2025 Animal Action Awards Programme

Azzedine Downes Photo: Jesse Maree / © IFAW

On behalf of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), I am delighted to welcome you this evening to BAFTA to celebrate the extraordinary impact and accomplishments of our 2025 Animal Action Award winners.

This year’s honourees represent some of the most inspiring examples of leaders whose selfless determination and passionate commitment have fundamentally impacted the spectrum of animal welfare, rescue, and conservation.

Chosen from among hundreds of worthy nominations submitted worldwide, each honoree epitomises the essence of bringing to fruition a future where animals and people thrive together.

Our awardees this evening hail from across the globe—from Kenya to Zimbabwe, from Belize to Mexico and Canada, and from the UK to China and Indonesia—each leaving a mark in a unique and powerful way, reminding us without fail that achieving a lasting impact for animals is only possible through courage, collaboration, and compassion. Their work—and your presence here tonight to celebrate it demonstrates the success of the global conservation movement that continues to build momentum every day.

May this evening’s celebration inspire you as it has inspired me. I thank you for joining us as we honour these remarkable individuals who represent a more hopeful future and take us all one step closer on the journey of stewardship of the world’s beloved animals.

Azzedine Downes
President & CEO

18:30 – Drinks and small plates served

Ray Dolby Room

20:00 – Award ceremony

Princess Anne Theatre

21:30 – Dessert served

Ray Dolby Room

Michaela Strachan

We are delighted that Michaela Strachan will be hosting the 2025 Animal Action Awards.

Michaela is one of the UK’s most beloved wildlife presenters, with a broadcasting career spanning almost four decades. She first gained popularity on children’s television in the 1980s and later as the presenter of The Really Wild Show, Countryfile, and—as part of the team of ‘The Watches’—Springwatch, Autumnwatch, and Winterwatch.

Her work is deeply rooted in her passion for conservation, animal welfare, and environmental advocacy. Michaela has travelled widely, filming for wildlife and nature programmes around the globe, and has used her voice to raise awareness of the threats facing animals and habitats.

We are honoured to welcome Michaela Strachan to this year’s Awards and look forward to her guiding us through this inspiring evening.

Dr. Abdullahi Ali

Kenyan Conservationist Dr. Abdullahi Ali, founder of the Hirola Conservation Program, has performed groundbreaking work to save the critically endangered hirola antelope. Combining science, habitat restoration, and community action, his leadership has made him a global voice for community-led conservation.

Ever Vimbai Chinoda

Zimbabwean lawyer Ever Vimbai Cinoda founded the organisation Speak Out For Animals (SOFA), through which she has influenced national policy, advised parliament, and developed legal tools to combat poaching. She also created Zimbabwe’s first Wildlife Law educational module, training lawyers, prosecutors, and future judges to strengthen the fight against wildlife crime. She is a trailblazer in a male-dominated field, shaping the next generation of conservation lawyers and ensuring animals have a voice in the justice system.

Jamal Galves

Known as the ‘manatee man,’ Jamal Galves is the Belize Program Coordinator for the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute. He leads the national stranding network, rescuing and rehabilitating manatees, dolphins, turtles, and whales. Since starting as a volunteer at age 11, he has trained more than 3,000 boat captains and tour guides on reducing collisions with animals, published key research, and spearheaded Belize’s first marine life rescue and education centre.

Cristina Mittermeier

Acclaimed Canadian photographer and marine biologist Cristina Mittermeier has pioneered the field of conservation photography, using visual media to inspire global action from where she lives in Mexico. As founder of the International League of Conservation Photographers and co-founder of SeaLegacy, she has spent more than three decades documenting marine and landscape conservation, supporting Indigenous communities, and advocating for the establishment of marine protected areas. Her photography, films, and advocacy have reached millions worldwide.

Henry the dog

As a wildlife crime detection dog, Henry is trained to support the UK’s National Wildlife Crime Unit. He can detect odours including raptor carcasses, satellite tags, and hedgehogs, enabling him to play a key role in uncovering evidence of illegal killings of birds of prey. Providing crucial support to investigations and prosecutions, Henry is a valuable ally in protecting some of Britain’s most threatened species.

Baidu

As a founding member of the Coalition to End Wildlife Trafficking Online, Baidu has set a global standard for how technology companies can support conservation. The company has pioneered the use of artificial intelligence to combat illegal wildlife trade online. In partnership with IFAW, Baidu has developed the AI Guardian tool, which identifies images of protected species and wildlife products with high accuracy, helping remove millions of illegal listings from the web.

