COAPE Diploma Lecturers & Tutors
Karin Pienaar
COAPE International Partner.
DipCABT (COAPE) OCN, CertCAB, CABTi Practitioner, C.A.B. ICAN, C.C.A.B.
Karin has been working in the field of animal behaviour therapy since 1997 after studying in the UK, where she completed her Diploma in Animal Behaviour with what was then COAPE UK. She is a member of both the CABTi and ICAN and is a Certified Animal Behaviourist (C.A.B.), a partner in COAPE International and a published author.
After more than 25 years of consulting with dog and cat owners, Karin now focuses mainly on managing COAPE International, presenting parts of the COAPE Diplomas and MHERA™ Practitioners course, as well as lecturing extensively at conferences on animal emotionality both locally and internationally. She developed the industry changing MHERA™ method which is used to monitor and improve emotional and behavioural wellbeing in animals. MHERA™ can be applied on mammals and birds, in a variety of different environments, from captive wildlife facilities to the domestic pet setting. Her book “Mood Matters: MHERA: An innovative assessment approach to animal emotionality in the treatment of behaviour problems” was published in 2023 by DogWise in the U.S.A. Karin is the Behaviour Consultant to numerous pet companies such as Eukanuba and Ascendis Animal Health and is a regular contributor to several local and international magazines, as well as appearing on television and radio regarding animal behaviour matters.
She heads the Enrichment Partnership Program between COAPE International and several captive wildlife facilities, where she spends her time to develop bespoke enrichment programs to promote the behavioural and emotional health of the animals, as well as implementing consent-based training to facilitate stress-free husbandry and medical procedures in captive wildlife. The captive animal project provides the unique opportunity to apply COAPE’s MHERA™ and ESTA™ techniques to a huge variety of animal species, with great success to date. She is also part of the South African Government’s task team whose focus is on creating awareness surrounding the safe ownership of pitbulls and education in animal behaviour.
When she has time to spare, she consults on particularly challenging cases and works as an Expert Witness in legal cases involving Animal Behaviour.
Leigh Shenker
BADA (Hons)(WITS), DipCABT (COAPE) OCN, CABTi Practitioner
Leigh’s studies and career path started in the field of human behaviour, working primarily with youth at risk. Her love of four legged creatures led her to change direction towards all things related to animal behaviour, and she completed her Diploma in Animal Behaviour through COAPE International.
Leigh is a qualified Practitioner member of CAPBT. She has a special interest in natural medicine for animals and grows and sources many unusual medicinal plants.
As the Marking Manager, she forms part of the COAPE management Team. When not lecturing and tutoring the COAPE Diploma, Leigh spends most of her time involved in shelter work and working with clients.
Her dedication to shelter work is reflected in several programmes and systems she has set up, and she is committed to changing the traditional model for animal shelters and improving basic conditions for all animals, as well as assisting families who choose to adopt a rescue.
Vicky Payne
BVetMed MRCVS, DipCABT (UK)
Dr. Vicky Payne is a General Veterinary Practitioner and Holistic Vet living in East Sussex, England. She graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2001 and has worked in both small and mixed practices since then. She has also undertaken further studies in veterinary acupuncture, veterinary herbal medicine and animal behaviour.
Vicky completed her COAPE UK Level 6 Diploma in 2017 and has been incorporating emotion-based animal behaviour into her veterinary practice ever since. Her favourite area to work in is problem prevention; Vicky’s passion is starting puppies and kittens off right and preventing their experiences at the vet from turning into a lifelong problem. Her acupuncture practice means she spends a lot of time with end-of-life pets too, and she has found that her behaviour training helps her to enhance their lives.
Vicky also teaches Pet First Aid courses to pet professionals and owners and in 2021, joined the COAPE International Team as the UK Veterinary Advisor and Diploma Lecturer.
Nancy Payne
BA(Physics), MSc (Physics), DipCABT C.C.A.B.
Before discovering the world of animal behaviour, Nancy’s studies began in the field of physics with an undergrad degree from the University of Oxford, graduating in 2014. After several internships ranging from medical imaging to solar cells, she settled in South Africa for her Master’s in laser physics, and she’s now several years into a PhD in quantum physics at Stellenbosch University. In addition to research, Nancy is involved in tutoring, lecturing, and public outreach, doing her best to convince people that physics is way more fun than they think.
