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www.fosteringcompassion.org
Fostering Compassion
Proudly brings you our
Compassion Allways Conference
incorporating the
‘Business of Saving Lives’
in conjunction with
Helen Woodward Animal Center
and
The Royal (Dick) School of
Veterinary Studies


Celebrating Fostering Compassion’s 10th year and the Bicentenary of The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies
Saturday 7th October and Sunday 8th October 2023
with a special Animal Heroes session on the Sunday
Location: The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and
The Roslin Institute,
The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus,
Midlothian EH25 9RG
Scotland-based humane education charity Fostering Compassion is joining forces with American charity Helen Woodward Animal Center to host its Compassion Allways Conference as part of the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies Bicentenary Celebrations. The conference will take place over the weekend of the 7th and 8th October 2023 at the Easter Bush Campus.
As well as presentations on all things compassion-related, Helen Woodward Animal Center will be delivering their highly respected Business of Saving Lives workshops, providing invaluable advice for animal rescues and charities on maximising fundraising, marketing, PR and social media during this difficult climate. Mike Arms, CEO of Helen Woodward Animal Center, will be the keynote speaker on the Saturday, presenting on the importance of humane education. He will also close the conference on the Sunday.
Conference Speakers will present on topics ranging from Compassion for the Elderly and their Companion Animals, Compassion for Ukraine’s Animals, Compassion in Pet Bereavement, Compassion Fatigue and Self Compassion, and many more. There will also be a very special Animal Heroes segment where delegates can learn about the work of search and rescue dogs at Ground Zero following the 9/11 attacks in the USA, and our very own Scottish Fire and Rescue Service will speak about animal rescues they have carried out. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet many other animal heroes providing support, assistance and therapy to humans.
(scroll down for full Conference running schedule)
Presenters
In order of appearance
Mike Arms – President and CEO, Helen Woodward Animal Center
Mike has saved more animals than any other person, living or dead, in animal welfare history. Since his arrival at Helen Woodward Animal Center, in 1999, pet adoptions have leaped to record levels. Their education program has multiplied as they continue to teach children about the unconditional love that only comes from animals, and their therapy programs touch the lives of tens of thousands of people each year.
Mike will open and close the conference highlighting the importance of teaching humane education.
Renee Resko – Vice President of Development,
Helen Woodward Animal Center
Renee has worked in the development field for 20 years and has a breadth of knowledge that includes direct mail, grant writing, cultivating donors, securing major gifts, planning and executing a capital campaign, and managing a planned giving program.
Renee will be speaking and giving advice on Fundraising and Development.
Jacqueline Kelleher – Social Media & Technology Manager, Helen Woodward Animal Center
Jacqueline has over 8 years of experience in utilizing innovative digital marketing solutions, managing content creation, and analyzing data to produce creative campaigns for a variety of private and non-profit organizations. Her cross-cultural experiences have enabled her to develop a greater understanding of diverse business cultures and have helped her evolve within the diverse context of marketing.
Jacqueline will be speaking and giving advice on Social Media and Technology.
Jessica Gercke – Communications Director,
Helen Woodward Animal Center
Jessica spent over 25 years creating and refining media/publicity campaigns for a wide variety of professional industries. Through it all, her heart and soul belonged to animals.
It has been a true joy for her to put her knowledge of marketing and publicity to work for our furry friends in need of forever homes.
Jessica will be speaking and giving advice on Communications and Public Relations.
Alexis Fleming,
The Maggie Fleming Animal Hospice
Alexis Fleming started The Maggie Fleming Animal Hospice in March 2016 in memory of her friend and beloved dog Maggie who died alone and in a lot of pain at the vet hospital. When Maggie died, Alexis thought she’d never be able to smile or laugh or love again, but even though she could hardly think for the grief, the words ‘The Maggie Fleming Animal Hospice’ came into her mind, and once the thought was there it wasn’t going to loosen its grip. Six months later the hospice was born. Alexis also established the Karass Sanctuary for Farmed Animals which along with the Hospice gives life-long and end-of-life care to terminally-ill companion and farmed animals who have been abandoned in the final stages of their lives or who would otherwise have lived and died in the food system.
Zhenya Dove
Ukraine
Zhenya Dove is a Ukrainian activist, volunteer and a spokesperson.
She has been working with various Ukrainian, Scottish and international charities, including Danish Animal Protection, and is the organizer of the War Through Children’s Eyes photo exhibition and Unbroken cultural event.
