Dr Simon Spiro is the veterinary pathologist for the Zoological Society of London, where he is responsible for the diagnostic pathology of the society’s 23,000 animals of 800 species. He is also the pathologist for the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP) which investigates dead whales, dolphins, sharks, turtles, and seals in English and Welsh waters. He graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2010 with degrees in veterinary medicine and pathology, and also has a DPhil in infection, immunology and translational medicine from the University of Oxford. After a dost-doc in avian oncogenic viruses at the Pirbright Institute he undertook a residency in anatomic pathology at the Royal Veterinary College, becoming a Fellow of the RCPath in 2018 and a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists in 2019. He is the author of over 40 peer reviewed papers and is a module leader on the Royal Veterinary College's wild animal health and wild animal biology MSc courses. When not taking exams or cutting up exotic megafauna, he likes to relax with a pub quiz or a game of Dungeons and Dragons.   

Professor Roberto La Ragione is a veterinary microbiologist with a particular interest in zoonotic bacterial pathogens of livestock, poultry and companion animals. His current research focuses on understanding the pathobiology of zoonotic pathogens, antimicrobial resistance and the development of novel intervention strategies, including diagnostics, vaccines, prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics. Roberto has published over 240 peer reviewed publications in the area of veterinary microbiology and is a member of a number of scientific advisory committees. Roberto is currently a Professor of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology in the School of Veterinary Medicine, and the Interim Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean for the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences (FHMS), at the University of Surrey.