Emma graduated from Bristol university in 1996 and was in clinical practice for 12 years.

She was a trustee of the Animal Welfare Foundation for the full six-year term and sat as their representative on the BVA Ethics and Welfare group for two years. She has written nine books on pet animal welfare and pedigree health problems and spoken at numerous conferences on subjects such as the welfare impact of extreme conformation, the ethics of showing and the welfare of elite horses. She is a patron of the Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund (RWAF) and Dogs Trust and has worked with many other animal welfare charities.

In 2021 she was awarded a Fellowship by the RCVS for meritorious contributions to the profession in the field of animal welfare and sits on the Fellowship board as Projects and Engagement officer.

She was IFAW Vet of the Year in 2008 and received the 2023 WSAVA Companion Animal Welfare Award.

Emma now lives in France and continues her welfare work and writing.