Kirk Leech is executive director of the European Animal Research Association (EARA), a global communications and advocacy organization that he has led since its founding in 2014. EARA represents more than 240 universities, research institutes, companies and scientific societies across 47 countries. It works to build public and policymaker understanding of why animals are still needed in biomedical research and to promote openness about that work. Under his leadership, EARA has helped establish and coordinate national Transparency Agreements on animal research across Europe and, more recently, in Canada.
Before leading EARA, Leech worked in government affairs at the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry and in strategic communications at the White House Writers Group in Washington, D.C. He has also worked on advocacy in India. He writes and speaks regularly on European animal research policy, research transparency and the role of new approach methodologies alongside animal studies.
