Our team
Our Canada office has a team of experienced individuals with knowledge on a wide range of subjects.
Melissa Matlow, Campaign Director
Melissa has been leading successful animal welfare and environmental campaigns for nearly 20 years. After leading Earthroots’ campaigns to protect wilderness and wildlife in Ontario, she joined World Animal Protection in 2005 to protect the welfare of animals — wild and domestic — in Canada and around the world. As the Campaign Director she oversees the organization’s campaigns in Canada. Melissa has authored numerous reports and regularly advises government and companies on animal welfare policy. She also works closely with Canadian and global travel brands to phase-out harmful wildlife tourism activities. Melissa obtained a Bachelors in Environmental Science from the University of Guelph and a Masters in Environmental Studies from York University.
Lynn Kavanagh, Campaign Manager
Lynn has worked in the animal advocacy field for many years, mostly focused on farm animal welfare. She is currently the Campaign Manager for the Raise Pigs Right and Change for Chickens campaigns in Canada. She received an MSc degree in Animal Behaviour and Welfare from the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada.
Michèle Hamers, Wildlife Campaign Manager
Michèle joined World Animal Protection in 2019 and works on captive wildlife issues, with a particular focus on wild animals kept as pets. Michèle has done extensive research into the exotic pet industry and the wildlife trade in Canada. In addition to contributing to numerous reports on captive wildlife issues, she also co-authored a paper on regulatory solutions to the trade, use and keeping of exotic pets, which was published in 2020. Prior to arriving in Canada, Michèle obtained an BSc in Animal Husbandry from HAS University of Applied Science in the Netherlands and an MSc in Animal Biology and Welfare from the University of Essex, UK. She is also a member of the Royal Society of Biology and a designated European Professional Biologist.
Francine Pauvif, Mobilization Campaigner
Francine began her work in the environmental and animal welfare advocacy at age 16. Francine has been highly engaged in mobilization in these sectors, which can be seen through her role as Co-Founder of the Canadian Youth Biodiversity Network, a chapter of the Global Youth Biodiversity Network. Francine joined World Animal Protection in April 2022 to continue her mobilizing audiences for the protection of animals in Canada and across the world through her role as Mobilization Campaigner. Francine specialized in environmental politics during her undergraduate at the University of Guelph and researched the framing of animal rights movements in Canada and the United Kingdom at the University of Ottawa. Currently, Francine is doing her PhD in political science at the University of Ottawa where she is researching youth mobilization in the political sphere.
