Who We Are

VERO was founded by members and graduates of Oxford University, and enjoys the support of a number of prominent patrons, many of them Oxford graduates themselves:

Richard Adams, author (Worcester College)

Tony Benn, politician (New College)

Dr Stephen R.L. Clark, philosopher (Balliol & All Souls)

JM Coetzee, author and Nobel Prize winner

Annette Crosbie OBE, actress

Juliet Gellatley, Director of Viva!

Mike Hancock, MP

Dr Caroline Lucas, Green MP and Green Party Leader

Joanna Lumley OBE, actress

Sir David Madden, WSPA consultant and former UK ambassdor to Greece (Merton College)

Dr Jeffrey Masson, writer

Prof. Vernon Reynolds, anthropologist (Professor Emeritus, Oxford University)

Dr Richard Ryder, philosopher and former Senior Clinical Psychologist at Warneford Hospital, Oxford

Udo Schuklenk, PhD, Professor of Philosophy and Ontario Research Chair in Bioethics Joint Editor-in-Chief Bioethics & Developing World Bioethics

Julia Stephenson, Independent columnist

Peter Tatchell, human rights campaigner

Rev. James Thompson, founder of Christians Against All Animal Abuse

Ann Widdecombe, novelist and former politician (Lady Margaret Hall)