Introducing the Program committee

Alison Cuffley, Senior Manager, Canada Program, the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada  

Alison’s background in animal welfare is varied - they’ve worked in shelter operations, fundraising, and government relations, but their true passion after a decade of working with SPCAs and Humane Societies across the country is to improve and develop the sector’s decolonization and equity policies, especially as they relate to OneHealth and respectful relationships with Indigenous communities. They hold a unique lived experience from both their German/Ukrainian immigrant settler family as well as their relations with the Tsleil-Waututh Nation. Alison is a certified Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA) planner and is passionate about uplifting Indigenous-led land care practices and promoting Ethical Space and Etuaptmumk (two-eyed seeing) in all their work with youth and intergenerational allies.  Alison resides on the unceded and shared territories of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ speaking peoples – xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, and the Skwxwú7mesh-ulh Sníchim speaking peoples of Skwxwú7mesh Uxwumixw (Squamish) Nation. 

Anna-Lee Fitzsimmons, Director of Public Relations, Calgary Humane Society 

Anna-Lee, an advocate for animal welfare, has been a part of the Calgary Humane Society since 2015. Embracing various roles, she values adaptability and remains dedicated to the cause. 

Her leadership and team development extends to creating connections with the community, recognizing the importance of collaboration in bridging the gap between the public and the impactful work of animal welfare. 

Driven by a passion for facilitating connections, Anna-Lee has an education in Horticulture and Volunteer Management, reflecting her commitment to the one health model and the interconnectedness between environment, animal and human health. Anna-Lee continues to dedicate herself to creating a humane community for the animals that share our world. 

Claire Dulude, Research Coordinator, Promising Practices, Humane Canada 

Claire Dulude (she/her) is a Research Coordinator for Humane Canada’s Promising Practices project and over the last few years has had the pleasure of coordinating Humane Canada’s ACT Project and the National Pet Food Bank. Claire holds a master's degree in animal Behaviour and Welfare from the University of Guelph and an undergraduate degree from Lakehead University in Thunder Bay. Before joining Humane Canada, Claire held several roles within a Humane Society organization and adjoining low-cost spay/neuter clinic. Claire’s animal welfare background has given her an interest in equitable access to support and care services in underserved communities and a passion for preserving the human-animal bond. Claire is an uninvited guest on the Crawford Purchase, 1783 treaty land, on the traditional territory of the Anishinabek, Mississauga, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Claire shares her home with her beloved canine companion, Dozer, who lives up to his name through demonstrated proficiency in both napping and knocking things over. 

Dr. Azalia Boyd, DVM, CEO, Boyd Veterinary Services and Consulting 

Dr. Azalia Boyd, DVM, is a distinguished veterinarian, educator, and empathy activist, renowned for her advocacy in equitable veterinary care, diversity initiatives in veterinary medicine, and community engagement. An emerging expert at the intersection of culture and animal welfare, Dr. Boyd's work emphasizes the critical importance of cultural intelligence in veterinary practices, animal welfare organizations, and related pet industries.  A proud alumnus of Tuskegee University, Dr. Boyd earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2008.  Her academic excellence was recognized with a Tuskegee University Presidential Academic Scholarship/Grant, marking the beginning of a career dedicated to service and innovation in veterinary medicine. 

As the CEO of Boyd Veterinary Services and Consulting, LLC, Dr. Boyd’s works span a variety of projects including building community engagement and partnerships, digital course creations in cultural intelligence, and career and academic mentorship for youth interested in veterinary medicine. Dr. Boyd continues to practice veterinary medicine as an emergency doctor as she loves connecting with families and helping animals during some of the most difficult times.  

She is dedicated to empowering individuals and communities to thrive, using empathy and resilience as guiding principles. 

Dr. Gina Bowen, Director of Veterinary Services, Winnipeg Humane Society 

Dr. Gina Bowen is a 2005 Western College of Veterinary Medicine graduate, proudly born and raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. After completing a one-year small animal internship, Gina spent 11 years in small animal rural private practice before becoming the Director of Veterinary Services at the Winnipeg Humane Society in 2017. In this role, Gina also manages the WHS One Health Remote Veterinary program, which provides access to veterinary services in remote northern Manitoba communities. Gina enjoys a blend of hands-on veterinary work and management, with a strong passion for the spectrum of care and access to veterinary services. Outside of work, Gina loves traveling, long walks, 90's dance music, and binge-watching reality TV. 

