Co-founders
Carla Brown (LLB, PG Dip, MA)
After years of carrying out voluntary work and fundraising for animal welfare organisations in her spare time, Carla decided to leave the media world where she previously worked and made the switch to work for an animal charity full-time. While working as an RSPCA Inspector in the area of law enforcement she was able to see firsthand the impact of cruelty to animals, the need for proper education of the public with respect to animals’ needs and the requirement for adequate legislation and enforcement. This has driven her passion to ensure that legislative safeguards exist in every country of the world and that they deliver suitable protection to all animals, regardless of species.
Carla spent several years at the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) working as Legislative Affairs Manager, based at their international office in the UK. Prior to this she worked in a variety of roles with animals both through voluntary and paid employment and has extensive hands-on experience with wild, farmed and domestic animals. This knowledge of animal welfare and understanding of animal needs, helps her apply her legal skills to be able to specialise in the development of animal protection legislation in countries around the world through her current international consultant roles.
Suzanne Rogers (BSc hons)
Following a degree in microbiology Suzanne worked in science publishing for 10 years - initially as a science journalist and later as the Managing Editor of Trends in Biotechnology. In her spare time she re-qualified in animal behaviour and welfare, gained extensive practical experience with several animal welfare organisations, worked as an equine behaviour consultant and founded Learning About Animals (educational events and consultancy). Through extensive travel to developing countries Suzanne gained interest in transport animals and in 2005 joined the Board of the World Association for Transport Animal Welfare and Studies (TAWS), of which she is still an active member.
In 2007 she left her publishing career to become Programmes Manager of the Companion Animal Unit at the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) managing dog population projects and working equine projects. A key part of this role was to develop and test participatory methodologies – working within communities to lead to a change in the way people manage and care for their animals. Suzanne led the move away from a heavy focus on mobile clinics in the working equine projects towards prevention through participatory approaches. To reflect the broad applicability of the approach to other species she became the Technical Advisor for Human Behaviour Change Programmes.
Suzanne is now an international consultant for animal welfare and human behaviour change.
Lola Webber (BSc hons, MSc)
Email: Lola Webber
With a degree in zoology and a Masters in Wild Animal Biology, Lola has always had a passion for animals and commitment to their welfare.
Living, volunteering and working in several countries have provided Lola with the opportunity to work alongside people of different nationalities and cultures As a result Lola understands the complex issues associated with animal welfare and the importance of being able to communicate the ethical, scientific and cultural aspects to different audiences. Lola’s experience includes working at a chimpanzee rehabilitation centre in the national park of Haut Niger, Guinea, West Africa, and volunteering at several small animal shelters in India.
Whilst working for the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), Lola held the position as Campaign Co-ordinator, developing and delivering the campaign to end the dog meat industry in South Korea, managing WSPA’s involvement in the anti-fur campaign, and contributing to the development of WSPA’s priority ‘Red Collar Campaign’ to end the inhumane culling of dogs. Working at WSPA provided the opportunity to gain experience in developing, planning and executing national and international campaigns and the chance to work and collaborate with international NGOs and diverse external stakeholders.
Lola continues to develop her professional skills and knowledge at any opportunity; she regularly attends conferences and achieved a qualification in freelance journalism to hone her written communication skills for different audiences. Lola is now based in Singapore where she works as a consultant for animal welfare projects and in her spare time continues to volunteer for several animal welfare charities, from fostering dogs to translating web pages.
Harry Eckman
As an animal welfare specialist, Harry has managed shelters and companion animal population management programmes throughout Europe. He has worked for the Mayhew Animal Home, the RSPCA and volunteered for the UK Wolf Conservation Trust. He was centre manager at Wood Green Animal Shelters, where he oversaw the complete infrastructural redevelopment of the London animal hospital, veterinary clinic and shelter. At the University of London he managed forty projects across the UK for the Institute of Education. His work has included improving welfare standards in shelters and veterinary facilities, directing humane dog and cat population management projects and incorporating dog and cat behavioural and welfare concepts into stray population management programmes.
As Campaign Coordinator for the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), Harry worked extensively across Europe and Asia on companion animal population management programmes, rabies eradication projects and animal welfare NGO capacity development.
Harry currently works as Companion Animal Programmes consultant for the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) supporting their companion animal management programmes around the world.
Additionally, Harry is an advisory consultant for SNIP International, a charity providing equipment and expertise for stray animal projects internationally.