GERRAH SELBY (she/her/they/them)
Former SHAC activist

Activists everywhere are feeling the heat for trying to build a fairer world. From arrests and raids to new legislation and hefty prison sentences, the consequences of taking action are very real. Gerrah Selby spent years incarcerated following her involvement in the SHAC campaign, and will use her lived experience to discuss the impacts of criminalizing activism, and how and where we can find the strength to continue our struggles in the face of immense state repression.

The talk is in English.

CARL VALENTIN (he/him)
Member of the Danish Parliament (SF / Green Left)

Carl Valentin has been a member of the Danish Parliament (Folketinget) for more than 5 years. As the spokesperson for animal welfare, environment, and agriculture for SF – Green Left, he fights for animal rights and a plant-based food system. Carl Valentin is the first vegan ever elected to the Danish Parliament.

In his presentation, "Fighting for Animals in Parliament" he will describe some of the most important changes that have been made for animals in recent years in Denmark and how they have been achieved. He will also discuss why political and structural changes are crucial and how, as a vegan politician, he balances making compromises in the fight for animals without compromising his fundamental values.

The talk is in English.

CHRISTOPHER SEBASTIAN (he/him)
Journalist, technical writer, and adjunct lecturer

Christopher Sebastian teaches in the School of Journalism, Media, and Visual Arts at Anglo-American University in Prague. He writes about food, politics, media, pop culture, and animals. He will be giving two talks at the conference.

This presentation is based on Christopher Sebastian’s essay of the same name in the anthology “The Good it Promises, the Harm it Does: Critical Essays on Effective Altruism” (edited by Carol J. Adams, Alice Crary, and Lori Gruen). Attendees will observe examples of the anti-black racism that is prevalent among effective altruist thought leaders in the animal protection space and how those attitudes inform the direction of movement politics, prioritize economic interests over outcomes, and elevate the dominant attitudes and beliefs of normative whiteness.

The talk is in English.

STEFAN LEANDER (he/him)
Dyrenes Detektiv

The newspaper Information recently brought his investigations on the frontpage, and his work has been featured across mainstream media, consequentially bringing animal suffering into many public conversations.
In his presentation, Stefan will share how Dyrenes Detektiv has uncovered an effective method to expose the suffering of animals through public documents. He will discuss the findings, lessons learned, and the significant impact you, as an animal rights activist, can have using this method.

The talk is in English.

CHRISTOPHER SEBASTIAN (he/him)
Journalist, technical writer, and adjunct lecturer

Christopher Sebastian teaches in the School of Journalism, Media, and Visual Arts at Anglo-American University in Prague. He writes about food, politics, media, pop culture, and animals. He will be giving two talks at the conference.

In this talk, attendees will learn how right wing extremists, venture capitalists, and corporate collaborators co-opt the language of social movements to isolate and neutralize the efforts of radical activists through coordinated campaigns of disinformation that drive infighting and incite internal division...and then learn what to do about it!

The talk is in English.

LISELOTTE KATARINA ROTFELD (she/her)
Dyrenes Oase

Liselotte is the caretaker of the animal sanctuary Dyrenes Oase. By day, she works as a real estate adviser, but her true passion lies in running Dyrenes Oase, where she takes care of more than animals every day. She describes herself as born vegan, and she is incredibly dedicated to making a better world for all animals. Her talk will offer a unique perspective on the animals' experience of the world, given her daily interactions with them at her sanctuary. Her presentation, "Dyrenes Oase: A Presentation of an Animal Sanctuary" will delve into the daily life at the sanctuary and the importance of such refuges for animals.

The talk is in English.

TANMAY SINGH MADAN (he/him)
Activist

Tanmay, an animal rights activist for seven years and a vegan for almost nine years, has dedicated his efforts to organizing events, fundraising, and actively participating in various initiatives for the animals. His talk, "Navigating Repression, Racism, and Xenophobia in the Danish Animal Rights Movement," will be a free flow discussion about the challenges of doing activism in Denmark as a foreigner, especially as a person of color and non-EU citizen. With this talk, Tanmay aims to raise awareness on how Danish/white-presenting allies can better support those without certain privileges and provide strategies for sustainable activism for non-Danish activist and activists of color.