Nancy’s education in animal behaviour began with a trial by fire when she adopted Roxy the shelter dog, who kindly provided an opportunity for Nancy to experience most unwanted dog behaviours first-hand. Nancy decided it was time to formalise her dog related education and completed the C01 DogWise course. Not willing to stop there, she promptly enrolled and then successfully completed her COAPE Diploma in Animal Behaviour, and is now a COAPE Certified Animal Behaviourist. In 2020, she joined the COAPE Team as a Tutor and Researcher, working closely with Karin and writing several essential components of the Diploma.
Nancy’s passions lie in rehabilitation of fearful and aggressive animals, and helping owners and shelters understand the animal behind the behaviour. Nancy also has a keen interest in the science of behaviour and how a better understanding of what’s going on in the brain can contribute to applied behaviour modification.
Nancy lectures and tutors the COAPE Diploma.
Jo Nicholas
QTLS, RVN, Dip CABT, CABP, MAPDT, CABTi Practitioner member.
Jo graduated with her COAPE Diploma in Companion Animal Behaviour in 1999 and worked for Cedar Veterinary Group for 25 years, initially as head nurse and then from 1994-2008, as a full-time professional referral pet behaviour therapist and dog trainer. During this time Jo qualified in clinical small animal nutrition, a subject she has always been interested in. Jo then achieved her teaching qualifications whilst working full time as Course Tutor in animal behaviour, animal care and veterinary nursing at Kingston Maurward College. She went on to combine all her qualifications by returning to practice for Springbok Veterinary Group in Dorset where she was Principal of the South Coast Hydrotherapy School. She then moved to an exotic referral practice at Piddle Valley Vets as RVN, Animal Behaviour Therapist and trainer, and was in charge of nurse training.
Jo writes books and articles on companion animal behaviour and pet first aid, on which she also runs courses. She spends the rest of her time with her family and growing menagerie of dogs, cats, ferrets, ponies and her beloved horse, Gentleman Jim.
Jo tutors the COAPE Diploma.
Yvonne Mackender
DipCABT (RQF Level 6)
COAPE Certified Animal Behaviourist (CCAB)
Member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers MAPDT 253
FitPAWS Master Trainer & Certified Canine Fitness Trainer (University of Tennessee)
Yvonne is a COAPE Certified Animal Behaviourist (CCAB) having achieved an Ofqual regulated Level 6 Diploma in Companion Animal Behaviour Therapy, Psychopharmacology and Therapeutics (DipCABT RQF Level 6) and a Certificate in Companion Animal Nutrition (Cert Nut RQF Level 3).
These academic qualifications are paired with a wealth of experience gained from living with a number of rescue dogs, over 30years teaching people to train their dogs, and 16years working as a local authority dog warden.
Yvonne takes a holistic approach towards her work and believes that the emotional well-being of the animal is as important as its physical well-being. Physical problems (pain) often underpin behavioural problems and so Yvonne has trained with the University of Tennessee where she has qualified as a Certified Canine Fitness Trainer and is also a FitPAWS Master Trainer.
Yvonne has constantly embraced change and incorporates new theories into the classes that she offers with her business partner at Progressing Partnerships (https://www.progressingpartnerships.co.uk/about-us).
Yvonne is former Chair of the COAPE Association of Applied Pet Behaviourists and Trainers (CAPBT now called the CABTi).
Sonia Carli
LL.B
DipCABT
COAPE Certified Animal Behaviourist (CCAB)
Sonia has always been fascinated by the full spectrum of natural behaviour offered to us by this planet, including humans! During her academic beginnings, music scholarship, law degree and into the mainstream working world, her ongoing passion for animal welfare and safeguarding the ‘underdog’ furnished her with some very unlikely, unique and enthralling companion animals. Her decision to eventually leave the corporate world behind and go after her calling led to the initial completion of a National Certificate in Animal Management at Kingston Maurward college, U.K. in 2009. This steered a move from the U.K. to South Africa in 2011 where she worked at the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town, overseeing the penguin, reptile and plant exhibit. Environmental enrichment always took lead in her exhibits, paving the way for much development in the life of the animals in her care. She has continued to mentor and educate in this field, to date.