Dr. Giuliana Miguel-Pacheco, Manager, Farmed Animal Welfare, Humane Canada 

Dr. Miguel-Pacheco joined Humane Canada as Manager of Farmed Animal Welfare in August 2023. She is a distinguished animal welfare scientist and consultant with over a decade of dedication to farmed animal welfare. Initially trained as a veterinarian in Peru, she identified the need for a holistic approach to animal recovery, which led her to specialize in animal behaviour and welfare science. She holds an MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare from the University of Edinburgh and a PhD from the University of Nottingham, where she conducted innovative research on lameness treatment in dairy cattle. Her work spans a variety of projects, including the welfare of captive elephants and advancements in precision livestock farming. Recently, she has led innovative assessments of pig welfare on farms and in abattoirs. Dr. Miguel-Pacheco has collaborated with North American food businesses and Latin American NGOs, driving meaningful advancements in farmed animal welfare. She is the guardian of Marietta, a Mexican dog who has travelled the world with her. 

Jamie Saad, Community Programs Manager, Montreal SPCA 

Jamie Saad is the Community Programs Manager at the Montreal SPCA, a role she has pioneered and developed for the last 3 years. This post has seen her sharpen her interpersonal skills and think outside the box on many frontiers to engage and include more diverse collaborative efforts between social services and animal services in a dense metropolitan city. Jamie has been working in animal rescue for the past 7 years and has amassed valuable knowledge and experience in the complexities of animal welfare and the sensitive relationship to human trauma. She holds a bachelor's degree from McGill University in Philosophy, with a minor in Psychology. 

Kaleigh Goehringer, CFRE, Director of Philanthropy, Calgary Humane Society 

With over two decades of dedicated service in the non-profit realm, Kaleigh is an experienced fundraiser driven by a passion for supporting our community’s most vulnerable. Her journey has moved her across diverse sectors, including housing and homelessness, youth and families, community and sport, environment and species conservation, all leading to her current work and strongest passion, animal welfare.  

Kaleigh attended the University of British Columbia, obtaining her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2006. Kaleigh was proud to receive her Certified Fundraising Executive designation in April 2023 and enjoys investing this knowledge and experience at Calgary Humane Society, advocating for critical and urgent change.  

Kaleigh’s approach to fundraising is strategic and relationship-oriented, with a proven track record of success. Leading teams towards a common goal, she focuses on maximizing impact. Her leadership style? The innate ability and unwavering desire to uplift those around her, fostering an environment where everyone can thrive. She challenges, motivates, and energizes, creating a ripple effect of positivity and excellence.   

Outside of work Kaleigh enjoys spending her time immersed in outdoor activities with her husband Bryan, sons Brody and Zeke, and dog Remy.  Whether on the side of the kid's soccer field or chasing waterfalls in the Rockies, as long as she can bring the dog she is happy to participate. Kaleigh also enjoys spending time honing her skills in music by playing French Horn for a volunteer orchestra and piano any chance she gets. 

Kathy Duncan, Director, National Programs, Humane Canada 

Kathy Duncan has worked in the Animal Care, Control and Welfare field for over 30 years in Ontario.  She started as an Animal Control Officer and has held various roles in both non-profit Humane Societies/SPCAs as well as open admission municipal animal shelters. Kathy is currently the Director, National Programs with Humane Canada, Canada’s national voice for animal welfare.   

She was a member of the Municipal Law Enforcement Officers Association of Ontario for almost 20 years and a member of the Animal Shelter Professionals of Ontario (Formerly the Association of Animal Shelter Administrators of Ontario (AASAO)) for almost 30 years. She served as a member of the board of directors with the AASAO for over 17 years, 12 of those she served as President/Chair of the Board.   

Kathy has been actively involved in various provincial working groups including the Animal Welfare Task Force over the course of her career and is passionate about bringing improvements to animal sheltering and animal welfare.  

Kathy, along with her husband Paul, is the proud parent to two young adult children, and three Bouvier des Flandres dogs.    

Krista Boryskavich, Animal Advocacy Lawyer, Winnipeg Humane Society 

Krista Boryskavich is the Winnipeg Humane Society's first-ever animal advocacy lawyer and government relations specialist, in the newly created position since September 2023.  Krista brings over 20 years of experience in private legal practice and municipal and provincial government. She is excited to combine her legal skills with her government relations expertise to effect legislative and policy change on behalf of all animals in Manitoba and their human companions.  