The talk is in English.

MICHAEL MONBERG (he/him)
Politician and activist

Michael Monberg has worked tirelessly for the animals for many years, in various ways. He is mostly known as one of the co-founders of the Danish vegan political party and now as a political advisor on animal rights for the Alternative (Danish green party), but his work for the animals extends far beyond that.

During his talk you will learn much more about his work beyond politics. This talk will delve into the powerful campaign that exposed the realities of organic duck slaughterhouses. Join us as he shares the results and reflections from this impactful campaign.

The talk is in English.

SHAKIRA FREE (she/her)
Veterinary professional

With 15 years of experience working with a wide variety of species internationally, Shakira has dedicated her life to protecting animals. She has been vegan for a decade and has played an important role in multiple actions to expose the suffering of animals and save lives. Shakira’s commitment to bettering the lives of animals is evident in her work, from advocating for species-specific care to challenging breed-specific laws and the ethics of the wildlife trade. She will be giving two talks at the conference.

The talk "The Value of Animal Care Knowledge," is an interactive workshop designed to equip activists with vital life-saving knowledge from her extensive veterinary experience.

This talk is in English.

ADELLE GOODMAN (she/her/they/them)
Founder of Travel Animal Rescue
Sanctuary worker, feral cat advocate

Adelle Goodman is the founder of Travel Animal Rescue, a grassroots initiative established to protect animals and support their rescuers in the UK. After many years involved in the animal rights movement through outreach, working with sanctuaries, rescuing animals, and running spay/neuter projects in six countries, she now focuses on regionally relevant and culturally sensitive animal rights projects that effectively prevent animal suffering before it’s even created, as well as capacity-building for existing sanctuaries.

In their presentation, "Preventing Suffering: Alternative Direct Actions," Adelle will talk about how most existing sanctuaries and rescues are totally overburdened and simply cannot keep up with the sheer number of animals in need of rescue. Especially as the public calls on them to help cats and dogs, while the massive number of farmed and confined animals in the world logistically cannot be rescued as needed. She will share examples of actionable suffering prevention campaigns that are highly effective at preventing animal suffering before it occurs, and that relieve the rescue burden on these vital organizations.

The talk is in English.

ANNIKA HOLMES (she/her/they/them)
Photographer and activist

Annika Holmes is a dedicated photographer and activist who has been vegan for four years. With a background in photography, Annika began using her skills to capture the lives of exploited animals about 1.5 years ago.

In her talk, "Animal Photojournalism: Using Photography to Tell the Stories of Non-Human Animals," Annika will dive into the importance of creating powerful images to share the stories of animals. They will also discuss the practical aspects of animal photography, including gear, basic camera settings, composition, and editing. This insightful presentation will not only inspire but also equip you with the tools to use photography as a form of activism.

The talk is in English.

SHAKIRA FREE (she/her)
Veterinary professional

With 15 years of experience working with a wide variety of species internationally, Shakira has dedicated her life to protecting animals. She has been vegan for a decade and has played an important role in multiple actions to expose the suffering of animals and save lives. Shakira’s commitment to bettering the lives of animals is evident in her work, from advocating for species-specific care to challenging breed-specific laws and the ethics of the wildlife trade. She will be giving two talks at the conference.

The talk, "Pet Shops and the Wildlife Trade: An Animal Rights Perspective," will delve into the hidden world of legal wildlife trade and the urgent need for the animal rights community to take notice.

This talk is in English.

DELFINA TOSO (she/her)
Animal Liberation Activist

Delfina, a passionate animal liberation activist from Spain, has been actively fighting for animal justice since 2017. With experience in a wide range of activism, she’s committed to finding sustainable ways to keep the momentum going without burning out. Currently, she coordinates Barcelona Animal Save and continues to inspire others with her dedication.

In her talk, “The importance of vegan activism, how to start and how to make it last,” Delfina will discuss the importance of staying active in the movement and how to find the right form of activism that will keep you motivated for the long haul.

This talk is in English.