Ken Pettey obtained a BSc (Hons) [Microbiology] degree from University of the Witwatersrand in 1976 and a Veterinary degree from University of Pretoria in 1982. He started his career in academia in 1983 at the University of Pretoria. In 1985, he joined the Medical University of Southern Africa’s Veterinary Faculty where he participated in academic activities until the two Veterinary Faculties amalgamated into a National Faculty at the University of Pretoria at the end of 1999.He has numerous publications and has delivered papers at local and international congresses. In 2014, he became a diplomate of the European College of Small Ruminant Health Management. He is an international collaborator for the American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control. He was elected to the International Sheep Veterinary Association executive committee in May 2017. He retired from the University of Pretoria at the end of 2019. He owns a private mixed animal practice in Hartbeespoort, North West Province, South Africa.
Ken is also interested in ways to reduce stress in the profession and how to develop pedagogy to facilitate long-term memory retention in students. He is also very interested in methods used to disseminate continuing education and extension information.