Request a speaker

It’s easy to engage in a discussion about the issues affecting animal welfare in Canada – Ask Barbara Cartwright and Toolika Rastogi, PhD.

Humane Canada CEO Barbara Cartwright engages with Canadians from coast-to-coast-to-coast to talk about the importance of animal welfare in Canada. She actively shares how groups and individuals can make a difference to end animal cruelty, improve animal protection and promote the humane treatment of all animals.

Barbara Cartwright
CEO, Humane Canada

An award-winning leader in animal welfare, conservation and education, Barbara Cartwright has extensive experience in developing and facilitating relationships with governments, corporations and NGOs. She has established community-based companion animal welfare programs, created BC’s first grizzly bear rehabilitation program and contributed to the protection of the endangered right whale.

Barbara has drafted, consulted on and secured amendments to provincial and federal legislation, including updates to:

  • The Canadian Criminal Code,
  • The Migratory Bird Act, and
  • The Canadian Environmental Protection Act.

Barbara advises some of the top organizations in the world on animal welfare policy. She is also consulted by all political parties on animal welfare issues. As the CEO of Humane Canada, Barbara convenes and represents the largest animal welfare community in Canada. Humane Canada works to end animal cruelty, improve animal protection and promote the humane treatment of all animals. Since taking on this role in 2011, Barbara has launched the annual National Animal Welfare Conference and the National Centre for the Prosecution of Animal Cruelty and spearheaded the first empirical sector-wide research project on humane societies and SPCAs in Canada.

Humane Canada Policy and Research Manager, Dr. Toolika Rastogi represents the organization on several industry-related stakeholder groups to help advance animal welfare.

Toolika Rastogi. PhD
Policy and Research Manager, Humane Canada

Toolika Rastogi leads the Humane Canada research program, including the national shelter statistics program and various animal welfare research projects. She also provides policy analysis and represents Humane Canada on the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) and the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC). Toolika holds a PhD in Molecular and Medical Genetics, a postdoctoral certificate in Conservation Genetics and a Master’s in Ecological Economics and Sustainable Development Policy. Prior to joining Humane Canada, she worked in the areas of biodiversity conservation and environmental safety, both internationally with the OECD, and in Canada with Environment Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). Her policy work in these areas has allowed her to contribute to the development of international environmental agreements and drafting of federal legislation for environmental protection.

To inquire about Barbara or Toolika’s availability to address your event, please e-mail info@humanecanada.ca with the subject line “Request a speaker”.  There is no speaking fee, however; a donation will be requested assist Humane Canada’s program developments.