Dr Andrew Gardiner
The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies
Dr Andrew Gardiner is Senior Veterinary Clinical Lecturer at The R(D)SVS and was a foundation Diplomate of the European College of Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law. After qualifying from the Dick Vet and spending 15 years in general practice, he undertook a Masters and PhD in History of Science, Technology and Medicine and wrote a thesis on British veterinary medicine of the middle decades of the 20th century. He currently teaches and practices veterinary medicine in Edinburgh.
Lesley Winton, Fostering Compassion
After initially studying Legal Studies and Legal Accounting and working in this field for 15 years, Lesley left to pursue her passion for animal welfare and addressing the links between animal abuse, child abuse and domestic abuse. She has 35 years experience working in the Voluntary Sector in both a professional and volunteer capacity and has set up two charities in relation to animal welfare and child welfare. Driven by the desire to develop a unique humane education project for vulnerable children led to the creation of Fostering Compassion which brings together abused and neglected children with rescued animals.
Lesley has Diplomas in Legal Studies and Legal Accounting, a Diploma in Life Coaching, and in 2014 completed an online Edinburgh University Course on the Clinical Psychology of Children and Young People. She is also a keen writer, publishing her first book in September 2013 highlighting the importance of the human-animal bond. Lesley won the Ceva Animal Welfare Award for Charity Professional of the Year in 2017, and is also a current serving trustee on the board of the Society for Companion Animal Studies (SCAS). Lesley was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List 2022 for services to animal welfare.
Dr Elizabeth Ormerod
Chair, Society of Companion Animal Studies (SCAS)
Dr Ormerod is a retired veterinarian with a deep interest in human-animal interactions, and especially in how knowledge of the bond, animal welfare, animal behaviour and veterinary medicine can be applied to help the most vulnerable people and animals. She pioneered bond-centred veterinary practice and veterinary community outreach, introducing Animal-Assisted Services to schools, nursing homes, hospitals, sheltered housing and prisons.
She is Chair of The Society for Companion Animal Studies (SCAS), is a Trustee of Our Special Friends and is a past Vice President IAHAIO. She co-founded the UK assistance dog programme Canine Partners. She is a Churchill Fellow, is the recipient of the international William F McCulloch award for excellence in human-animal interactions and was UK Veterinarian of the Year 2021.
Dr Rosie Allister, University of Edinburgh
Dr Rosie Allister has received the British Veterinary Association Chiron Award and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Impact Award for work on veterinary mental health. Rosie manages Vetlife Helpline, a 24 hour support service for everyone in the UK veterinary community.
Her research, based at the University of Edinburgh, looks at veterinary mental health, wellbeing at work, and veterinary suicide prevention. She has written and spoken extensively about veterinary mental health in the UK and internationally, has volunteered with Samaritans for 19 years, and advises a number of national organisations on mental health, professional identity, suicide prevention and self harm.
Prof Jo Williams, University of Edinburgh
Prof. Jo Williams leads the Children, Adolescents and Animals Research (CAAR) group and is the Director of the Centre for Applied Developmental Psychology in Clinical and Health Psychology at the University of Edinburgh. She is a developmental psychologist whose research focuses on children’s interaction with animals and the impact of animals on child development and mental health. Her research is highly applied and involves working with animal welfare and children’s charities to develop interventions to reduce childhood animal harm and promote positive interactions between children and animals.
Jo is currently creating a campus dog programme, Paws on Campus, for The University Edinburgh with colleagues in Clinical and Health Psychology, the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, and international collaborators.
Dr Glen Cousquer, University of Edinburgh
Dr Glen Cousquer spent over a decade working in veterinary practice before choosing to retrain in Outdoor and Environmental Education. He subsequently completed a further MSc in Education Research and a PhD in Human Geography, training that has allowed him to develop a transdisciplinary approach to systems change. His contemplative practice and interests in mental health, interbeing, inter- and intra-connection, systems thinking, professional reflexivity, learning for sustainability, holism and empathy help to inspire new ways of thinking about the roles veterinarians and other professionals can play in respecting who we are and the world we are part of and responsible to.
In 2022 Glen received the RCVS Compassion Award in recognition of his role as Chair of the Campus Mental Health Committee. Glen is currently a Lecturer and MSc Programme Coordinator in Conservation Medicine and One Health at the University of Edinburgh.
Dr Diana Sporle, East Lothian Psychology
Dr Diana Sporle from East Lothian Psychology is a Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) registered clinical psychologist and has over 22 years experience working in the field of mental health. Qualifying as a clinical psychologist in 2007, Diana has worked in the NHS, the third sector and in private practice. Diana practices across the lifespan, enjoying work with children and adults of all ages.