Mano the sun bear is relocated from JAAN’s Forest School to a temporary enclosure in a release forest where she will spend the rest of her life, wild and free. Photo: JAAN / © IFAW

Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN)

Through investigations and rescues, Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN) combats illegal wildlife trade in Indonesia. JAAN runs multiple rescue and rehabilitation centres, operates Asia’s first K9 wildlife crime unit, and works closely with police and government agencies to protect animals and strengthen national wildlife law enforcement.

Host: Michaela Strachan

Michaela has an extensive career as a wildlife presenter, from The Really Wild Show (1993–2006) to Countryfile (1999–2009), and most recently BBC’s Springwatch, Autumnwatch, and Winterwatch since 2011. She’s also fronted wildlife documentaries such as Orangutan Diaries, Elephant Diaries, and The Great Penguin Rescue, showcasing her deep engagement with animal welfare and conservation efforts.

Fighting Wildlife Crime Award

Presenter: Rebecca Henschke

Rebecca is a BBC journalist, the podcast lead for BBC Eye Investigations, and the former Asia Editor and Indonesia Correspondent. Rebecca spent over a year tracking the ‘monkey torture ring’—a criminal group that filmed monkeys being tortured, including a young monkey named Mini. She followed the journey of Mini, who, despite the odds, survived and was taken to Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN), where she underwent an extensive two-year rehabilitation programme. Eventually, Rebecca joined the team at JAAN to release her back into the wild. Rebecca has seen firsthand the incredible work that Femke and the team at JAAN do and is deeply invested in the topic of wildlife crime.

Women in Conservation Award

Presenter: Mboone Umbina

Mboone Umbina represents David Rio Chai & Tea, a brand honoured last year with IFAW’s Collaborator in Conservation Award. Tonight, she continues that legacy by presenting this year’s Women in Conservation Award, reflecting David Rio’s ongoing commitment to advancing both wildlife conservation and community empowerment. Through initiatives such as commissioning handmade bracelets from the Esiteti Women’s Group, David Rio has created sustainable opportunities for women artisans while amplifying IFAW’s Room to Roam initiative. Beyond her role at David Rio, Mboone is a steadfast advocate for women’s empowerment, using her voice and storytelling to inspire women to lead in conservation and beyond.

Storyteller of the Year Award

Presenter: Jonny Keeling

Jonny Keeling leads the BBC’s Natural History Unit, which is renowned for producing some of the most celebrated nature documentaries in the world. Jonny’s credits as Producer, Series Producer, and Executive Producer include some of the unit’s most successful landmark series, including Planet Earth, Planet Earth II, and Seven Worlds, One Planet. Over a career spanning 25 years, Jonny and his teams have won multiple accolades, including BAFTA, Emmy, RTS, and Broadcast awards. He is a true authority on natural history storytelling.

Animal of the Year Award

Presenter: Dr. James Greenwood

Dr. James Greenwood is a practicing veterinarian and star of numerous TV shows, including CBBC’s BAFTA-nominated The Pets Factor and Channel 4's Fur Babies, as well as being the resident vet on BBC One’s flagship show, Morning Live. His mission is to inspire the younger generation of pet owners to understand the needs and wants of their pets and to explore how we can live alongside animals and give them the respect and love that they deserve.

Wildlife Rescue Award

Presenter: Lizzie Daly

Lizzie Daly is a wildlife biologist and presenter currently studying how tag technology can help us better understand movements of wild animals in changing landscapes. She is especially interested in savannah elephants and sharks, and she has also worked with Jamal Galves helping manatees in Belize, assisting Wildtracks Belize with the rehabilitation and release of rescued manatees for the Love Nature series Deep Dive North America.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Presenter: Sean McCormack

Veterinarian and conservation advocate Dr. Sean McCormack has a lifelong dedication to animal welfare and serves as a trusted communicator on wildlife and conservation issues. Merging community engagement with conservation initiatives, Sean has helped with beaver rewilding in London.

Innovator of the Year Award

Presenter: Joyce Doria

Joyce Doria has a passion for animals and a penchant for breaking barriers.

Throughout her career, Joyce has consulted for the U.S. Departments of Energy, Transportation, Treasury, Defense, State, and Interior, as well as the American Red Cross, the American Medical Association, and the Brookings Institute. At Booz Allen Hamilton, she founded the company’s Organization/Change Management Department.Since retirement, she has joined the National Parks Conservation Association Board. Today, as a Vice Chair of IFAW’s Board of Directors, Joyce leads the organisation in developing new approaches to rescue animals and their habitats.