Lunn takes over the role from Professor Stuart Reid CBE, who held the position since 2007.

Lunn recently returned to the U.K. to take up the post of dean of the School of Veterinary Science at the University of Liverpool, after spending 10 years as dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University, in Raleigh.

His previous roles include head of Department of Clinical Sciences for the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Colorado State University and associate dean for Clinical Affairs and director of the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Lunn grew up in a farming community in North Wales, before studying veterinary medicine at the University of Liverpool. After a period in private practice in the U.K., he pursued clinical training in Ontario and Wisconsin and doctoral research training at the University of Cambridge.

As a faculty member, outside of clinical work Lunn’s interests have been in equine immunology and infectious disease. His research has focused on influenza virus and equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) infection in horses and more recently on infectious diseases of working equids in low-income countries.

As well as bringing a wealth of knowledge to his role at The Donkey Sanctuary, Lunn and his wife, Kathy, have firsthand experience as owners of a donkey and pony they’ve owned for 25 years.

Their 27-year-old donkey, Ferdinand, and Biscuit the pony, who is 25, made the long journey from the United States with Paul and Kathy to their new home near Liverpool.

“People often ask, ‘Why donkeys?’” said Lunn. “I think their intelligence, gentleness, and personalities are unique and wonderful.

“When you also get to see them working with people, being an essential part of their lives in many parts of world, it is a wonderful thing to see. This gives me all the motivation I need to want to work to support them and improve their welfare.”