SPEAKERS

Alanna Devine is a lawyer and the Director of Campaigns at Animal Justice with over 15 years experience in animal law and advocacy. She holds an undergraduate degree in Criminology from the University of Toronto, along with civil and common law degrees from McGill University. After clerking for the Supreme Court of Canada, Alanna began her career at Quebec’s leading animal protection organization, where she spent more than a decade as Director of Legal Advocacy.

Throughout her career, Alanna has been instrumental in advocating for significant legislative changes to protect animals, ensuring the effective enforcement of animal welfare laws, and educating the public on key advocacy issues. She has also taught animal law at McGill University, served on multiple non-profit boards, and lectured across North America on animal law and advocacy. Alanna currently resides in Montreal with her husband and their rescued dog, Maggie.

Dr. Ellis obtained his doctorate in veterinary medicine from the University of Montreal in 2016, and subsequently completed a small animal rotating internship in private practice. In 2020, he completed his residency in shelter medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Then he received his board certification in Shelter Medicine Practice from the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in 2021. Following his residency, he worked as a shelter consultant, where he primarily assisted shelters with infectious disease management, population management, and working within their capacity for care. From 2022 to 2025, Dr. Ellis served as co-advisor to the first shelter medicine resident in Canada in the role of Adjunct Professor at the Ontario Veterinary College.  
 
In 2024, Dr. Ellis accepted a position at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Calgary, where he would pursue his passion for teaching, accessible veterinary care and supporting the human-animal bond by creating a new community care clinic. 

Alistair Schroff started the Lakes Animal Friendship Society in 2008 with Hayley Nielsen, an Indigenous RCMP officer, and Valerie Ingram, an elementary teacher. LAFS developed as an "education forward" group to improve animal welfare in their rural and underserved home community - the Lakes District (around Burns Lake) in central British Columbia. They paired education with tools to support low-income families with animal care, including spaying and neutering, all-weather outdoor shelters (dog houses), and pet food and supplies. In 2015, Valerie and Alistair published their first children's book with the help of local students. In 2018 they published their first Indigenous language materials - in the Lake Babine dialect of Carrier (Dakelh). Since then, they have partnered to produce materials in Lheidli T'enneh Dakelh and Baffin Inuktitut, as well as Lugandan and other global languages. In 2024 Lakes Animal Friendship became part of Increased ACCESS with the goal of furthering fair and equitable access to critical animal care resources (including humane education) in Indigenous, rural, and remote communities across Canada. 

Allison Simpson (she/her) is a British Columbia certified teacher whose professional journey spans from kindergarten classrooms to SAT prep classes. With a rich background in both teaching and tutoring, she’s known for crafting inclusive education plans that empower diverse learners to thrive. In 2016, Allison brought her love of animals together with education when she joined the BC SPCA as the Regional Humane Educator for the East Lower Mainland. Since 2021, she has been fortunate to learn alongside Gema Chavez and contribute a humane lens to the Queen of All Saints BC SPCA school club, promoting compassion, curiosity, and service learning. 
 
Now serving as the School Programs Specialist, Allison continues to shape the future of humane education at the BC SPCA, while crafting materials to empower educators to bring animal welfare and humane practices into the classroom.  

Allison is currently pursuing her Master's in Educational Theory and Practice at Simon Fraser University, deepening her commitment to social-emotional learning, equity, and transformative curriculum. 
 
Allison unlearns on the unceded traditional and current territories of the Semiahmoo, sc̓əwaθən məsteyəxʷ (Tsawwassen), Katzie, Kwikwetlem, and Qayqayt First Nations, as well as the many Stó:lō Nations whose enduring relationship with the land inspires her work. She attempts to walk a gentle path of reconciliation and is profoundly grateful for the opportunity to grow in understanding and friendship. Nánustasi ch’ish’áata. 

Adriana was born and raised in Mexico and has worked in animation for over 25 years. She received her MFA degree from the Division of Animation and Digital Arts, School of Cinematic Arts (SCA) at the University of Southern California (USC), and her BFA degree in Graphic Design from the University of the Pacific (UOP). She is currently Assistant Dean in Animation and Professor of the 3D Computer Animation program at Emily Carr University of Art and Design.  

Throughout her career, she has worked as a senior digital trainer for teams of animators at Sony Pictures Imageworks and has collaborated with several independent directors creating visual effects for their award-winning projects. Her current research focuses on decentering the human to re-story narratives from multispecies perspectives, focusing on urban coyotes. 

Coming soon.

With over a decade of experience in animal welfare, Bianca has played a pivotal role in supporting hundreds of animals through direct rescue efforts and community-based programs.  
 
She is the Founder and Executive Director of Urban Tails Animal Rescue, a registered Canadian charity established in 2017, and serves on the board of directors for another veterinarian-led Canadian charity. 
 
Professionally, Bianca serves as the Director of Development and Communications for Animal Alliance of Canada and the Animal Protection Party of Canada. She is also the CEO of a Toronto-based marketing and communications agency. 
 
After many years in downtown Toronto, Bianca now lives in rural Ontario, where her home and farm serve as a sanctuary for both companion and farmed animals. 
 
This unique combination of urban and rural experience gives Bianca a deep understanding of the complexities of animal welfare in diverse settings, enabling her to bring a holistic and compassionate perspective to her work. 

Brad Nichols graduated from Mount Royal University in 2003, obtaining a degree in Justice Studies. Shortly thereafter, he joined the Calgary Humane Society’s Animal Protection and Investigation team as a field officer, incorporating his love for animals and his interest in advocating for vulnerable victims. 

Over the past 20 years, he has advanced through the organization in roles of increasing responsibility, most recently to Director of Enforcement / Vice Executive Director. He has investigated thousands of animal cruelty files and oversees an internationally recognized animal protection program.  

Additionally, Brad is the President-elect of the International Veterinary Forensic Sciences Association, an organization dedicated to advancing veterinary knowledge to improve animal cruelty investigations. 

Marten Clan from Constance Lake First Nation, Carol has led Matawa Animal Services for two years designing culturally responsive programs that integrate Indigenous teachings, values and history with animal welfare. With expertise in Indigenous community needs and dynamics, she has assisted in fostering partnerships with veterinarians and community leaders to advance holistic well-being. Her work experience includes positions at the First Nations, Provincial/Territorial Organization (PTO) and regional levels over the past 25 years. 

Carol Tinga is a Postdoctoral Scholar at the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC), University of Guelph, Canada. Her PhD at OVC was on owner-companion rabbit relationships and rabbit care and welfare. Carol researched the use of established human-animal relationship scales for rabbit owners, risk factors for rabbit retention, and recent domestic rabbit intake and management at Canadian and American shelters and rescues. Currently, she is shortening thesis chapters for open-access publication and presenting results at conferences. Additional forthcoming papers include access to veterinary care, the biggest challenges of rabbit ownership, owners’ favourite rabbit behaviours and why they are so, and another scale validation. Vespa, a remarkable, lop-eared rabbit, inspired her PhD research.

