Experts - World Animal Justice

WAJ Expert Group – International Lawyers for Animals

WAJ Expert Group is gathering outstanding international, criminal and animal rights lawyers from the world’s 5 continents.
We work together to better protect animal rights and to combat crimes against animals at national, regional and international law levels.

More than a think-tank, WAJ Expert Group is a global animal law advocacy task force providing legal solutions to foster animal protection.

The Flags indicate the country of origin and/or nationality, the second the country where the person live and/or is affiliated for studies or work.

Sabine BRELS

PhD, International Animal Law & Policy Consultant, World Animal Day Ambassador, WAJ Expert, Founding President & Steering Commitee member

Dr Sabine Brels is an international and comparative animal lawyer, author, lecturer and consultant, dedicated to advancing animal protection law worldwide (both in theory and in practice). In her PhD work in Canada, she addressed the evolution and globalization of animal law. In the last 15 years, she co-founded and codirected the Global Animal Law projects, and worked as legal advisor for various NGOs: the World Federation for Animals, the Eurogroup for Animals, and Compassion in World Farming. Since 2023, she is leading the World Animal Justice (WAJ) NGO that she founded. Dr Brels is WAJ expert to address animal protection gaps and solutions in international law, as to protect animal rights and ban animal crimes.

Deborah CAO

Professor of Animal Law & Ethics,
WAJ Expert, Honorary member

Pr Deborah Cao (LLB, PhD) is a Professor of animal law and ethics at Griffith University, Australia. She writes about animal crimes and protection in China and Australia. Her books on animals include: Animals are not Things, Animal Law in the West (2007 in Chinese), Animal Law in Australia and New Zealand (2010), While the Dog Gently Weeps (2012, in Chinese), Animal Law in Australia 2nd edition (2015), Animals in China, Law and Society (2015), Have You Ever Thought About the Pig’s Feelings: Farm Animal Welfare Law and Regulation in China and Beyond (2022, in Chinese), and Animal Law in Australia 3rd edition (2023). Pr Cao was the first academic asserting the need for an international answer to crimes against animals in her publications in 2014 (Routledge) and 2018 (UN observer).

Meganne NATALI

PhD, International Wildlife Lawyer, WAJ Expert & Steering Commitee member

Dr. Meganne Natali is a leading legal expert in wildlife crime with a Ph.D. in International Law, and a Visiting Fellow at Portsmouth’s University. She has made pivotal contributions in policy, advocacy, and legal reform. Working with leading organizations such as the Global Initiative to End Wildlife Crime, Four Paws, the International Centre for Animal Rights and Ethics (ICARE), and World Animal Justice (WAJ), she advances international frameworks to combat wildlife trafficking and animal welfare. In Oct 2024, as the official WAJ delegate at UNTOC COP12, she advocated for strengthened legal measures to address the complexities of transnational wildlife crime.

Marine LERCIER

Human-Animal Rights and Global Animal Law Researcher, International Criminal and Humanitarian Lawyer, International and Comparative Animal Labour Law Expert – WAJ Expert and Steering Committee member

Marine Lercier is a PhD candidate in Global Animal Law and a Researcher at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), where she has taught Animal Law and Roman Law. She obtained her Master's in Animal Law and Society from the UAB with the highest honours. She also holds Master’s degrees in International Law and European Law, International Humanitarian Law, International Criminal Law, International Human Rights Law and Transitional Justice.

Jim KARANI

PhD candidate in environmental criminology, WAJ Expert

Jim is General Counsel if Lawyers for Animal Protection in Africa (LAPA) in Kenya. He advises on criminal, animal and environmental law. He works in the courts, with policy makers, and stakeholders to strengthen the legal protection of wildlife species and habitats they live in. He is currently pursuing research interests in environmental criminology in a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice at John Jay College, New York (USA).

Lisa NOONAN

PhD Candidate, Animal Testing & Experiments Lawyer, WAJ Expert

Lisa is a New Zealand and USA qualified lawyer with over 20 years of corporate/commercial legal experience. She is a passionate advocate for animals, specializing in animal law and policy, particularly in advancing alternatives to animal experimentation. Lisa co-founded the New Zealand Hen Welfare Trust and actively volunteers at animal sanctuaries and cat rescue organizations worldwide. Additionally, she has significant experience in non-profit governance, project management, and operations management.

