Dr Amanda Fernie

With extensive experience in animal ethics, human research ethics, research integrity, and governance, Amanda brings a wealth of expertise to her consulting practice. She holds a doctorate in animal behaviour and welfare from The University of Queensland, where she developed the internationally adopted Great Ape Welfare Index, a tool now used to inform the development of welfare indices for a variety of species.
Amanda’s career includes leadership roles as the Manager of Research Ethics and Integrity at multiple Universities and previously coordinated animal ethics. She provides expert advice on research governance, integrity, regulatory compliance, and risk management. Amanda played pivotal roles in developing university policies on research integrity, misconduct investigations, contentious objections, and the care, use, and rehoming of animals.

As a proactive advocate for professional development, Amanda initiated and hosted the inaugural Queensland Animal Ethics Training and Networking event, drawing nearly 100 attendees and featuring experts from various fields. She also contributed to the organisation of the 2015 ANZCCART Conference and has presented extensively at local and international conferences on animal welfare and ethics.

Amanda has developed and implemented training programs for Research Integrity Advisors, researchers, committee members, and animal carers, as well as guidelines for the rehabilitation and post-release monitoring of great apes.

Amanda has provided advice on ethics and research integrity within the higher education sector. She has also advised researchers, wildlife rehabilitation centres and sanctuaries on animal behaviour and welfare and evaluation methodologies. Amanda has chaired review panels, edited grant applications, edited web content and provided advice on research design and data management.

• Induction and training of researchers, committee members and research ethics advisors
• Development, review and refinement of research ethics and integrity policies, processes and resources
• Investigation of potential research ethics or integrity breaches
• Change management
• Research ethics IT system design, testing, implementation and continuous improvement
• Research ethics governance
• Risk management
• Regulatory compliance
• Coordination and operation of HRECs and AECs
• Facilitation of constructive communication between researchers and committees

Fernie, AC, Allen, G (2018) Griffith University’s implementation of the Australian Code (2018), Research Ethics Monthly ISSN 2206-2483

Fernie, AC (2017) Training and competency of animal users, carers and animal ethics committee members, S. von Aulock, 10th World Congress – Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences, Seattle, 2017