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Rewilding, Welfare Standards And Pet Ownership Top The Agenda At This Year’s Animal Welfare Foundation Discussion Forum
1 week ago 
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The uneasy realities of wildlife rehabilitation, what responsible pet ownership really means and why acceptable welfare standards differ so starkly across species are all topics set to be debated at this year’s highly anticipated Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF) Discussion Forum.
Taking place on Monday 11 May at The Cavendish Conference Centre, Duchess Mews, London, the AWF Discussion Forum is the charity’s annual flagship event, offering a unique day of CPD where expert speakers from academia, business and government discuss some of the most pressing issues impacting animal welfare today whilst exploring potential, evidence-based solutions.
Sessions on the programme include:
- Wildlife rehabilitation: good or bad for welfare? RSPCA Head Vet - Wildlife and Exotics Justine Shotton; AWF Trustee, BVA Senior Vice President and wildlife specialist Elizabeth Mullineaux; Scottish SPCA Senior wildlife vet Liam Reid; and Paul Reynolds, of New Arch Wildlife Rescue, take a closer look at the uneasy realities of rehab: low survival rates, species bias and moral trade-offs between compassion and conservation.
- Responsible pet ownership: guiding principle or loaded label? Caroline Allen, of Pet Lighthouse; Carri Westgarth of Human-Animal Interaction; Jenny Stavisky of Vet Partners; and Registered veterinary nurse and behaviourist Nikki McLeod, explore what “responsible” really means and who decides? This session digs into bias, access, and equity in the way pet care and ownership is discussed.
- Not just tools: rethinking animal welfare in rewilding. BVA Junior Vice President Gwen Rees; retired specialist in veterinary public health Ed Van Klink; Sara King, of Rewilding Britain; and wildlife health and veterinary consultant Alex Tomlinson, discuss how rewilding projects use animals to restore ecosystems and where that leaves their welfare, exploring the balance between ecological ambition and ethical responsibility.
- “All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.” Charlotte Burn, of RCVS; Michael Radford, of the University of Aberdeen; and veterinary specialist in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law Karen Hiestand, ask why welfare standards differ so starkly between species with similar sentience? This panel examines speciesism, empathy and the challenge of consistency across companion, farmed, lab, and wild animals.
Attendees will also have the chance to hear updates on AWF-funded research; to participate in quick fire Lightning Talks, which gives participants the chance to talk about the issues they are passionate about, and enjoy networking opportunities at the exclusive evening reception.
Chair of the Animal Welfare Foundation Julian Kupfer said: “From rewilding to rehabilitation and from pets to livestock, the AWF Discussion Forum is an opportunity to challenge assumptions, confront contradictions, and share fresh perspectives across species and settings. This is a chance to share your views, hear from experts in their fields and join the conversation about how we can drive positive change for animal welfare in 2026 and beyond.”
Tickets are now on sale, with standard tickets priced at £190, including lunch and the evening reception, with concessions available for students and veterinary nurses.
Buy tickets here and find more information about the programme and speakers here.
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