Yoriko OTOMO

PhD, International Law Academic, WAJ Expert

Dr Yoriko Otomo is an experienced university based academic researcher and public scholar. She works at the University for the Creative Arts, and is an Associate at SOAS Law School, University of London. With a strong track record of interdisciplinary research in critical theory, animal studies, environmental law and history, she has a portfolio career including Directorship of the Global Research Network CIC, a non-profit dedicated to supporting doctoral students.

Dulki SEETHAWAKA

M.Phil, International Animal Welfare & Rights Lawyer, WAJ Expert, APALO responsible & WAJ webinars moderator

Dulki Seethawaka is Senior Executive Researcher at the Centre for Environmental Law and Policy of the University of Colombo. In 2024, she has been appointed Regional Co-Director - Southern Asia at World Moot on International Law and Animal Rights (WMILAR). With her M.Phil. in animal welfare laws, Dulki is a WAJ Expert on international animal welfare and rights laws. She acts as WAJ special collaborator with Asia for Animals (AfA) in this region.

Caroline DEFOIS

Animal Lawyer & International Attorney, WAJ Expert & Steering Committee member

Caroline Defois is a qualified international attorney and animal lawyer, currently working in a french international law firm with a particular interest in climate change issues. Caroline is the one to address domestic and international proceedings regarding animal law, in the frame of WAJ work. She is a key international attorney knowing law practice at WAJ Steering Committee.

Charlotte ARNAL

French Animal Rights Advocate, WAJ Steering Committee member

Co-founder of 'Symbiocène' Agency for an animal-friendly economy and 'PatteBlanche' Agency (BCORP certified and distinguished Best For The World Companies), Charlotte is an expert in responsible communication and ethics. Her NGO “Humanisma” works to include animals in the French Constitution and the recognition of their legal personhood. Highly committed to animal rights, Charlotte is an essential member of WAJ Steering Committee.

Selina HINTEN-WHITE

Barrister, Animal Law Researcher and NGO Advocate, WAJ Expert

Selina is an Irish barrister working in the Netherlands with a global NGO that focuses on addressing the balance between humans, nature, and animals. She also worked as a lecturer, researcher, and project coordinator, and has legal expertise in animal rights and welfare, especially in criminal cases. She aims to enhance animal protection within the criminal justice system and promote positive incentives for animal safety.

Iga GLAZEWSKA

MLaw, LLM, International Animal Welfare and Rights Lawyer, WAJ Expert

Iga Glazewska is an animal lawyer, animal rights advocate, strong supporter of an interdisciplinary approach to animal protection. She is the Director for Poland at Humane Society International/Europe, where she is responsible for a wide range of programmes, including efforts to effectively implement anti-cruelty legislation, improve the welfare of farmed animals, promote human-wildlife coexistence, stop trophy hunting and fur farming. She serves as the Regional Co-Director for Eastern Europe, Central and Western Asia, and Northern Africa at the World Moot on International Law and Animal Rights (WMILAR). She is a member of The Union Internationale des Avocats.

Lu SHEGAY

LLM, Animal Law, WAJ Expert & APALO project coordinator

Lu Shegay is Co-Founder and Managing Director of the Institute of Animal Law of Asia (IALA) and Animal advocate from Kazakhstan. Lu Shegay is working on the issues of animal law and policy in Asian countries, comparative analysis, and the intersection of public international law and animal law. She is managing the Alliance for Animal Law of Asia that WAJ is proudly part of. Lu Shegay is a key animal law expert in Asia and WAJ reference for central-Asian countries in the frame of the "Asia-Pacific Animal Law Overview" (APALO) project, that the IALA and the Asia for Animals (AfA) Coalition are working on together with WAJ.

Nancy MAKUVISE

Lecturer and Researcher at Great Zimbabwe University, WAJ Expert

Nancy Makuvise is a Zimbabwean lawyer, with a prosecutorial background but now focused on animal advocacy. She is a lecturer, researcher at Great Zimbabwe University, as well as an independent consultant with legal expertise in wildlife crimes, animal law and welfare and the One Health Concept. Nancy has developed curriculum on wildlife law for University Students, trained rangers and scouts, investigators, prosecutors and magistrates on wildlife laws in Zimbabwe, educated communities on animal welfare and co-authored a children’s book on animal welfare.

Jessica TSELEPY

PhD Candidate, International Animal Lawyer, Australian animal law, international trade law, moral & political philosophy, WAJ Expert

Jessica's primary professional interest lies in reconceptualising and reforming the treatment of non-human animals in both national legislation and international instruments. Her PhD thesis at the University of Melbourne in Australia examines how international trade of farmed non-human animals may be legitimately restricted within the WTO regime and the implications of this strategy to de-commodify non-human animals on a global scale.

