Meet Dr Alexandra Tomlinson

Dr Alex Tomlinson started her career in mixed practice after graduating from the University of Cambridge Veterinary School in 1992. She had always wanted to be a farm vet and so headed into mixed practice in the south-west of England. From here she took on a role as a Veterinary Officer (VO) for DEFRA, during which time working with complex multi-host infectious diseases such as bovine tuberculosis opened her eyes to the importance of ecological approaches to understanding disease dynamics. Having a keen interest in natural history, the next career step was to undertake a Masters in Wild Animal Health at the RVC in partnership with the Institute of Zoology, doing her research project at Woodchester Park in Stroud, a National Trust owned parkland which has been studying badger populations for 45 years. This was a turning point in her career; highlighting the importance of thinking in systems, moving away from a ‘fixing things’ approach towards developing more of an understanding of ‘why things are not working’.

Alex explains how systems thinking is so important for the complex sustainability challenges that we are facing and this became clear to her whilst working for the late Vic Simpson, a renowned pathologist at Cornwall’s Wildlife Veterinary Investigation Centre. After retiring, Vic set up his own wildlife disease investigation Centre on his farm receiving wildlife carcasses from across the country. Alex spent a year working alongside Vic, finding his curiosity truly inspiring and learning about declining species and the complex interactions between animals, humans and the environment.

Having enjoyed her time at Woodchester Park, an opportunity arose for Alex to return there to complete a PhD, and to use her veterinary skills to support wildlife disease related projects. During this time, Alex was involved in several work-streams; including studying bovine tuberculosis in badgers; co-infection studies of bovine TB and parasites; and safety, efficacy and licensing of the BCG vaccine in free-living badgers.

After getting married, Alex moved back to the Peak District where she grew up, and decided to take the plunge and work for herself, drawing upon the varied experience she had gained through her career and the many contacts she had made along the way. This is when Alex got involved with disease risk analysis work for species re-introduction projects expertly guided and supported by the late Dr. John Lewis, one of the founders of Wildlife Vets International. Projects included introduction of captive Amur leopards into Russia for a breeding and release programme, and translocation of pine martens from Scotland to Wales which resulted in establishment of a breeding population, a project led by the Vincent Wildlife Trust. This work required a One Health approach, considering all the different systems and inputs and considering the wider impacts of species introductions/movements into new geographical areas. It allowed Alex to consider land management and biodiversity from a different perspective and led to her interest in regenerative farming systems.

As is a valued member of the Vet Sustain Food and Farming Working Group, Alex brings her perspective on regenerative farming, and how systemic change is needed at the core of our food production systems. She explains that systemic change can be supported by all of us through our food choices, and this brought about the concept of ‘Unravel Your Food’, or ‘UYF’ an idea that Alex and her colleagues came up with, to engage people who care about food, humans, animals and the planet, but who are bamboozled by the often single issue focus of current information on this topic. ‘UYF’ champions better working conditions, optimal nutrition, thriving communities, shorter supply chains, rebuilding biodiversity in our landscapes and seascapes, and giving food animals a genuinely good life for their entire life. Alex hopes that this concept will encourage people to consider the multiple interconnected issues associated with our food production systems, and drive real change in consumer behaviour towards sustainable and regenerative food solutions. UYF is presently in the latter stages of development Unravel Your Food — shop sustainably, eat ethically, and Alex and her colleagues hope to get the website up and running soon. The UYF work-stream is supported by our sankalpa home - sankalpa – a Community Interest Company founded by Ruth Layton, a fellow veterinarian who has had a hugely positive influence on Alex’s, and many many other people’s lives. Alex has been working with sankalpa for nearly 10 years now, supporting a broad portfolio of changemakers aiming to make lasting positive change.

When asked what were the top three priorities that Alex will be focusing on next she replied ‘ We want to get ‘Unravel Your Food’ up and running, this is a passion project of ours. I hope it will help people have clearer insight into the food they buy and eat, and its impact on ourselves, our animals and the planet. I also would love to create a regenerative no-dig community market garden near my home town of Buxton and finally, get another dog to replace the irreplaceable ‘largely good’ Border Terrier aka ‘Fox The Dog’!’.