Hi, I'm Sabrina. I'm the founder and director of AnimalConcepts, including InterBeing, an interconnected online platform uniting people and organisations on six continents, integrating animal, human, and planetary wellbeing under one shared framework.

"How are you (but then really?)" and "Can you please tell me a story?" are two of my favourite questions, and they say a lot about how I approach my work and the people I meet along the way.

I've been in this field since 1989, starting as a volunteer, and it remains the greatest privilege of my life. I'm a psychologist (BSc Psychology, MSc Animal Studies, PhD Psychology - University of Stirling), a Certified Compassion Fatigue Professional, and an Optimize Eudaimonia Coach. I'm also a graduate of the Inner MBA class of 2022, where my focus was on creating a culture of care, what I call 'We-care' in the workplace.

AnimalConcepts is proud to be an Earth Charter International Partner since 2020. I use the Earth Charter as an ethical lens and compass, alongside the Sustainable Development Goals, to guide how I want to act, as an organisation and as an individual, in the world.

I teach at universities and colleges worldwide and work with zoos, aquariums, sanctuaries, and other facilities on animal wellbeing, behaviour, environmental enrichment, animal training, habitat design, and the human-animal relationship. I also focus deeply on human and planetary wellbeing, because I believe in the interconnectedness of all: animals, people, and the planet we share. I serve on zoo expert groups, advise the AZA Animal Welfare Committee and the ZAA Animal Welfare SAG, and collaborate on research projects across animal care, wellbeing, behaviour, and advocacy. I was the inaugural Director of Animal Welfare for WAZA, a role that shaped even more of how I think about systemic change for animals and the people who care for them.

I'm a frequent keynote and invited speaker and have organised over 500 events through AnimalConcepts worldwide since 2004. I review for academic journals, contribute chapters to animal wellbeing books, and have published widely across popular and academic platforms. I also work with governments on policies and guidelines. I co-edited Optimal Welfare of Ageing Wild Animals in Human Care with Dr Sarah Chapman (Springer Nature, 2023), and I'm currently working on Caring Together, a book on human wellbeing in animal care professionals and wildlife conservationists (Taylor & Francis), a collaborative and edited book on Animal Behaviour Training and Ethics for Animal Wellbeing, Education, Research and Conservation (Routledge), and Wild About Self-Care - the book I wish I'd had when I started,  everything I've learned about sustaining yourself in a life dedicated to caring for others.

At the heart of everything I do is a belief that a holistic approach is key, care for people, animals, the greater community of life, and this beautiful planet we share. In January 2021, I launched the One Care platform as part of InterBeing. The One Care approach is built on the understanding that compassionate self-care and we-care, at an individual, team, leadership, and organisational level, will support the commitment and desire to serve animals, people, and the environment. When we take care to give care, people, other animals, and the planet can flourish. My signature workshop Wild About Self-Care is an interactive online workshop designed to give you practical tools to recharge, build resilience, and reconnect with your purpose.

In 2018, I became a Chief Storyteller. I love storytelling and writing, particularly about animals, the human-animal connection, and the natural world. I often wear a button that says "I love stories." It starts the best conversations — at conferences, on planes, and everywhere in between. If you have a story you want to share about an animal you've cared for, a special friendship with a favourite animal, a great action for animals, people, or the planet you were involved in, or anything else that makes your heart sing, I'd genuinely love to hear it.
Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?

Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?
~ Mary Oliver ~

What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

Do something wonderful, people may imitate it.
~ Albert Schweitzer ~