Seher ÖZKAN

LLM in animal law, criminal animal lawyer, WAJ Expert

Seher Özkan, LLM, is a Turkish researcher and lawyer dedicated to advancing the protection of animals within the criminal justice system. Dedicated to protecting all living things that can not protect themselves, she wrote her thesis on Animal Protection through Criminal Law. In her thesis, she examined the crimes and penalties regulated in the new Animal Protection Law in Turkey. She is WAJ expert in animal criminal law and serves as an animal advocate for animal NGOs. Seher contributes for Tukey animal laws in the APALO project.

Kaustav GHOSH

LL.M, International Humanitarian, envionmental and animal lawyer, WAJ Expert & APALO contributor

Kaustav is affiliated to the Calcutta High Court in India and dedicated to animal rights since the last 10 years. As an advocate, independent researcher and founder of Lawet, he has not only advocated against animal cruelty including their sufferings from the breeders, but also tried to bring awareness amongst the people about animals cruelty, legal protection available to animal and their caretakers. He is currently a member of Climate Change Education Research Community of Cambridge University Press; a member of World Commission on Environment Law, International Union for Conservation of Nature; and a member of United Nations Ocean Decade Network in order to create a significant impact towards sustainable development and animal protection.

Giulia MALERBI

Global Head of Policy at the Aquatic Life Institute, MSc in Animal Welfare Science, MSL from Lewis & Clark Law School, Animal Welfare Advocacy, International Law and Policy specialist, WAJ Expert

Giulia dedicates her skills, time, and energy to improve the lives of animals worldwide. She holds an MSc in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law from the University of Glasgow. MSL from Lewis & Clark Law School, her expertise is spanning a diverse array of species, including dairy cows, broilers, laying hens, pigs, and aquatic animals. She collaborates with international stakeholders to redefine and elevate animal welfare, challenging and transcending prevailing misconceptions. As Global Head of Policy at the Aquatic Life Institute, she is currently advocating to ban octopus farming. It is an honor for us to welcome Giuila as Aquatic Life Expert in WAJ group of lawyers for animals.

Saba PIPIA

Legal advisor at the Diakonia International Humanitarian Law Centre Centre, Teaching international law at the Georgian American University and Caucasus University in Georgia, WAJ Expert

Saba Pipia engaged in multiple research projects on animal law during his post-doctoral studies, holding research fellowships at the Max Planck Institute in Germany, as well as Michigan State University and the University of Michigan in the United States. Currently, he is working on a project aimed at establishing animal law as a standalone course in Georgian law schools. He has presented his research at various conferences and has published several articles on animal protection. His areas of expertise cover international humanitarian law, international criminal law, international environmental law, and global animal law.

Rimona AFANA

PhD, transitional justice, animal rights law, international humanitarian and criminal law, WAJ Expert

Rimona is a Romanian-Palestinian researcher, lecturer, activist, and multimedia artist working on nonhuman rights, environmental harms, violent conflicts, state crimes, and colonial legacies. Independent scholar, regional co-director at the World Moot on International Law and Animal Rights, and convener of the Ecocide/Speciesism symposium. Rimona’s research are on crimes against nonhuman animals, war crimes and crimes against humanity is published in law, criminology, and psychology journals and books. Over the past twenty years, she has contributed to many civic projects on human and nonhuman rights.

Shadiar SEIDAKHMETOVA

BA in Economy, BA student in Political Sciences & International Relations at University of Messina, WAJ Comms & Research Specialist

Shadiar Seidakhmatova is the director of the documentary about violence against animals: (https://youtu.be/Aw2uVi4AONU). Her fields of interest are investigating crimes against animality, animal rights, and the protection environment. Her academic background is 1st BA in Economic, Kostanay branch of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “ChelSU” 2015-2019 and a 2nd BA in Political Science and International Relations, University of Messina (Italy). Shadiar is a key WAJ Expert in Kazakhstan who contributed to APALO project, and handles voluntary research and comms for World Animal Justice.

Roslyn WELLS

Public affairs and international relations professional, MIntS (Merit) international relations / political science, University of Sydney, WAJ expert

Roslyn Wells is a public affairs and international relations professional based in Sydney, with experience spanning government, public diplomacy, public affairs, campaigns, communications, corporate advisory and politics. As Director of Public Affairs for the Animal Justice Party in Australia (2022-2024), Roslyn developed and led the AJP’s national live export campaign at a critical time. She was also a Voice of Influence advocate on a World Animal Protection Australia live export campaign, with several opinion pieces published and cited.