Outside of work, Krista lives her passion for animal welfare, volunteering to walk dogs for Winnipeg Animal Services and foster dogs for K-9 Advocacy Manitoba, as well as providing pro bono legal services and bear care for Black Bear Rescue Manitoba. 

Liza Sunley, Chief Executive Officer, Edmonton Humane Society 

Liza joined the Edmonton Humane Society in 2019 as Chief Executive Officer. Utilizing her skills in management and planning, Liza is dedicated to supporting the community, EHS staff, and the animals in their care.  

Before EHS, Liza was the Chief Operating Officer at Bissell Centre, overseeing all programs and services for this inner-city non-profit, supporting people living in poverty. She was also Executive Director at Lurana Shelter Society; a local refuge providing safety and supports for women and children who are victims of domestic violence. As a dedicated local leader and spokesperson for Ovarian Cancer Canada, Liza was recognized with the Peggy Truscott Award of Hope and the YWCA’s Women of Distinction Award. Liza’s governance experience includes being an active Board Director for both Ovarian Cancer Canada and Humane Canada. She also holds a Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA) designation.  

Liza enjoys cooking, spending time with family and friends, sunny days with the family cat (Chester) – adopted from EHS – as well as taking her adopted dog (Ruby) to the park. 

Mallory Lloyd, Events Manager, Humane Canada

Mallory has an interest in animal welfare in Canada and internationally and has spent the last 15 years working or volunteering in the animal welfare and environmental sectors. 

She is a skilled events expert and corporate partnership manager with almost ten years of experience planning events of many formats. Mallory has two degrees, one in Business with a major in Finance and the second in Environmental Practice with a focus on sustainability. She focused much of her academic research on endangered species and the sustainability of critical ecosystems around the world. 

Mallory is also an inventor who owns her own business, Get Out Stay Out (GOSO), which sells a campfire grill of her own design. Through GOSO, Mallory encourages people to get outside while sharing lived experiences of her own adventures. 

She is the proud caretaker of two rescued dogs, Murphy and Dakota. 

Shannon Ingram, Events Coordinator, Humane Canada 

Shannon's childhood was enriched by a diverse array of animal companions, fostering her deep and enduring love for animals from a very young age. 

A graduate of Algonquin College, Shannon holds a diploma in Event Management and an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration with a major in Marketing. Her professional journey with Humane Canada began as an Events Intern in 2019, eventually leading to her current role as the Coordinator of Events. In this capacity, Shannon orchestrates impactful 40 to 400+ person events in the animal welfare sector, infusing her work with creativity, passion, outside-the-box thinking, and a tech-savvy approach. 

When she is not hard at work, Shannon can be found by the lake with a good book, exploring the world, or camping. She is a proud pet guardian to two lively dogs, Jasper and Denver, and a cat named Pawz. 

Sue O’Neill, Manager, Promising Practices, Humane Canada 

Sue is the manager of the Promising Practices Project at Humane Canada and is a settler on Turtle Island. Sue is a Masters of Women and Gender Studies candidate at Saint Mary’s University and recipient of a SSHRC grant and a Master of Education graduate from Western University. Sue has worked for 5+ years in gender-based violence (GBV) services, specifically in emergency GBV shelter and community services, in addition to working in fields such as mental health services, employment services, and education. Sue is the pet guardian to a cat named Mew Mew. 

Tara Hellewell, Director National Engagement, Humane Canada 

Tara has been a strong advocate for the welfare of animals for many years through her role as Executive Director of Central Alberta Humane Society for ten years and former Humane Canada Board Director from 2015-2020. Her long career in the charitable sector specializing in fund development, marketing, and management has spanned over 20 years, actively furthering the missions of the central Alberta charitable sector in domestic violence, seniors long-term care, and animal welfare. 

During that time, Tara received recognition for her dedication as a Red Deer Women of Excellence and through a Humane Canada Animal Welfare Leadership Award in 2020. Tara now supports the work of Humane Canada on the staff team as Director, Donor Relations and National Engagement. Tara proudly supports Women for a Humane Canada as a founding member and is a strong advocate for the recognition of women in leadership in our sector. 

Along with partner Jaret and fur-kids Harlee and Bandit, she divides her time between their homes on the mountain in the Crowsnest Pass, AB, and their off-grid cabin on the shores of Kootenay Lake just outside of Nelson, BC. At home, they relish the freedom of nature, the beauty of the environment, and the wildlife that frequently visit both properties.