Find out about the media spokespeople for Cats Protection.
John May: Chief Executive
John joined Cats Protection in November 2022. Prior to this, he gained a vast amount of experience through 11 years with The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award. He has also been a former non-executive director of UNICEF, helped to found ‘Teach First’ in the UK, and is a past vice chairman of the World Organization of the Scout Movement.
He originally trained as a teacher and has since been the national education director of Business in the Community, founding chief executive of Career Ready and chief executive of Young Enterprise.
Madison Rogers: Associate Director of Advocacy, Campaigns & External Affairs
Madison joined Cats Protection in 2017 and works within the Advocacy & Government Relations team to campaign to improve cat welfare across the UK. Her role includes influencing politicians in Westminster and the devolved nations and engaging with varying organisations about issues affecting cat welfare.
Madison has a degree in politics and international relations and formerly worked for a public affairs agency in London with clients in financial services and the rail industry. Madison is currently an Executive Committee member for the Women in Public Affairs Network, representing women in the industry who work for charities. She has a rescue cat called Moodles.
Peter Shergold: Associate Director of Community Operations
Peter Shergold is the Associate Director of Community Operations at Cats Protection, with oversight and responsibility for the effective running of the charity’s community-based operations, including its centres and branches.
Peter has considerable experience in the charity sector, having joined Cats Protection in 2021 after working at St John Ambulance. Peter has also been a trustee of various organisations, including Advocacy Matters very Scouting organisations. Peter is a member of the ADCH Standards and Animal Welfare Committee.
Peter lives in Dorset with his Dog Benji and two rescue cats Perry and Forrest. When he’s not working, Peter enjoys spending time with his two children, walking and scouting.
Alison Richards: Chief Veterinary Officer
Alison joined the Veterinary team at Cats Protection in 2018, and previously took part in educational volunteering for the organisation. She qualified as a veterinary surgeon from Bristol University in 2010 and ahead of taking up her role at Cats Protection worked as a vet in practices across London and the South of England. Her passion for feline practice grew in that time, being the designated ‘cat person’ in all the practices she worked in. Since working at Cats Protection, Alison has relished the opportunity to better understand veterinary medicine in a charity setting and support vets working across the UK in their understanding of this.
When not at work, Alison can be found out walking her dog Benji, swimming in the sea or curled up on a sofa with a good book.
Daniel Warren-Cummings: Senior Behaviour Engagement Manager
Daniel is an expert on cat behaviour and advises owners on how to ensure the best welfare for cats. Daniel initiated the Cats Protection Feline Behaviour Conference in 2020, an annual event for animal professionals or owners who want to learn more about cat behaviour.
Born in Northern Ireland, Daniel lives in West Sussex and has worked for Cats Protection for five years. Previously he was a behaviourist with a dog rehoming charity and continues to volunteer as a trainer for a disability charity that helps train assistance dogs.
Daniel graduated with a Master’s Degree in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law and is a clinical Animal Behaviourist registered with the Animal Behaviour and Training Council. He writes on cat behaviour for several international publications. Daniel has a wonderful tabby cat called Lady Bug.
Jeff Knott: Advocacy & Influence Director
Jeff joined Cats Protection in early 2024 as our Advocacy & Influence Director, working with leaders across the organisation and sector to deliver impactful change for millions of cats and cat owners across the UK. His role focusses on bringing together advocacy, campaigns, communications, digital and education teams to develop innovative, joined-up programmes of work on priority cat welfare issues.
Prior to joining Cats Protection, Jeff worked for 16 years in nature conservation, with senior experience across a variety of influencing and operational roles. Away from work, Jeff is a sports fan, country music lover and trustee for an arts and heritage charity in the Isles of Scilly.
Jeff lives in Cambridgeshire with his wife Laura, daughter Erin, son Joel and 15-year-old rescue cat Pumpkin.