APOORVA

Founder, Animal Law & Policy Network, WAJ Expert & APALO contributor

Apoorva is the Founder of the Animal Law & Policy Network (ALPN) Research Foundation, India’s first independent think-tank to advance animal law research and policy in the country. She has completed her LL.M. from Panjab University in Chandigarh (India) with a dissertation exploring the confluence of animal rights and religion in India from a legal perspective. Previously, she worked as a Research Collaborator with the US Harvard Law School’s Animal Law & Policy Program's research initiative examining the nexus between animal trade and zoonotic diseases.

Leah FAYAL

International Relations & Animal Rights Advocacy, WAJ Expert

Leah is an experienced entrepreneur in NGOs and international business. With nearly two decades of expertise, she has significantly contributed to the commercial sector and animal advocacy projects. Her MAIR thesis focused on advancing animal rights. Previously, Leah led international development projects and served as a consultant for several NGOs, focusing on animal welfare. She is currently an independent consultant, providing strategic planning, international development research, and partnership development services to organizations promoting animal rights.

Priscila GULIC PIRNAT

PhD candidate, MSc in Social Philosophy, University of Ljubljana, WAJ Expert

Priscila is the founder of the 'Citizens' Initiative for the Improvement of Legal Protection of Animals' and lobbies government authorities for better laws for animals in Slovenia. She has campaigned for a ban on the breeding and hunting of animals for fur, the use of all animals in circuses, religious slaughter without stunning, euthanasia of animals in shelters. In her PhD led at University of Ljubljana, she researches the legal history of animals and contemporary philosophical/ethical approaches to improve the legal status of animals.

Hiroyoshi Aoki

Lecturer, Animal Law and Comparative Constitutional Law, WAJ Expert

Hiroyoshi Aoki is a lecturer at Okinawa International University in Japan, and currently serves as the Vice Director of the Okinawa Institute of Law and Politics. His research focuses on Comparative Constitutional Law and Animal Law, particularly examining how constitutional democratic frameworks can support animal protection. He has published extensively on these subjects in Japan, contributing to the academic discourse on the role of constitutional law in shaping the status of animals. He earned his Ph.D. in Law from Chuo University and his Master's in Law from Tsukuba University.

Vanessa MAN-YI WONG

LLM Candidate, International Criminal and Humanitarian Law, Animal Law, International Space Law, WAJ Expert

Vanessa Man-Yi Wong is MA from the University of Hong Kong, JD and PCLL from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She is currently an LL.M. candidate in International and Transnational Criminal Law at the University of Amsterdam, with a specialism in International Law and Comparative Literature. She is the Legal Operations Manager of the World Moot on International Law and Animal Rights (WMILAR). Her fields of interest cover International Space Law, International Criminal and Humanitarian Law and Animal Law.

WAJ Comms, Research Interns & IT Specialists

Pauline FAURE

WAJ Cofonding member, LL.M in Animal Sciences, and Digital Maketing & Communications Specialist

Pauline has an interest for animals and their protection since a long time. Beyond an ethical way of life, she studied animal sciences and specialized in epidemoliogy and zoonosis, before getting a Master in Digital Maketing and Communications. She supports WAJ creation from the start as a Cofonder, fully relying on WAJ Founder in World Animal Justice gouvernance and ways forward.

Flavia GROZA

WAJ Specialist in Design, Comms & Social Media

Flavia is a Cross-Cultural Communication expert, who graduates in Milan (Italia). She specialized in Cultural Design, Social Media and Project Development. Currently, based in Italia, she is actively engaged in community-driven initiatives and helping local associations’ development. Her focus is on fostering meaningful connections and positive change. Flavia is WAJ Comms specialist helping with comms, visuals & videos.

Maëlys LE GAL

LL.B, European and International Law, WAJ Member & Comms Intern

Maëlys is LL.B in European and International Law and President of the association Sourire d'Enfant du Congo, dedicated to aiding orphans in Kinshasa. She is driven by a clear objective: to combat inequalities around the world, both on a human and animal sides. Passionate about the animal world since her childhood, Maëlys has always sought to engage in projects that align with her deep values. Her commitment to World Animal Justice allows her to merge her field with her vocation for the defense of animal rights, working towards a more just and equitable society. Maëlys is appointed as WAJ intern in order to develop WAJ media Communications.