Kirk has been the Executive Director of the European Animal Research Association since its creation in 2014. Previously Kirk worked in government affairs for the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, and for the UK organisation UAR.

Prior to that he acted as a consultant for the White House Writers Group a strategic communications consultancy based in Washington, DC, founded by a group of former US Presidential Speechwriters. Kirk was engaged to advise on improving public opinion on the environmental, economic and cultural impact of a new goldmine in Transylvania, Romania. Earlier to this Kirk worked for a tribal rights organisation working in rural Gujarat India on influencing public opinion on the economic benefits of the Narmada dam and in opposing the imposition of wildlife sanctuaries on tribal land. 

Kirk is a regular writer and presenter in the European media with over 500 articles and appearances.