1998/1999 and some of his other hobbies include photography, walking his Labradors in the Dales and after dinner speaking.

In 2007 Bill retired from The Donkey Sanctuary but, so as to not lose his tremendous knowledge on care and welfare of donkeys, he became a Trustee in early 2008.

Cathy Thompson

Cathy has been a Trustee since January 2006. She works in the Business Travel Industry in Account Management and brings many years of practical business experience to the Donkey Sanctuary.

She has been an ardent supporter of the Sanctuary for 'Donkey's Years', has been coming to Donkey Week since 1991 and has a real passion and love for these beautiful and often misunderstood animals.

A particular interest is the continual expansion of the Sanctuary's work in developing countries. In 2007 she visited our project in India, seeing first hand the difference we make to the donkey and consequently to the life of some of their poorest people. It was a very humbling experience.

Cathy moved to High Peak in 2004 seeking a more rural environment. She is very keen on animal welfare and enjoys walking and bird watching amongst her hobbies.

Rosalind de Wesselow

Rosalind and her husband started keeping donkeys at their home in West Sussex in 1962 and went on to breed from them. However, on finding out from interested buyers how little was known about their care, they "retired" their mares and Rosalind decided to produce some written guidance on the subject. "Donkeys, their Care and Management" was published in 1967 and is believed to be the first handbook on what, until then, seemed to be generally regarded as small, hairy ponies with few needs and a low profile.

She joined the Donkey Breed Society soon after it was formed in 1967 and became involved in donkey welfare. Two years later Dr Svendsen invited her to become a Trustee of the Donkey Sanctuary, which she was just founding and Rosalind has been proud to continue in that role ever since.

Now residing in Cumbria. She no longer has donkeys of her own, but her main interest continues to be animals and their welfare, as well as gardening, painting and reading.