Last week, we had the privilege of taking part in the CARE Conference on Animal Rights in Europe 2025, joining the roundtable “Are We Optimizing for Our Goals? Strategic Alignment in Animal Advocacy”, moderated by Tobias Leenaert. Olga Kikou participated in the panel alongside Ben Newman, Jayasimha Nuggehalli and Connor Jackson, exploring how we can align strategies for greater impact. This yearly gathering is an important moment for animal defenders, bringing together advocates, researchers and organizations working toward stronger impact and collaboration.
The discussion reminded us that advocacy isn’t only about doing more, but about doing what truly matters for animals. It was a chance to step back and question how our daily efforts move us closer to the world we want to see. This includes being clear about our goals, checking in on our progress and staying open to change. These conversations can be challenging but they push us to reflect honestly on our work and strengthen our shared efforts for animals.
We’re grateful to CARE for creating such a space for critical reflection and connection. We look forward to using these insights and we encourage all animal advocates to join in these discussions to collaborate, challenge and grow.