Five wonderful women of World Animal Protection

Ingrid Giskes

Ingrid leads the global Sea Change Campaign at World Animal Protection. Originally from Belgium, she has worked for the organisation for more than six years and is now based in Sydney, Australia.

Ingrid has worked on projects all over the world, helping to tackle one of our ocean’s biggest killers, ghost gear. Ghost gear is lost, abandoned, or discarded fishing gear. Each year, 640,000 tonnes of ghost gear enters our oceans, threatening the health and lives of our precious sea animals. On any one day, Ingrid could be talking to governments at the United Nations, working with companies such as Young’s Seafood on corporate social responsibility, and working with local communities to help develop sustainable solutions to address the threat of ghost gear.

Ingrid lives in a cottage next to the beach and is a keen swimmer, runner and snorkeler - the ocean and the life within it, inspires her every day. 

Kate Blaszak

With a background in veterinary science, Kate Blaszak provides technical support for World Animal Protection’s farming work around the world. She has more than 15 years’ animal welfare advocacy and technical experience. Her technical expertise is vital in our work to improve the lives of farm animals around the world. It helps ensure our campaigns are realistic and impactful.

Previously, Kate has worked on developing comprehensive animal welfare policies and has worked to include animal welfare in veterinary education across Asia. Kate has also provided advice for our campaigns to improve the lives of dogs and working donkeys.

Kate enjoys the opportunity to work in places where animal welfare is the lowest of priorities, and yet of greatest need. Working with so many likeminded people, who remain committed to animal welfare, continues to inspire and excite her every day.

Emily Mudoga

Emily is the Campaign Manager for the Better Lives for Dogs program in Africa. Her passion for animals and empathy for people makes her vital in our work to end the inhumane culling of dogs in Africa. She has an infectious laugh and over 18 years veterinary and program management experience.

She has travelled the world, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Nairobi in Kenya, and a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Melbourne, Australia. Emily was instrumental in our work vaccinating over 1 million dogs against the deadly rabies virus. Her passion for helping mans’ (and woman’s) best friend continues to inspire those around her.

Elizabeth Hogan

Elizabeth works for World Animal Protection in the United States where she specialises in marine wildlife entanglement, reducing marine debris, working on whaling policy and wildlife in captivity.

For the last five years, she has researched the impact of ghost fishing gear on sea animals and worked on establishing rescue networks and protocols for entangled marine life.

Elizabeth is a contributing author to two books on corporate social responsibility.  She has a degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University, as well as a dual Master of Science in Marine & Coastal Natural Resources from the University for Peace in Costa Rica, and a Master of Science in Sustainable Development from the American University in Washington, DC.

Elizabeth recently traveled to Alaska on a mission to rescue and free entangled seals and sea lions along the Alaskan coastline, an area where animals are especially vulnerable to entanglement in ghost fishing gear. Both her research and her practical work have helped save marine animals around the world.

Image credit: World Animal Protection / Dado Galdieri

Rosangela Ribeiro

Rosangela is the Veterinary Programs Manager in our Brazil team. She loves her four adopted fur babies and has been with World Animal Protection for over eight years. During this time, she has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of dogs and cats living in communities.

With Rosangela at the helm, World Animal Protection partnered with the Organising Committee for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, helping to rescue stray cats and keep them safe during, and after, the Games. This was the first time an animal protection NGO worked in partnership with an Olympic Committee. Rosangela worked to show that animals are very vulnerable during this event and that it is possible to manage stray cat populations in a humane and effective way.

Rosangela’s determination in caring for these cats and finding them a safe and loving home is an inspiration to us all.

Image credit: World Animal Protection / Dado Galdieri

These strong women do their part every day to help improve the lives of animals around the world. We’re certainly thankful to have them working hard to make a difference this International Women’s Day.