Dr Amanda Fernie

Dr Amanda Fernie

ASSOCIATE

Dr Amanda Fernie has extensive experience in animal ethics, human research ethics, research integrity and governance. She is a former Manager of the Research Ethics and Integrity team at Griffith University.  

Amanda is a trained researcher with a PhD in animal behaviour and welfare from the University of Queensland. As part of her research she conceived, implemented and evaluated a Great Ape Welfare Index.  The Index has been adopted internationally and used to inform the development of indices for a variety of other species. Growing up in Central Queensland on the family's cattle property, Amanda is familiar with agricultural food production systems. 

She has provided expert advice to executives regarding research governance, integrity, ethics, regulatory compliance and risk. She managed projects and developed university policy and procedures on research integrity, misconduct investigations, contentious objections, and animal care, use and rehoming. Amanda has also advised researchers, wildlife rehabilitation centres and sanctuaries on animal behaviour and welfare and evaluation methodologies. She has edited grant applications as well as provided advice on research design and data management. An effective organiser of conferences and workshops, Amanda initiated and hosted the inaugural Queensland Animal Ethics Training and Networking event.  

Amanda has developed and implemented training and competency assessments for researchers, committee members and animal carers, created guidelines for the care of great apes undergoing rehabilitation as well as post-release monitoring, delivered training in animal care and behaviour and conceived and installed novel environmental enrichment programs resulting in measurable improvements to activity budgets.