Diana works in an integrative way, drawing on her training and years of experience to tailor interventions to the individual client to meet their needs and reach their goals. Diana has trained in Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) with the Compassionate Mind Foundation and is truly passionate about bringing this approach into work with her clients.
Full Conference running schedule
Saturday 7th October 2023
Conference Speakers and Business of Saving Lives
Speaker | Organisation | Topic | Times |
---|---|---|---|
Registration | 8.30am – 9.20am | ||
Mike Arms | HWAC | Keynote – Importance of Humane Education | 9.30am – 10.30am |
Coffee Break | 10.30am – 10.45am | ||
Renee Resko | HWAC | Fundraising and Development | 10.45am – 11.45am |
Jacqueline Kelleher | HWAC | Social Media and Technology | 11.45am – 12.45pm |
Lunch | 12.45pm – 1.45pm | ||
Jessica Gercke | HWAC | Communications and PR | 1.45pm – 2.45pm |
Coffee Break and Chat with above speakers | 2.45pm – 3.15pm | ||
To be confirmed | EDCH | Impact of cost of living crisis on EDCH & need for Pet Food Bank | 3.15pm – 3.45pm |
Alexis Fleming | The Maggie Fleming Animal Hospice | Love and loss at the world’s first animal hospice | 3.45pm – 4.15pm |
Zhenya Dove | Compassion for Ukraine | 4.15pm – 4.45pm |
Sunday 8th October 2023
Conference Speakers
Speaker | Organisation | Topic | Times |
---|---|---|---|
Registration | 8.30am – 9.20am | ||
Dr Andrew Gardiner | R(D)SVS | The Enlightened Compassion of William Dick | 9.30am – 9.50am |
Lesley Winton BEM | Fostering Compassion | Fostering Compassion – Reversing the Cycle of Abuse | 9.50am – 10.30am |
Coffee Break | 10.30am – 10.45am | ||
Dr Elizabeth Ormerod | Society of Companion Animal Studies (SCAS) | Compassionate Care: Older people and their animal companions | 10.45am – 11.15am |
Dr Rosie Allister | University of Edinburgh | Compassion fatigue, moral injury and burnout: What professionals need to know | 11.15am – 11.45am |
Q & A for above four speakers | 11.45am – 12.00pm | ||
HWAC and SFRS | Animal Heroes | 12.00pm – 1.00pm | |
Lunch | Meet the Animal Heroes | 1.00pm – 2.00pm | |
Prof Jo Williams | University of Edinburgh | Developing and evaluating animal welfare education interventions for children | 2.00pm – 2.30pm |
Dr Glen Cousquer | University of Edinburgh | The role of curiosity, compassion and presence in awareness-based systems change | 2.30pm – 3.00pm |
Coffee Break | 3.00pm – 3.15pm | ||
Dr Diana Sporle | East Lothian Psychology | Self Compassion | 3.15pm – 3.45pm |
Lesley Winton BEM | Fostering Compassion | Compassion in Pet Bereavement | 3.45pm – 4.15pm |
Q & A for above four speakers | 4.15pm – 4.30pm | ||
Mike Arms | HWAC | To close | 4.30pm – 5.00pm |
Meet the Authors!

We are delighted that throughout the conference, authors Alexis Fleming and Lesley Winton will be available to sign copies of their books
‘No Life Too Small – Love and loss at the world’s first animal hospice’
and
‘Holly the Mahogany Girl’

Ticket Prices
Saturday admission – £10
Sunday admission – £10
Full weekend admission – £15
Student admission – free
Refreshments and lunch are included on both days.
For any conference enquiries or to buy tickets directly rather than through our Eventbrite page, please contact Lesley at lesley@fosteringcompassion.org.
How to get there
By Bus
Details on buses to the Easter Bush campus are available here. Note that the buses directly serving the campus do not run on Sunday. For Sunday you can take one of the bus services stopping at Gowkley Moss/Easter Howgate Farm which is a 20 minute walk from the campus.
Sustainability
We are committed to ensuring that the conference is as sustainable and environmentally friendly as possible. Only vegetarian and vegan food will be served and plastic utensils will not be used for teas, coffees and water. We will be providing a conference bag with written material and will also be providing recycling containers at the end of the conference for discarded programmes. Transport to the Campus is usually by bus or car, so please carshare where possible.