Event Highlights from Animal Welfare Horizons 2021: Virtual event

The Animal Welfare Collaborative (TAWC) held its biennual conference, the Animal Welfare Horizons 2021 on 29th November 2021. Due to the impacts of COVID-19, the event was held as a virtual event. While our attendees weren’t able to physically see one another, they were in the company of 225 other registrants around the world who were interested in discussions about animal welfare.

Animal Welfare Horizons 2021 brought together experts from a diverse range of disciplines to highlight the challenges and discuss the opportunities in the field of animal welfare. The day was packed full with accessible and thought-provoking talks, with Shannon Ruska, a bloodline descendant of the Yuggera, Turrbal, Nunukul, Gorenpul/Cooperoo, and Yugembir peoples with an outstanding knowledge of language and stories that relate to the areas of Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Logan, and the Redlands, performing the Welcome to Country.
Shannon Ruska delivering Welcome to Country. Photo credit: https://twitter.com/RonanRuggles
The Animal Welfare Horizons 2021 was officially opened by Dr. Allison Crook, General Manager Animal Biosecurity and Welfare and Chief Veterinary Officer at Queensland Government.

Professor Phil Hynd of The University of Adelaide delivered a thought-provoking keynote speech on the “Evolving human perspective on animals”.
Professor Phil Hynd, The University of Adelaide. Photo credit: https://twitter.com/RonanRuggles

Other presentations included:

  • Autism and pig care – Dr. Kirsty Richards, SunPork Farms
  • Animal management in rural and remote Indigenous communities – Dr. Bonny Cummings, AMRRIC
  • From Sparrows to Ibis – wild birds in urban communities – Professor Bob Doneley, The University of Queensland
  • Love at first bite: Shark welfare from the shark’s perspective – Professor Culum Brown, Macquarie University
  • What fish (likely) feel – Associate Professor Charles Caraguel, The University of Adelaide
  • Getting inside the heads of animals – Associate Professor David Beggs, the University of Melbourne
Dr. Bonny Cumming, AMRRIC. Photo credit: https://twitter.com/RonanRuggles
Dr. Kirsty Richards, SunPork Farms. Photo credit: https://twitter.com/RonanRuggles
Associate Professor Charles Caraguel, The University of Adelaide. Photo credit: https://twitter.com/RonanRuggles
Associate Professor David Beggs, the University of Melbourne. Photo credit: https://twitter.com/RonanRuggles

The event also included an idea exchange session led by Dr. Jill Fernandes, with discussions on protecting animals in times of crisis. This session was joined by guest speakers Nicola Craddock from Zoo and Aquarium Association Australasia and Helen Schaefer, NSW Department of Primary Industries.

Idea exchange session led by Dr. Jill Fernandes with guest speakers Nicola Craddock and Helen Schaefer. Photo credit: https://twitter.com/RonanRuggles
The event concluded with Professor Alan Tilbrook, Managing Director of The Animal Welfare Collaborative, The University of Queensland, giving an update on the activities that The Animal Welfare Collaborative has undertaken since its launch in 2019. Justin Toohey, Chair of The Animal Welfare Collborative Advisory Panel, also gave a quick update on the outlook of The Animal Welfare Collaborative.

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