However, it was the years spent working in the animal shelters of Cape Town that gave way to a more acute intrigue as to how human behaviour so readily affects the animals that we have had the pleasure of co-evolving with. Experiencing this very complex niche was the sinew that brought her to enroll for the COAPE Diploma in Companion Animal Behaviour in 2021, graduating in June 2023. Sonia is now a COAPE Certified Animal Behaviourist and is devoted to helping our companion animals navigate their human world.
Sonia is most definitely a ‘cat person’ – Mozart, who walked into her life from the streets about 8 years ago is the embodiment of her duty to help others understand the complex emotional world of their pets.
COAPE DogWise Tutors
Sr. Carla van Rooyen (van der Merwe)
DipVetNurs, DipCABT(OCN).
Carla had a great passion for all animals since youth so after school she decided to study veterinary nursing at the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria. For the past 13 years she has been the senior veterinary sister at the Small Animal Medicine department and subsequently moved to the Outpatients/ Emergency ward where she is involved in student training, assisting with procedures, emergencies and ensuring the daily smooth running of the clinic.
Carla always had a special interest in animal behaviour and completed a Technikon certificate in basic animal behaviour in 2002. In 2004 she completed her Advanced Animal Behaviour course. She also completed workshops on clicker training and puppy classes. Carla holds the OCN UK accredited Diploma through the Centre of Applied Pet Ethology. Carla consults after hours and assists the Veterinary behaviourists at Onderstepoort with behavioural research.
Educating owners about their pet’s behavioural needs is a huge passion for her and she is continuously looking for opportunities to improve her knowledge through attending CPD veterinary congresses and courses.
Carla heads up the marking department for all the Beginner and Intermediate courses and is the Student Liaison for all these courses, handling student queries as well as marking and moderating these assignments.
Renee Venter
BSc Zoology, DipCABT, CAPBT Practitioner member.
Reneé qualified with a BSc in Zoology, but her passion for dogs and cats, their behaviour, nutrition, medical care and general wellbeing urged her to study further, and lead to her obtaining her COAPE Diploma in Animal Behaviour in 2019.
Reneé is currently one of the trainers at Greenside Headstart Puppy School, as well as offering her knowledge to owners in private consultations, addressing various problem behaviours in companion animals.
Renee tutors and marks the DogWise course for COAPE International.
COAPE African Wild Dog Behaviour Course Tutor
Wendy Collinson-Jonker
B.Ed
Originally hailing from the UK, Wendy came to South Africa in 2006, and began her work in conservation with the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), beginning work as a research assistant with large carnivores, and specialising in the endangered African Wild Dog. During this time, she observed many animal road mortalities. Deeply concerned by this, Wendy used her own time and resources to conduct pilot studies to ascertain the extent of roadkill. Some alarming statistics came to light, showing that roads may detrimentally impact biodiversity. In 2010, Wendy initiated a project that formed the basis for the future development of the first national multi-species protocol for the monitoring of roadkill in South Africa. This protocol was implemented in the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area (GMTFCA) in the northern Limpopo Valley of South Africa, a World Heritage Site and identified the factors affecting roadkill rates, species composition and any other variables that may affect roadkill rates.
Wendy is currently working with the EWT’s Wildlife and Roads Project where she is driving initiatives that address the now-recognised threat of roads in South Africa. She has successfully co-ordinated four international road ecology workshops which led to the development of a five-year action plan. In addition, she is creating a national network forum which will continue to raise awareness and further quantify the issue at hand through proactive mitigation measures such as a Roadkill Sensitivity Map and best practice guidelines to guide road development. Wendy is continuing to motivate for further research to be undertaken that examines the impacts of roads in South Africa and is liaising with South African institutions regarding the design of future projects. This body of knowledge will lead to the development and planning decisions of future road design, which will lessen the impact of roads on South African fauna and flora.
