Michèle Hamers
Policy Officer EU, AAP Animal Advocacy and Protection
Michèle has been working in the field of animal welfare and wildlife trade for almost 20 years. She obtained a BSc in Animal Husbandry from HAS Green Academy in the Netherlands and an MSc in Animal Biology and Welfare from Essex University in the UK. She is a Master Herpetologist, a Registered Scientist at the Royal Society of Biology and a recognized European Professional Biologist. Michèle’s expertise is the trade of wild animals for pet keeping and regulatory solutions. She was the first person to publish a comprehensive paper on Canada’s role in the wildlife trade, analyzing the existing laws and regulations, identifying issues, and proposing solutions. She has also co-authored papers on Positive List regulations, economics of reptile trade and the international trade of reptiles. Michèle is a highly skilled international campaigner and policy strategist, specialized in captive wildlife welfare and global wildlife trade. She has a particular interest in lesser- studied and protected species. Her career is dedicated to ending the use of wild animals for the pet trade and entertainment purposes. In 2024, she moved to Europe where she lives in Brussels and works on captive wildlife issues on behalf of a European Animal Welfare NGO.
Email: m.a.c.hamers@gmail.com