Meet the Cruelty Free International team
Our dedicated team are experts in their fields
Michelle Thew
Chief Executive
Michelle joined Cruelty Free International in 1999 and has overseen the implementation of the organisation’s most ambitious and innovative strategies for creating positive change for animals in laboratories. She spearheaded the organisation’s historic decade-long campaign to successfully end cosmetics testing on animals in Europe.
Michelle is known for her dynamic, passionate, innovative and determined approach to ending animal testing, and is one of the most respected and accomplished individuals in the animal protection movement.
Between 2003 and 2006 Michelle was Chief Executive of the Animal Protection Institute in California, and prior to working for Cruelty Free International, Michelle was Director of Services and Deputy Chief Executive of the National Deaf Children’s Society.
Julian Littaur
Deputy Chief Executive and Finance Director
Julian joined the organisation in May 2007 as Finance Director and subsequently became Deputy Chief Executive in 2009. With broad experience of senior management, Julian has previously worked in similar roles for a range of charitable, not-for-profit, and public sector organisations.
Sarah Kite
Director of Special Projects
Sarah joined Cruelty Free International in 1991. Before that she played a pivotal role in introducing the use of investigations to lift the lid of secrecy surrounding animal experiments with her pioneering undercover work at Huntingdon Research Centre in 1989. One focus of Sarah's work has been investigating the international trade in primates for research. For a number of years she co-managed a primate sanctuary and was involved in the rescue and rehabilitation of monkeys who had been used in experiments.
Kerry Postlewhite
Director of Global Relations & Engagement
Kerry joined Cruelty Free International from the African educational technology pioneer, Mwabu, in 2017. She has 30 years' experience in government and not-for-profits, working for a decade in the European Parliament as an advisor to MEPs. Her work there included advising on the parliamentary passage of the EU cosmetics directive and a host of other animal protection and animal welfare laws. Kerry returned to the UK three years ago after living and working in Zambia, including time as Deputy Director of the British Council there.
Dr Katy Taylor
Director of Science and Regulatory Affairs
Katy joined Cruelty Free International in 2006. She leads our science team and represents us at international regulatory fora including the OECD, the European Medicines Agency and the European Chemicals Agency. She has a degree in Zoology from the University of Sheffield and a PhD in veterinary behavioural epidemiology from De Montfort University. An animal welfare scientist by training and personally dedicated to animal protection, Katy is now one of Europe’s foremost experts on animal testing issues and alternatives.
Dr Jarrod Bailey
Senior Research Scientist
Jarrod has worked for Cruelty Free International since 2008. Before he was a scientific consultant for various animal protection groups, and spent more than 10 years in academic biomedical research. Jarrod is a geneticist and molecular biologist, and specialises in evaluating the scientific validity and human relevance of animal experiments.