Wendy obtained her MSc thesis in April 2013 (through Rhodes University) which examined the determinants of roadkill in South Africa. In addition, she has written the South African chapter for an international publication on global road ecology, published a number of scientific papers for international peer-reviewed journals, as well as being the recipient of the International Infra Eco Network Europe Award for her work in the road ecology field, a finalist for the Indianapolis Prize as well as runner-up to the national Eco-Logics Awards for the last three years. Wendy authored the COAPE African Wild Dog Behaviour course.
COAPE African Lion Behaviour Course Tutor
Samantha Nicholson
BSc (Hons), MSc| Rhodes University
After completing her Zoology and environmental science undergraduate degree, Sam obtained the zoology MSc thesis in April 2014 through Rhodes University. Her thesis modelled the feasibility of a reintroduction of wild dogs into the Great Fish River Nature Reserve in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Her thesis further completed a threat analysis of the surrounding area for wild dogs.
Following the completion of her zoology degrees, Sam began working as a conservation science intern at the Endangered Wildlife Trust (an NGO based in South Africa). She then went on to become a science officer in the Wildlife and Energy Programme at EWT where she managed a database that recorded wildlife mortalities on power infrastructure. Using this database, she would work with Eskom (the power utility) to mitigate those lines that had previous mortalities to ensure that no other mortalities would occur.
Sam always had a passion and interest for carnivore conservation and so, in 2018 she embarked on her current role in the position as the co-ordinator of the African Lion Database (ALD). The ALD is an exciting project that aims to consolidate all lion population and distribution data from across the continent. This data will be used to generate up-to-date distribution maps for the species and provide reliable estimates on lion populations in Africa. In this role, Sam published several sub-chapters in the Guidelines for the Conservation of Lions in Africa (specifically on the ALD, lion population and distribution)
In addition, Sam has published a number of scientific papers for international peer-reviewed journals on carnivore species including cheetah, lion and wild dog.
Sam authored the COAPE African Lion Behaviour course.
COAPE Cheetah Behaviour Course Tutor
Dr Kath Forssman
PhD, Veterinary Tropical Diseases, MSc, Zoology and Conservation Biology, BSc (Hons), Terrestrial Zoology and Ecology, BSc, Zoology and Ecology.
Kath has been involved with environmental research, conservation, and project management since 2003. Her primary interests encompass the incorporation of behavioural research into understanding evolutionary drivers of disease transmission, infection mechanisms and disease control efforts. A background researching endangered carnivores and mega-herbivores has emphasised the need for continued research and monitoring of key species, systems and natural processes on this ever-changing planet for Kath.
Kath began her career researching African wild dogs with the Endangered Wildlife Trust and, having spent countless hours tracking, observing, communing, and growing as a conservationist and scientist with the wild dogs for the better part of a decade, will always consider herself a “dog-girl”. This time with the wild dogs also allowed Kath to pursue research interests in other large carnivores, including African lion and cheetah.
In 2014 Kath’s research focus shifted from animals with teeth and claws to those that are often the fodder of carnivores, when she joined a dynamic, collaborative team researching Foot and Mouth Disease Virus in African buffalo. She was elected to manage the project in the Kruger National Park until it wrapped up in 2019. Collaborative projects, like this one, provide one with perspective and insight with regard to a “bigger picture” approach to conservation where animals, humans and the environment all need to considered holistically in order to make any meaningful, impactful contributions to the field.
Kath’s work on the buffalo project led to a position as a research fellow in the Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases at Onderstepoort in 2020 until she joined the faculty at the School of Biology and Environmental Science at the University of Mpumalanga.
Kath has published in various scientific journals on carnivore behaviour and management, behaviour and health in African buffalo and scientific method. She also compiled the African Wild Dog Compendium on behalf of the Wild Dog Advisory Group and was a contributing author of the South African Good Practise Guidelines for Surveying Bats at Wind Energy Facility Developments.
Kath has written our latest speciality wildlife course, Cheetah behaviour. This course enables the learner to understand the subtler aspects of cheetah behaviour and some of the threats being faced by this magnificent species, which places them on the IUCN’s ‘Vulnerable’ list. With her years of experience, Kath is the perfect person to also tutor and mark this course.