Before doctoral studies, Carol completed an MSc in epidemiology and explored how OVC student veterinarians and recent graduates perceived their veterinary technical and professional skills. Carol now shares her home with a bonded pair of free-range, up-eared rabbits. Ellie and Coco, affectionately known as “the hooligans,” came to her from a foster family who took them in after they were abandoned outdoors by their previous owners.

Chelsea Blackwell brings a wealth of experience and dedication to community safety and justice. She holds a bachelor's degree in criminology with a minor in Indigenous Community Justice, reflecting her deep commitment to equity and advocacy for marginalized communities. 
 
Chelsea served as an Animal Protection Officer with the BC SPCA for five years, where she worked on the front lines of animal welfare enforcement and public education. Her passion for protecting vulnerable populations—both human and animal—led her to join the Surrey Bylaws team, where she has been making a meaningful impact for the past two years. 
 
Currently, Chelsea is a proud member of the City of Surrey’s Street Smart team, where she engages directly with the community to promote safety, awareness, and connection. Her work is grounded in compassion, collaboration, and connection. Chelsea’s unique blend of enforcement experience, academic insight, and community engagement makes her a powerful advocate for public safety, animal welfare, and social justice. 

Chris Robinson is a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) with over 35 years of experience in the companion animal field, having worked extensively with both large and small animals throughout her career. Her deep commitment to animal welfare and veterinary care has shaped a professional journey marked by compassion, leadership, and service. 
 
Chris’s volunteer work began in 2005 when she traveled to the Gulf Coast to assist in the massive animal disaster relief efforts following Hurricane Katrina. This transformative experience led to a commitment to veterinary volunteer work. In 2006, she joined the Canadian Animal Assistance Team (CAAT), bringing her skills to deliver veterinary care to communities without access to essential services. 
 
In 2009, Chris was elected Executive Director of the organization—a role she continues to hold. In addition to overseeing operations, she serves as the project coordinator for all CAAT clinics. Chris also travels with the team as a Team Leader on many clinic projects, guiding volunteers and fostering collaboration in the field. 
 
In recognition of her outstanding contributions to the veterinary profession and her unwavering commitment to animal welfare, Chris has received both the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association Award of Merit and the Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians Award of Merit. 

Christine Kuo holds a BA in International Relations and a MSc in Applied Animal Biology from the University of British Columbia’s Animal Welfare Program. Her research focuses on the intersections between animal welfare policy and practice on farms. In addition to research, she has worked in agriculture and animal welfare in various capacities, including in the animal health industry, institutional food procurement, and policy.

Craig Daniell joined the BC SPCA in November 2002 as General Manager of Cruelty Investigations and was appointed Chief Executive Officer in April 2003. Previously, he served as Director of Investigations at the Ontario SPCA for three years. 

Craig holds a law degree from South Africa, where he practiced corporate law before joining the diplomatic service. He later served at the United Nations in New York, focusing on international law, the law of the sea, animal protection, and matters related to the Security Council. During his term at the United Nations, Craig was elected Vice-Chair of the Sixth Committee (International Law) of the General Assembly and to the Finance Committee of the International Seabed Authority in Kingston, Jamaica. 

Under Craig’s leadership, the BC SPCA has significantly expanded its animal welfare programs, more than tripled its fundraising revenue and worked closely with the government to advance legislative reforms that improve animal welfare across British Columbia. The organization has earned international recognition for its pioneering work in areas such as farm, wildlife and cat welfare. 

The BC SPCA consistently ranks among the most transparent and accountable charities in Canada and was the first SPCA or Humane Society in the country to receive the Imagine Canada Standards accreditation. Through its numerous animal centres, veterinary hospitals, wildlife rehabilitation centre and provincial office, the BC SPCA delivers comprehensive services to protect vulnerable animals and foster thriving communities for both animals and people. 

Cynthia graduated from Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in 2016 and went on to do a Small Animal Rotating Internship at Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts. She stayed on at Angell working in the General Medicine Department, providing companion animal primary care within a referral hospital setting.

Having always intended to practice shelter and community medicine, she moved within the organization to join the MSPCA Shelter Clinic, and practiced shelter medicine, high-volume spay/neuter, and community medicine. After moving to Ontario with her husband in 2021, Cynthia joined the Toronto Humane Society, initially within the shelter department and then eventually moving into the role of Lead Veterinarian at the Public Veterinary Services department.

Cynthia is passionate about providing creative evidence-based accessible care to underserved populations.

Dana Buchwald is the Co-Publisher at The Gryphon Press, whose mission is to publish beautifully illustrated children’s picture books about the vital issues that animals–domestic, wild, and farmed–face, and to present those issues in such a way that children gain insights into and develop empathy for all animal life. Dana holds a B.A. in English Literature from Carleton College and a J.D. from American University. She recently graduated summa cum laude with an LLM in Animal Law from The Center for Animal Law Studies at Lewis & Clark Law School and was named the 2024 recipient of the Outstanding Animal Law LLM Graduate Award. Dana is a member of the Association of Professional Humane Educators and served on its Board of Directors. She is a Senior Humane Policy Volunteer Leader for Humane World for Animals, and is the Co-Chair of the American Bar Association's Animal Law Committee's Insect and Pollinator Subcommittee. 

Dezi’s passion for wildlife welfare began during her childhood living in British Columbia’s northwest, where she enjoyed coexisting safely and responsibly with grizzly bears. Through experiences with the University of British Columbia and Stanley Park Ecology Society, Dezi gained experience in coyote monitoring work and coexistence education. Her experiences during this time transformed her perspectives on coyotes and on urban ecologies.  

She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Certificate of Ethics: Theory and Application from Simon Fraser University. Additionally, she is pursuing further education in ecology and human-wildlife coexistence. She has a diverse working history in the public sector, particularly in the areas of outreach, policy, data analysis, and public communication. 

Dillon Dodson joined Toronto Humane Society (THS) in early 2020 and is now the director of social work for the organization. Drawing on fifteen years of experience working as a professional social worker, Dillon utilizes her expertise supporting those who have experienced systemic oppression to inform the development of innovative programming to enhance holistic health and overall wellness for human and non-human family members.  

Since childhood, Dillon has always believed in the power of animal healing and has worked to align her professional skills with a foundational desire to be with animals.  

Dillon was elected to the Board of Directors of the International Association of Veterinary Social Workers, received the Ontario Association of Social Work "Distinguished Social Worker Award," and led Toronto Humane Society in achieving a Purple Ribbon award from Domestic Shelters.org. 

Dillon is published for her interdisciplinary pet wellness clinics and pet safekeeping programs she established at THS. Dillon is also invested in training future social workers and has received a research grant from the University of Toronto to study the academic internships of Master of Social Work students in animal sheltering. 

Eden’s career is driven by her passion for animal welfare, people, and the power of volunteering. In her current role, she finds it deeply rewarding to connect dedicated volunteers with meaningful opportunities that support the Edmonton Humane Society’s mission. She takes pride in helping meet the organization’s needs by empowering and assisting its volunteers, creating a positive impact for animals, the community, and the volunteers themselves. 

Dr. Elizabeth Gow is a new Research Scientist in the Wildlife Research Division at Environment and Climate Change Canada, based out of Delta, BC. Her research incorporates interdisciplinary team approaches and focuses on understanding where, when, and how migratory bird populations are declining. Her current research is focusing on how birds respond to human-caused disturbances and threats such as urbanization, domestic cats, and climate change.  

Previously, she worked for Birds Canada as a movement ecologist, held a Liber Ero and NSERC postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Guelph, and a Killam postdoctoral fellowship from the University of British Columbia. She obtained her PhD from the University of Saskatchewan and received her MSc from York University, Toronto. 

Dr. Emilia Wong Gordon received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of California, Davis in 2005 and obtained specialty board certification in Shelter Medicine Practice through the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in 2020. In 2022, she opened a practice providing mobile and consulting services to animal shelters, rescues, and organizations working to increase access to veterinary care. Her practice operates according to the belief that cross-sector collaboration with a One Health emphasis is essential to the shared goals of the animal welfare, veterinary, and human health professions. 
 
Dr. Gordon’s professional and research interests include infectious disease, animal welfare epidemiology, and behaviour and welfare. Through her practice, she maintains an active clinical shelter caseload and partners with local organizations to offer free clinics in supportive housing buildings and other community spaces. Her team’s consulting work focuses on outbreak response, optimizing shelter operations, facility design, staff training, and other shelter topics. She lectures on shelter subjects at several universities in Western Canada and holds an adjunct faculty position with the UF Shelter Medicine Distance Education Program. 

Dr. Erica Schumacher (she/her) fell in love with shelter medicine in 2003 when she joined the medical team at Dane County Humane Society (DCHS) in Madison, Wisconsin, as a certified veterinary technician. 

Following her lifelong dream of becoming a veterinarian, she attended the University of Wisconsin (UW) -Madison School of Veterinary Medicine. She worked with Dr. Sandra Newbury to create the school’s first shelter medicine elective in 2004. After travelling and working in Arizona, Alaska and Africa, she returned to her roots at DCHS as the Chief Shelter Veterinarian, where she oversaw the medical team as well as the shelter’s wildlife center for seven years. She particularly enjoyed supervising the clinical training for the UW Shelter Medicine Program interns, residents, and veterinary students. In 2018, Dr. Schumacher joined the UW Shelter Medicine Program as an Outreach Veterinarian. She enjoys utilizing her clinical background in shelter medicine as well as her love of teaching to help other shelters reach their lifesaving potential. 

For more than a decade, Erin Manahan has been a driving force in animal rescue across Northern Ontario. Based in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Erin has been an active member of the Northern Reach Network for over 10 years, dedicating her time, energy, and compassion to helping dogs and communities in need. 
 
Her commitment to the cause goes beyond hands-on rescue work—Erin has also served on the Northern Reach board of directors for over five years, where she plays a key role in building partnerships, coordinating transports, and strengthening the network that connects northern dogs with safe and loving homes in the south. 
 
Known for her strong community ties, organizational skills, and passion for animal welfare, Erin is a true advocate not only for the animals but also for the people and communities she works alongside. She believes in collaboration, respect, and the power of teamwork, and continues to dedicate herself to making a difference—one dog, one family, and one connection at a time. 

Erin joined World Animal Protection in 2024, and brings more than 10 years of experience working on a variety of wild animal welfare issues across the country with groups including the BC SPCA and Humane World for Animals Canada. She is a skilled and creative science communicator, a Registered Professional Biologist (RPBio), and holds a BSc and MSc in Applied Animal Biology from the UBC Animal Welfare Program. 

In addition to dedicating her career to animal welfare, Erin is an (over)active volunteer in animal welfare and mentorship. She is a current board member of the BC Chapter of the Wildlife Society, past President of The Fur-Bearers, and a mentor for both UBC’s Land and Food Systems Mentorship Program and the YWCA Metro Vancouver’s Circle of Sisters Indigenous mentorship program.

Erin is an avid cat foster volunteer, having fostered more than 40 kittens en route to their forever homes. Her two permanent residents, Wesley and Grubber, have been very patient with the near-constant presence of kittens.

Erin is a proud member of the Syilx (Okanagan) Nation. 
 

Esther Saehyun Lee, MA, (she/her) is a Community-Centric fundraiser and Consultant at Elevate Philanthropy Consulting. She is a fundraiser, storyteller, and advocate who works to mobilize resources to communities. In her work and volunteer positions, she challenges and dismantles systems of power in the nonprofit sector to ground its practices towards equity and justice. She’s helped many nonprofits increase their revenue, implement fundraising processes and structures in a CCF lens, and has demonstrated an increase in both revenue and donor base. 
 
She is dedicated to advancing the mission of justice in the nonprofit sector. She was one of the inaugural members of the Community-Centric Fundraising (CCF) Global Council and a Board Member of Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Toronto Chapter committed to healing after its public reckoning with anti-Black racism. She is a movement builder dedicated to making space for people of colour within the nonprofit sector. In addition to these titles, she is an amateur banjo player and cat mom. 

Gabriella Jew is the Senior Director of Programs at Muttville, where she leads the strategic vision and oversight of all core program areas, including adoptions, intake, foster care, volunteer engagement, shelter, behaviour and community outreach. With a holistic understanding of how each program supports and strengthens the others, Gabriella works across teams to build integrated systems that center equity, innovation, and impact.

Gema Chavez is a British Columbia Certified Teacher with 19 years of experience teaching Grades 1 to 4 in public and independent schools. She is the vice principal and grade 3 teacher at Queen of All Saints School in Coquitlam, BC. Gema is passionate about fostering a love of learning, building strong student connections, and empowering young people to engage in their communities. 
 
For four years, she has collaborated with the BC SPCA to lead her school’s SPCA Club, giving students hands-on opportunities in stewardship, humane education, and compassionate leadership. She believes students equipped with empathy and knowledge can become lifelong advocates for animals, the environment, and one another. 
 
Gema is completing her Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, specializing in Imaginative Education at Simon Fraser University. She is committed to integrating creativity, compassion, and community engagement into learning, inspiring students to carry forward values of stewardship and humane education. 

Jacklyn Ellis is board certified by the Animal Behavior Society as a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, is Certified in Shelter Behavior – Cat by the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants and is the Director of Behaviour at Toronto Humane Society. She earned her PhD in Animal Welfare at the Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, where she conducted research on methods for reducing stress in shelter cats.  

Her work has been published widely in peer reviewed journals, and she has presented at many national and international conferences, particularly on feline stress and elimination behaviour. She has recently authored two chapters for a new edition of the leading textbook on the behaviour and welfare of shelter animals. 

Professor James Yeates (he/him) is the Chief Executive Officer of World Federation for Animals. As CEO, James oversees the Federation’s advocacy strategy, membership recruitment and engagement strategies, and serves as the public face of WFA and its vision for animal welfare. 
 
James has over a decade of experience in advocacy for animal welfare. He was previously the CEO of NGO Cats Protection and the RSPCA’s Chief Veterinary Officer.  
 
As well as his CEO role at WFA, James is a member of both the Scottish Government Animal Welfare Commission and DEFRA Animal Welfare Committee, advising Scottish and English politicians on companion animal welfare. 
 
He is the author of four books and other publications, has veterinary and ethics degrees, a Ph.D. and MBA, and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. James currently has a rehomed cat and chickens, a small area of natural set-aside habitat, and young children who capture his concern for both animal welfare, nature loss, and sustainability. 

Both as a direct line fundraiser and consultant, Jas Jhooty has over 17 years of fundraising experience. Jas specializes in monthly giving and has expertise in monthly giving acquisition, conversion, reactivation, and upgrades through email, digital, direct mail, tele-fundraising, Direct Response Television (DRTV), telethons, radiothons, and face-to-face/door-to-door. 
 
As a consultant, Jas supports charities of all sizes with fundraising planning, fundraising audits, donor journey mapping, and monthly giving program development and growth. 

Jasmine is the Animal Welfare Advisor at Edmonton Humane Society (EHS), where she provides consultation and support across the organization to ensure EHS reflects evidence-based and best practices in animal welfare and sheltering. She also assists in advocacy and resource creation, such as EHS’ pet-friendly rental properties list.  
 
While she currently does not share her home with any animals, she often spends time with her dog nieces, including Chloe, an EHS alumni. 

Jeff Rosenthal received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Washington State University in 1993. He has been with the Idaho Humane Society since 2002 where he is now the Chief Executive Officer. Jeff is responsible for fiscal administration, personnel management, strategic planning, fundraising, municipal contract negotiation, facility management, public relations, drafting legislation and lobbying, program development, and board development of Idaho’s largest and oldest animal welfare organization and full service non-profit veterinary hospital.  

Jess oversees two facilities handling an average of 11,000 animals per year with an annual budget of $9.5 M. He manages 124 employees and over 1,000 volunteers. He oversees the city and county humane law enforcement operations for a population of approximately 482,000. 
 
Jeff has turned a limited-service veterinary clinic into a high-volume full service and critical care public veterinary charity hospital, where they maintain active caseloads focusing exclusively on orthopedic surgery.  
 

Jill is the Chief Veterinary Officer for the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society. She has been a shelter veterinarian since graduating from the University of Florida in 2014 and has worked for small non-profits, large municipal shelters, and everything in between. She first began treating FIP cases in 2022 and has been a dedicated advocate ever since.   

Jo-Anne is an award-winning photojournalist, sought-after speaker, photo editor, and the founder of We Animals. She has visited over sixty countries to document our fraught relationship with animals and is the author of three books: We Animals (2014), Captive (2017), and HIDDEN: Animals in the Anthropocene (2020). Jo-Anne is the subject of the acclaimed Canadian documentary, The Ghosts in Our Machine, and her photographs have received accolades from Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Nature Photographer of the Year, Big Picture, Picture of the Year International, the Global Peace Award, and others. Jo-Anne enjoys jurying photo competitions and has done so for World Press Photo, Big Picture, and others. She hails from Toronto, Canada. 

Johanna joined the Calgary Humane Society team in 2018 and has since held various operational roles. She holds a BA in Psychology and brings nearly 20 years of experience as a Human Resources professional. With a strong background in the for-profit sector, Johanna offers a unique perspective, combining strategic HR expertise with a passion for mission-driven work.  

Her love of animals and commitment to their welfare drew her to CHS, where she made a lasting impact by advancing the Adoptions Department, fostering cross-department collaboration, and championing a culture of innovation and inclusion. She is particularly passionate about building strong workplace culture and supporting teams through change. In recognition of her leadership, Johanna was named Calgary Humane Society’s Leader of the Year in 2023.  

In January 2025, Johanna returned to her roots in Human Resources, where she continues to lead initiatives focused on employee engagement, leadership development, innovation, and organizational growth. She is deeply committed to creating a work environment where people feel supported, valued, and able to thrive.   

Jonathan is a PhD Candidate at the University of Guelph. He completed my BSc and MSc at the University of Toronto. He is broadly interested in urban ecology, community science and ornithology. For the last 3 years I have been studying outdoor domestic cats. He has primarily focused on the impacts cats have on wildlife but also studies the welfare of outdoor cats. His research employs the use of animal-borne cameras that he attaches to owned domestic cats. These cameras allow him to see the world from the point-of-view of a cat. By using these cameras, he is able to ascertain the types of species and the number of animals cats depredate when they are outdoors. He is also able to determine how often cats cross roads and encounter other situations that may be detrimental for their welfare. By doing this research, he aims to understand the role cats play in the outdoor environment and what we can do to ensure cats, humans and wildlife can sustainably live in our urban environments together. 

José Ocaño is a seeker, teacher, and compassionate change leader. As the founder of Hatching, he helps people and organizations Live Better and Work Better by bringing compassion, intention, and self-awareness into everyday life and leadership.  

With nearly two decades of experience in animal welfare—from his early days as a kennel technician to leading teams across North America—José has learned that true leadership isn’t about authority but about creating the conditions for others to thrive.  

Through his Más Compassion workshops, Live Better: The Power of You course, and tailored coaching, he guides individuals in reconnecting with themselves, each other, and their purpose. His work reignites resilience, deepens authenticity, and sparks a movement toward workplaces and communities where compassion fuels lasting change. 

Judi Cannon is a dynamic and visionary senior leader with extensive experience in the non-profit sector, specializing in animal welfare, program development, and community outreach. Judi brings knowledge to building meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities and challenging traditional animal welfare practices. 

 
Her groundbreaking work, including the "Year of the Northern Dog" campaign and the creation of the Animal North Network, has driven impactful change in Northern and Indigenous regions. Judi fosters inclusive, culturally respectful partnerships and lasting friendships. 

Dr. Julia Kilgour is an urban ecologist who is interested in urban wildlife behaviour and the impacts of cats on urban ecosystems. Her research focuses on the multidimensional ways in which outdoor domestic cats interact with people and wildlife, and how the environment influences those interactions.  

Dr. Kilgour has studied the efficacy of trap-neuter-return (sterilization) programs on unowned cats in New York City, as well as using statistical models to identify predictors of outcomes for shelter cats in Washington D.C., a part of the interdisciplinary DC Cat Count project.  

Her current research has been in collaboration with ecologists, veterinarians, disease ecologists, urban landscape ecologists, conservation NGOs, and animal shelters to gain a holistic understanding of the relationships between cats and the urban ecosystem. Using a systems thinking approach, she is interested in identifying mitigation strategies beyond municipal bylaws. The focus of her research is on developing policies and practices that help conserve urban biodiversity from cats, employing both ecological and values-based approaches. 

Justine’s dedication to animal welfare began at a young age, where she was always the voice for those without one. Her passion deepened during her time at an animal shelter, where she combined her love for animals with her background in social services. As part of a humane society in Ontario, Justine helped manage the foster department and a program offering temporary boarding for pets of individuals facing life challenges. Today, she continues her work advocating for animals, with a strong focus on expanding access to veterinary care and educating the public about the importance of spaying and neutering. Justine’s long-term goal is to create a world where every pet has access to compassionate care, regardless of their caregiver's circumstances.

Katherine Lacefield is a trusted partner in the philanthropic space, leveraging over 20 years of experience empowering organizations and individuals to bring about positive impact in their communities. Her knowledge and expertise span many areas, including overall fundraising strategy, monthly donations, major donation campaigns, and peer-to-peer fundraising, as well as a nuanced understanding of the global grantmaking landscape, animal welfare and rights, and sustainable development. 
 
Katherine is the founder and head consultant of Just Be Cause Consulting, bringing a wealth of insights to the table. Through her work with clients, volunteering, webinars, speaking engagements, articles, and The Just Be Cause Podcast, Katherine has helped hundreds of nonprofits regain enthusiasm for fundraising. She has supported numerous nonprofits establishing sustainable funding plans, from small grassroots advocacy groups to large international organizations. 
 
With an academic background in environmental development and nonprofit management, Katherine has deepened her understanding of the intricate connections between the many social issues that affect our communities and the important role of the nonprofit sector. 

Kathy is the founder and Executive Director of Paws for Hope Animal Foundation. Prior to working in animal welfare, Kathy spent 20 years working in social services. Through her experience in social services, Kathy recognized many parallels between animal welfare and social service work and is a strong advocate for linking the two sectors together to support healthy and vibrant communities. Kathy has a master's degree in criminology from Simon Fraser University and is a published author. She lives in Maple Ridge, BC with her husband, daughter, and cat, Nala, and dogs, Henry, Gigi and Barkely. 

Katie Koralesky holds an MSc and PhD in Applied Animal Biology from the University of British Columbia Animal Welfare Program. She is an animal welfare scientist who studies the human factors that influence animal care. Her research explores how human behaviour and values inform animal care practices on farms and in animal shelters, the role of policy in improving animal welfare, and views on new technology in animal agriculture. 

Kerri brings more than two decades of animal welfare and nonprofit experience to Petsmart Charities. Having worked as both a volunteer and staff member in a wide variety of animal shelters, ranging from large municipal facilities to small private rescues, Kerri has a deep passion for animals and extensive hands-on experience. In addition to sheltering, she has also worked in veterinary medicine and human services. Throughout her career, both stateside and internationally, Kerri has come to recognize that no matter where in the world you are, the bond between pets and their people is always extraordinary.

Kerri Thomson is the Manager of the Justice and Legislative Affairs Program at Humane Canada. She is also a licensed member of the Law Society of Ontario with a post-graduate certificate in Victimology and is currently completing her degree in Criminology & Policing at Wilfrid Laurier University.  
 
When not working or studying, Kerri can be found taking photos of her garden, hanging out with her partner and son when he deigns to come home from university, and tending to her three cats: tabby girls Iris Desdemona and Ivy Lavinia, and Lemmy Axl Rose Kittenmister, the Not-So-Tiny Prince of Darkness. 

Krista Kingston is the Manager of Communications and Education at the Edmonton Humane Society, bringing a unique perspective to animal welfare through a non-traditional background in corporate marketing. With over ten years of experience in marketing and communications, she has developed innovative strategies that resonate with diverse audiences and foster community engagement. 

Dr. Laura Balanoff graduated from the University of Melbourne veterinary school in 2012 and was thrown in the deep end at her first job at a busy shelter outside Sydney. Seeing a wide variety of complex surgical cases early in her career and being forced to push her surgical skills in a low-resource environment ignited her passion for surgery. Sometimes, a lack of guidance for these cases also sparked a drive to pursue further surgical continuing education and pass these skills via mentorship. Dr. Balanoff completed a shelter medicine internship at the University of Wisconsin in 2014-2015. She then moved on to focus heavily on spay/neuter at a high-volume clinic and shelter in Chicago and began working at Toronto Humane Society in 2018, becoming the lead surgery veterinarian in the shelter in 2021.  
 
Dr. Balanoff has completed extensive continuing education training in soft tissue and orthopedic surgery and is currently pursuing a general practitioner certificate in surgery. She mentors veterinary students, new graduate veterinarians, and colleagues to make surgery fun and make building surgical skills accessible! 

Linda received her veterinary degree in Pretoria, South Africa, in 1986 and subsequently completed a residency in small animal internal medicine and a PhD on the pathophysiology of virulent canine babesiosis. She completed the University of Florida Online Graduate Certificate in Shelter Medicine in 2015. She joined the Toronto Humane Society in 2010 and is currently Director of Science and Advancement. She is President of the Canadian Animal Shelter and Community Medicine Association, CASCMA.

Lindsay Baker is a CVA-certified volunteer engagement expert with 25 years of experience leading volunteer teams in a variety of settings, including universities, museums, special events, volunteer centres, and tourist attractions. Currently, she serves as the Senior Director of Volunteer Resources for the BC Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BC SPCA), where she supports over 3,400 volunteers in 35 communities across the province. 
 
As a past president of the Volunteer Management Professionals of Canada (VMPC), Lindsay is well-versed in volunteer management standards and industry best practices. In her role as an Instructor for Conestoga College’s virtual Volunteer Management Certificate Program, she equips non-profit leaders with the tools and training they need to engage volunteers successfully. Lindsay is known for developing innovative programs that adapt to current and emerging trends, and she loves running pilot programs and initiatives! In 2017, she was awarded the Impact Award for Exemplary Leadership of Volunteers by her peers. 
 
When she is not dancing, you are likely to find Lindsay listening to a book while walking her dog, Phil. 

Liz LeClair is a passionate fundraiser and intersectional feminist, with 20 years of experience in the non-profit sector. Liz is the founder of UpRising Philanthropic Consulting in Punamu'kwati'jk (Dartmouth, Nova Scotia), located on the unceded territory of Mi'kma'ki, and has worked with organizations across various sectors and regions, from coast to coast. 
 
Liz was a long-standing member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), a former chair of the AFP Women's Impact Initiative (WII), has served on the board of the African American Development Officer Network (AADO) and was a former board member for Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) International. 
 
In January 2019, Liz published an op-ed with CBC on the rampant issue of sexual harassment in the non-profit sector, drawing attention to this critical challenge. She also co-founded the National Day of Conversation in 2019 to address sexualized violence in fundraising. 
 
Liz is deeply committed to advocating for women, gender-diverse, and marginalized individuals in the non-profit sector, striving to create a more equitable, inclusive sector. 
 
Learn more about Liz on LinkedIn. 

Mandy Cormier was born and raised on Tse'Khene Territory, also known as Mackenzie, in Northern British Columbia. Her partner, Dallas Grismer-Voght, is from the Nlaka’pamux Nation in the interior of British Columbia.  
In her recent role as Director of Community and Social Development, Health Director, and Advisor of Health and Social Development, Mandy has led community engagement projects that prioritized collaboration and inclusivity.  

Mandy is passionate about developing and implementing prevention and early intervention programs that integrate teachings, lived experiences of community members, and land-based activities. These initiatives are crucial for fostering strong cultural connections and resilience at any phase of life, helping to address challenges before they become ingrained.  
 
As a non-Indigenous helper, Mandy approaches her work with respect for traditional protocols, ensuring that her contributions align with the values and goals of the communities she serves. Having lived in remote northern communities, Mandy has firsthand experience with the challenges of accessing essential resources and services, which drives her commitment to designing programs that are responsive, sustainable, and culturally rooted. 

Meggie graduated with distinction from the University of Calgary faculty of Veterinary Medicine in 2013. She has worked on Vancouver Island for the last 11 years and understands the unique challenges and growth potential for veterinary medicine on the Island.

Meggie’s veterinary career has included companion animal medicine, emergency care, and practice management. She launched Fantastic Beasts Veterinary Services in 2023 along with its sister non-profit called Island Rescue Veterinary Services. She combines veterinary skill with leadership and management knowledge, as well as ample mentorship experience.

Melaina has been a passionate advocate for animal welfare all her life, launching her career in the field at the Calgary Humane Society in 2006. Over the years, she has built a strong background in animal welfare, shelter operations, human resources, and strategic leadership. 
 
A Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) and Certified Talent Management Practitioner (CTMP), Melaina also holds a Certificate in Human Resource Management from the University of Calgary. She is deeply committed to continuous learning and growth, with professional interests that include human rights, leadership development, and promoting psychological health and safety in the workplace. She is particularly passionate about cultivating a workplace culture where people feel supported, respected, and empowered to thrive. 
 
When she’s not working, Melaina enjoys spending quality time with her partner, sharpening her skills as an avid 5-pin bowler, and unwinding through creative outlets like painting and drawing. 

Melissa transitioned from the social services sector into animal welfare in 2014, bringing a deep commitment to compassionate care and community-centered support. After gaining experience in wildlife, clinical practice, and sheltering, she found her passion in the shelter environment—particularly in behaviour and training. 

Melissa is a Certified Shelter Behavior Consultant – Dogs (CSB-D) through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC), a Certified Professional Dog Trainer through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CPDT-KA), and a Fear Free Shelter Graduate. 

Since joining Toronto Humane Society in 2015 as an Animal Care Worker, Melissa has grown within the organization through a series of leadership roles across training and operations. Now serving as Director, Animal Sheltering, she leads a broad portfolio of programs including shelter care and training, veterinary services, foster, admissions (including transport), and adoption. Her work is grounded in evidence-based practices and a deep commitment to maximizing lifesaving efforts and outcomes—ensuring both animals and the people who care for them are set up for long-term success. 

Meredith is a bird conservationist specialized in bird-friendly building policy development, research, and advocacy. She helps governments to appreciate the complex lives of birds and how our policies about building and lighting affect bird populations. In 2023, she co-led a successful statewide campaign to pass Public Act No. 23-143, Connecticut's “Lights Out bill,” which requires all CT state agencies to turn off unnecessary lights by 11pm for birds and is estimated to save Connecticut $1.6 million per year. As a policy researcher at the Yale Bird-friendly Building Initiative, she co-authored 'Building Safer Cities for Birds: How Cities Are Leading the Way on Bird-Friendly Building Policy." She routinely testifies and submits public comments on municipal and institutional sustainability plans to incorporate bird-friendly measures. She holds an MA in history from the University of Chicago and an MDiv in religion & ecology from Yale University. 

Coming soon

Monica Tarant is a leader in animal welfare and the Chief Innovation Officer at Give Them Ten. She advises on both strategic philanthropy and national initiatives to change the way people think about animal welfare and create the right outcome for every cat. With more than two decades of experience, Monica has transformed shelter systems through groundbreaking work in operations, leadership coaching, inter-shelter collaboration and humane policy development. 

 
As the former National Director of Feline Lifesaving for Maddie’s Fund, Monica guided hundreds of shelters nationwide in culture-shifting strategies to improve outcomes for animals and staff. Her on-the-ground experience includes managing large-scale programs in Austin and founding a low-cost spay/neuter program focused on underserved communities. 

 
Monica is especially known for her candid, systems-level insight into the ethical and emotional complexities of sheltering. She is a frequent speaker at international conferences and has been featured in Animal Sheltering Magazine and peer-reviewed publications on feline medicine. Her work emphasizes equity, compassion and sustainable decision-making in an often-overwhelmed field. 

Monique Schultz is a proud Métis woman whose passion for helping people and their animals led to the co-founding and growth of Canine Action Project—now recognized as a leading organization focused on companion animal management in partnership with First Nations in Saskatchewan.

Monique brings heart and commitment to every aspect of her work. She believes that meaningful, trust-based relationships are at the core of sustainable animal welfare. Her favorite part of this work is building deep connections with people—relationships that not only strengthen communities, but also create the conditions where animals can thrive as true family members, not just pets.

Nabila is the Manager of Humane Education at the Calgary Humane Society, where she blends her passion for animal care, environmentalism, and inclusivity to create impactful educational programs.   

Diagnosed with ADHD in her early 30s, Nabila brings a unique perspective to her work, understanding firsthand the challenges of learning within a neurotypical framework. She is dedicated to fostering an environment that encourages growth, curiosity, and compassion for both animals and people. Through her engaging approach, Nabila inspires others to embrace their individuality and make a positive difference in their communities. 

Nicole Green (she/her) is the Director of Animalearn, an animal advocacy program based in the U.S., focused on helping educators and students find innovative non-animal science teaching resources for K-12 classrooms and beyond. For over 20 years Nicole has worked to enlighten the public about animal use in education and the innovative technology that can be used to create humane learning spaces.

Nicole holds an MA in Education and Innovation and has served as a Board Member and Advisor for the Association of Professional Humane Educators (APHE). Currently, Nicole serves on the Advisory Board for CurioXR, a virtual reality (VR) tech company, that is developing humane anatomy experiences.

Paula Rojas is a veterinarian specializing in high-volume sterilization campaigns since 2019. She has performed over 4,000 surgeries—often as the sole surgeon—sterilizing up to 120 animals within three days. She collaborates closely with animal welfare organizations in Colombia and has volunteered as a surgical team member in mass sterilization campaigns in Mexico.  

As an MSD fellow in India, she contributed to the Worldwide Veterinary Service’s surgical training course. For the past three years, her work has focused on street animals and those with limited access to veterinary care, deepening her commitment to ethical, sustainable population control and community-based animal welfare. Passionate about adapting veterinary care for vulnerable animals in remote and resource-limited settings, she describes her mission as “transforming lives, one spay at a time,” and looks forward to sharing practical insights to support effective sterilization campaigns worldwide. 

Rachel Appel is the Lead Adoption Grants Manager at PetSmart Charities of Canada, bringing over two decades of experience in animal welfare. Passionate about innovative approaches to increasing adoptions, Rachel combines her expertise in retail environments, program development, grantmaking, and community partnerships to support organizations across Canada in saving more lives. 

 
She is a strong advocate for enriching the shelter experience through off-site adoption and volunteer programs, community events, and strategic collaborations. 
Outside of work, Rachel enjoys spending time hiking and camping with her family, fostering all types of animals, and spending time with her horses. Her deep knowledge of animal welfare is matched by her love for helping others in the field grow their impact. 

Rouhee Dhillon is a Master of Science Student at the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, where her research is focused on working with First Nations community partners to explore the impacts of a community-based animal health program that has the goal of improving equitable access to veterinary care on multiple stakeholders, including youth, veterinary students, and animals. She is under the supervision of Dr. Tessa Baker and Dr. Susan Kutz. Previously to this, she obtained her Bachelor of Science at the University of Calgary in Natural Sciences and afterwards worked as an Animal Health Technician in the Clara Christie Centre for Mouse Genomics. 

She is interested in animal health policies, animal health systems, and animal health research to help address the barriers experienced in veterinary care, specifically in underserved populations. Rouhee also holds passion and belief in the transdisciplinary One Health approach when researching animal healthcare and is further interested in exploring the human-animal bond and the intersectionality between communities and animals. She brings in over 6 years of experience in community outreach, fundraising efforts, and public awareness events surrounding animals and humans alike. 

Ruth joined Battersea as Head of Academy in September 2021. After beginning her career as a high school Biology teacher, she moved into the animal charity sector where she spent 12 years working for World Animal Protection.  Initially as Head of Education, she led a global team delivering animal welfare education training programmes for teachers and veterinary lecturers. She then spearheaded the design and implementation of a new department that focused on fostering sustainable behaviour change in different audiences. Ruth is committed to building networks to achieve sustainable and systemic change in some of the most complex problems facing animals. 

Sabrina Migancca earned her CTC (Certificate in Training and Counseling) at Jean Donaldson's Academy for Dog Trainers. She is also certified in Separation Anxiety (CSAT). 
 
Sabrina began her career working with animals in emergency shelters, gaining hands-on experience with a wide variety of dogs, including those from neglect cases, puppy mills, and dogs rescued from oversea meat farms. She has since applied her expertise to helping clients and their dogs through compassionate, science-based training. 
 
Sabrina is currently pursuing a degree in social work. She aims to continue combining her passion for social justice, community care, and animal welfare. 

Sally has been with the Calgary Humane Society for over 8 years, with a focus on supporting animals through community programs, including foster, intake diversion, and creating innovative programming for seniors with companion animals from scratch. Today, as the Director of Community Services, Sally focuses on collaborating with community partners to develop resources for people with pets to ensure the health and wellbeing of both the pet and owners alike. Sally envisions a future wherein those who want to keep their pets have the tools to do so responsibly, and no surrender is due to a lack of access to resources! 

Coucou, I’m Sam Giroux! 

 
Quebec granola girl, creative brain, professional yapper, and occasional over-thinker (the useful kind). 
 
Do you dream of a better world for your kids and, really, all living beings? 
 
Yeah, me too. 

 
So my goal is simple: to support the success of for-good projects by making their brands feel better and look prettier than the big capitalistic ones. 
 
For the past years, I have helped nonprofits, cooperatives, organizations, and municipalities engage, educate, and mobilize their audience through brand-powered experiences. 
 
From updating your logo to finding memorable ways to connect with your audience (like conservation-focused porta-potty visuals!), I help you get the support you need by making your project's visuals a part of people's lives and identity. 

Sandra Banks is the Manager of Fund Development at the Edmonton Humane Society. She brings a strategic and collaborative approach to engaging donors and building community support through compelling fundraising initiatives. With a passion for animal welfare and over a decade of experience in the sector, Sandra’s experience in cultivating strong relationships with donors, sponsors and partners reflects a deep commitment to driving meaningful impact through creative outreach, thoughtful engagement and innovative fundraising strategies. 

Sara Hoshooley is a fundraising consultant who LOVES working with small fundraising teams to create customized strategies that raise more money. 

She currently works with the team at Paws for Hope to help grow their fundraising efforts and will co-present the unique ways they create better engagement with their donors, and ultimately, raise more money for the organization. 

As a former small charity executive director, Sara understands the challenges and opportunities facing small but mighty nonprofits and teams. She is the founder of Charity Shift, a Toronto-based company that offers customized fundraising plans, strategy and coaching to organizations in Canada and internationally. 

Sara Pizano, DVM, MS, is a shelter reform expert and the founder of Team Shelter USA (a partner collaborator with Maddie's Million Pet Challenge). With a veterinary degree from Cornell University and degrees from Columbia University and SUNY Oswego, Dr. Pizano has served as Director of Veterinary Services at the Humane Society of Broward County and Director of Miami-Dade Animal Services, where she rewrote animal code laws and dramatically increased live outcomes. 

 
In 2013, she helped develop the Target Zero model to eliminate euthanasia as a form of population control, and in 2017, launched Team Shelter USA to support shelters with shelter design guidance and public policy alignment. She has completed over 180 consults nationwide. 

Dr. Pizano is the author of The Best Practice Playbook for Animal Shelters, which is widely used by shelters and taught in veterinary programs. She serves as courtesy faculty at the University of Florida’s Shelter Medicine Program. She is an advisor to national initiatives like the Million Cat Challenge, Open Door Veterinary Collective and the Human Animal Support Services project. Dr. Pizano advocates for clear-eyed decision-making that honors both animals and the people who care for them. 

Sára Varsa is Executive Vice President of Programs at Greater Good Charities, leading disaster response strategy and execution. She also oversees animal transport initiatives that have relocated tens of thousands of shelter pets, creating space for local shelters to save more lives. 

With over two decades of experience in disaster response and animal welfare, Sára has directed hundreds of operations addressing both natural and human-caused disasters, resulting in the rescue of thousands of animals—from cats and dogs to exotic species and farm animals. Her expertise spans major crises, including Hurricane Katrina, the Joplin tornadoes, Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria, Dorian, Helene, and Milton, the Greater Los Angeles wildfires, the Türkiye earthquake, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. 

Sára has trained and advised law enforcement, animal shelters, and advocates on topics from recognizing animal cruelty to implementing structured emergency management protocols in disaster response. Her approach combines operational expertise with compassion for people and animals, ensuring Greater Good Charities delivers exactly what communities need

After 15 years as an urban planner working with local governments in three provinces, Sarah began a new career with the BC SPCA that combined her love of animals and communications, strategic planning and public engagement experience. Sarah coordinates and fosters the BC SPCA’s relationship with local, provincial and federal staff and politicians to advocate for advancements in animal welfare. She is passionate about the power of the human-animal bond, having experienced its benefits as a therapy dog team member and volunteer for organizations providing veterinary care and support in First Nations communities and for people experiencing homelessness. 

Shirley Tyance (Bedwash) is an Ojibway woman from Northern Ontario who has dedicated more than 30 years to advocating for children and Indigenous communities. 

For the past four years, she has been the owner and operator of Tipi Treasures, where she creates authentic traditional clothing and footwear. Her work is rooted in a deep commitment to keeping these cultural traditions alive and thriving. 

Shirley is a mother of four and has opened her home to many foster children over the years. 

Living within both traditional and Western worlds has given her a profound appreciation for the diverse teachings and perspectives represented in the medicine wheel. She often speaks about the significant differences between these worlds and how her strong belief in the Creator guides her in living a good life. Each day, she strives to walk the Seven Teachings and to make a positive difference in the lives of those she encounters. 

In the past two years, Shirley has been blessed and honoured to work side by side with Matawa, deepening her contributions to community and cultural preservation. 

Sierra Hall is from the Kitasoo Xai'xais Nation, a small coastal community named Klemtu with a population of approximately 350 people. She has lived in Klemtu all of her life and continues to chase her career dreams in community through the Nation's Stewardship department. Sierra is 28 years old and a mother to 3 boys, growing up in a community like Klemtu is a very unique experience and there are many opportunities for youth through summer programs which she has had the privilege to benefit from. Sierra's education continued on at Vancouver Island University, gaining a certificate in Adventure Tourism and Recreation in 2019. Through COVID, she found work in Stewardship under the Research department and started a new career as a Field Technician, collecting data on various animals throughout her territory. Her passion for wildlife has been shaped by growing up in a community that is constantly learning how to coexist with them, and then continuing on to researching more about them as she began working for the Nation. These major roles in her life has led her to gain a new level of respect for wildlife and a powerful urge to understand how we can make real changes for them. 

One of the first and leading animal protection lawyers in Quebec and Canada, Sophie Gaillard has worked at the Montreal SPCA since 2013. As Director of Animal Advocacy and Legal and Government Affairs, Sophie oversees the organization’s efforts to advance animal law and strengthen animal protection legislation and public policy at the municipal, provincial and federal levels. She also acts as head legal counsel, government relations expert and spokesperson for the SPCA. Sophie notably spearheaded the campaigns that led to the banning of cat declawing in Quebec, the authorization of dogs in the Montreal metro and the adoption of a new provision in the Civil Code of Quebec recognizing animals as sentient beings. She is frequently consulted by governments and political parties on proposed legislation and regulations affecting animal welfare and regularly appears as an animal law expert in provincial, national and international French- and English-language media. 

 
Sophie was head of the SPCA’s Investigations Division from 2018 to 2020 and served as Interim Executive Director of the organization for nearly a year in 2022 and 2023. She is a graduate of McGill University's Faculty of Law, where she taught Animal Law in 2017 and 2020. 

Stefanie Goertz is the Administrator of Community Engagement at the Edmonton Humane Society. She has been working in the animal welfare field for over 12 years and has experience in various aspects of animal sheltering from animal care, adoptions, admissions, and volunteer management. Stefanie enjoys meeting the needs of organizations through volunteer programing. Her over 9 years of experience in volunteer services give her practice working with a variety of people 

Stephanie Sabshin is the founder, Executive Director, and surgeon at Harmony Vet Care (501c3), which provides a unique and revolutionary approach to veterinary medicine. Stephanie has a diverse background in veterinary medicine, ranging from full service private practice to low-cost shelter medicine.

There are two major challenges facing the veterinary industry as a whole:

1) Veterinary care can be expensive and out of reach for many owners.

2) Veterinary staff are often over-worked, underpaid, and face significant compassion fatigue.

Harmony was founded to help provide owners with high quality care at an affordable price, and to provide staff with a living wage, competitive benefits, and a safe and supportive working environment. Since opening in 2018, Stephanie has helped Harmony grow to 3 locations and serves over 60,000 clients and over 120,000 patients. The staff consists of 8 full-time doctors and 60 full-time support staff. It is Stephanie’s personal mission to ensure all animals get the medical care they deserve, regardless of the owner’s finances.
 

V. Victoria Shroff, KC, is a leading Canadian animal law lawyer and pioneer in animal law. She leads Shroff Animal Law, BC’s longest-standing animal law firm. Notably, Shroff is Canada’s first and only animal law lawyer appointed the high honour of King’s Counsel. With over 25 years specializing in animal law, she handles cases involving companion animals in housing, pet custody, dangerous dogs, veterinary negligence, and animals in housing—advocating for tenants' pet rights and challenging evictions related to pets. Shroff’s work has influenced Canadian law, especially elevating pets’ status as family members in custody disputes. Shroff was instrumental in BC's Family Law changes elevating companion animals. Shroff teaches animal law at UBC and CapilanoU, founded Canada’s only Pro-Bono Animal Law Clinic, is author of the "go to" textbook, Canadian Animal Law and an expert media commentator. She advances legal protections for animals through litigation, education, and policy. Shroff is founding-chair of the national Canadian Animal Law Study Group. Shroff was voted a 'Top 25 Most Influential Lawyer' in Canada and presented a Tedx talk. She regularly presents at conferences and universities worldwide. www.shroffanimallaw.com

After graduating from the University of Sydney, Wesley started his career in small animal general practice. He later underwent an internship in emergency and critical care and worked as an emergency veterinarian. During this time, he was also volunteering with animal shelters and community programs. Following this passion for shelter medicine, he underwent a specialty internship at Cornell University and served as a shelter veterinarian at the Toronto Humane Society. In 2022, he became the first clinical resident in shelter medicine in Canada, based at the Ontario Veterinary College. In 2025, he joined Haven Veterinary Services as a shelter veterinary consultant.