Associate Professor Peta Lee Hitchens, BAppSci, MVPHMgt, PhD

Peta has been the lead epidemiologist for the Equine Orthopaedic Research Group since 2016. She conducts research into the health, safety, and welfare of both horses and their riders, as well as on equine welfare in developing countries.

Prior to her appointment at the University of Melbourne, she was animal welfare epidemiologist at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, and postdoctoral scholar under the ground-breaking Racing Safety Program at the University of California, Davis under Professor Sue Stover.

Peta has experience as a breeder and owner of racehorses as well as having commenced her career in regulation and operations in the Tasmanian racing industry. She is particularly renowned for her research into jockey safety.

Find out more about Peta's research at Find an Expert.