Roly qualified as a veterinary surgeon from Cambridge University and has been Chief Executive of the charity World Horse Welfare since 2008. Roly plays an active role in much of World Horse Welfare’s work supporting the horse-human partnership across four continents, including leading the charity’s work with governments and institutions in the UK, the European Union and globally, including the WOAH, the FAO and the United Nations. He also advises sport regulators including the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), the International Horse Sports Confederation (IHSC) and the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) on equine welfare.

Roly is currently Chair of the International Coalition for Animal Welfare, Treasurer of World Federation for Animals, a Board member of the European Horse Network and Vice Chair of Eurogroup for Animals’ equine working group. In the UK he is Chair of the Equine Disease Coalition, a Director of both British Equestrian and the British Horse Council and Treasurer of the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA).