What brought you to the Animal Welfare Program?
I was enjoying a successful 15-year marketing career in the information technology industry but wanted to apply the business skills I have accumulated to my interests in animal-related causes. As a donor to animal welfare charities myself, I felt there was a need to help other donors better assess the effectiveness of animal welfare organizations. Therefore, I aimed to create a tool that would ensure donors’ philanthropic gifts would be directed to effective and reputable organizations, rather than misallocated to organizations with evocative but misleading fundraising campaigns. When I learned of UBC’s Animal Welfare Program, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to develop my idea for a charity assessment tool as part of my thesis research. The AWP also taught me more about animal welfare issues generally, particularly farm animal welfare, and enabled me to make the necessary connections I would need to pursue a career in this field. I am forever grateful to the AWP professors and fellow students from whom I learned, and continue to learn, so much.
What have you been doing since graduating from the AWP?
Initially, I worked as a consultant to various animal welfare charities before joining the Vancouver Humane Society as their Director of Farm Animal Programs from 2008-2015. Our ChickenOUT! initiative helped educate and inform consumers, grocers, restaurants and other organizations about the use of battery cages for egg-laying hens. The campaign significantly contributed to reducing the use of battery cages nationally and in BC particularly. After leaving VHS, I returned to my role as a consultant and now work with food companies, agriculture organizations and animal welfare charities on a variety of farm animal welfare-related programs and issues. I have also been an active volunteer for animal welfare organizations over the years. I served 2 years on the BC SPCA Board, 8 years with the Animal Welfare Foundation of Canada (2 of those as VP and 3 as President), 3 years with the BC Bio-Dynamic Certification Committee, 11 years as an advisor to the Vancouver Foundation’s Animal Welfare Grants Committee and, most recently, as a Director for the BC SPCA’s Regional Council for Vancouver Island.
What advice would you give to students?
Take advantage of the additional learning and networking opportunities presented to you at the lunchtime seminars and public lectures. Speak with donors that attend these events to understand what animal welfare issues are important to the general public. All of this will round out your educational experience beyond the immediate focus of your thesis research and build your network of contacts for your future career. As for your thesis, never underestimate the importance of tracking and correctly documenting your citation references in a bibliography-generating tool from the very start!