Utrecht · October 10th, 2026 · 12:30 to 18:00

Your career is one of the most powerful ways to help animals

Careers for Animals is an event for students and professionals who want to discover how their work can help animals and accelerate the plant-based transition.

Get Early Bird Tickets Now Discover the programme

Students €10 · Professionals €20 · Limited capacity

Research & innovation Policy & systems change Entrepreneurship
Piglets Audience at Careers for Animals 2025

About the event

Over a lifetime, you will spend roughly 80,000 hours working. Directing even a fraction of those hours toward animals can add up to an enormous positive impact. Careers for Animals is designed to kickstart that kind of career, helping you discover how your unique background and skillset can do the most good for animals.

70+
attendees in 2025
8.4
average rating from 2025 attendees
"The event was an eye-opener for me. It's giving me hope and the courage to actually dive deeper into a career that makes me happy and has more impact." 2025 attendee
Careers for Animals 2025 event
Date
October 10th, 2026
Location
De Zalen van Zeven, Boothstraat 7, 3512 BT Utrecht
Time
12:30-18:00

Programme

The afternoon introduces you to a wide range of career paths for helping animals and accelerating the protein transition. You will hear talks from people already building such careers, explore a career and initiatives fair, and join a workshop to map out your own next steps.

12:30
Doors open
Keynote: How to effectively help animals with your career
Lauren Mee, Founder and CEO of Animal Advocacy Careers, sets the stage: how should you think about your impact for animals, and what does an effective career in this space actually look like?
Speaker sessions across 8 tracks
Short, focused talks from professionals working across policy, research, corporate engagement, communications, volunteering, and entrepreneurship.
Career and opportunities fair
A chance to dive deeper, ask the speakers your follow-up questions, and explore other organisations and initiatives working to help animals and accelerate the protein transition.
Workshop: From ideas to action
A guided session to help you turn the day's insights into concrete next steps for your career.
Networking drinks
One-on-one time with speakers and fellow attendees. Ask the questions you didn't get to in the room, exchange contacts, and leave with a plan.
18:00
End of programme

By the end of the afternoon, you will have a clearer picture of the roles and careers that can help animals and accelerate the protein transition, along with concrete next steps toward a career that makes a real difference.

Careers for Animals Careers for Animals

Speakers

Speakers from across the animal advocacy and food system landscape. Click any card to learn more.

Thijs Jacobs
Effective giving
Thijs Jacobs
Data analyst and policy advisor at the Dutch Ministry of Education, with a background in charity evaluation.
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?
Policy and public affairs
To be announced
Working in government or public affairs to accelerate the food transition.
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?
Research and innovation
To be announced
Driving science and innovation in alternative proteins and animal-free research.
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?
Corporate engagement
To be announced
Shifting food defaults in supermarkets and foodservice at scale.
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?
Entrepreneurship
To be announced
Founded or built a venture to accelerate the plant-based transition.
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?
Communications
To be announced
Running campaigns and advocacy to shift public opinion on animal welfare.
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?
Volunteering
To be announced
Creating meaningful impact for animals outside of a paid role.
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More speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.

Host

Our host for the event.

Esther Molenwijk
Host
Esther Molenwijk
Creator of the podcast Studio Plantaardig (Studio Plant-Based).
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Why attend

This event is for anyone who cares about helping animals and accelerating the food transition, and wants to take real action to change the system.

Students and recent graduates

Not sure what to do with your degree? We help you see which career paths have the most impact for animals, and which skills and backgrounds the field actually needs.

Career changers

Already working, but want to do more for animals and the food system? We help you think through how to put the skills you already have to work for animals.

Ready to join us?

Early Bird Tickets Now Available

Spots are limited. Join us in Utrecht on October 10th and secure your early bird ticket to spend the afternoon discovering how your career can make a real difference for animals.

Get Early Bird Tickets Now

FAQ

Everything you need to know before you register.

Who is this event for?

Students, recent graduates, early-career professionals, and career changers who already care about animals and the food system and want to think seriously about how their working life can create more impact. Whether you are exploring this for the first time or already in the field and looking for direction, you are welcome.

Do I need prior experience in animal advocacy?

No. The event is designed both for people exploring this path for the first time and for those who already care deeply but want more clarity on how to act on it effectively.

Where will the event take place?

De Zalen van Zeven, Boothstraat 7, 3512 BT Utrecht. The event is fully in person.

What language will the event be in?

English, to make the event accessible to international students, professionals, and speakers.

How much do tickets cost?

€10 for students and €20 for professionals. If the ticket price is a barrier, reach out via the contact form explaining your situation, and we will gladly provide a free ticket.

How do I register?

Click the Early Bird Tickets button to go directly to Eventbrite and complete your registration.

I have accessibility requirements. What should I do?

Reach out via the contact form below or email us directly, and we will do our best to accommodate you.

Contact

Questions, speaker suggestions, partnership inquiries, or accessibility requests? We would love to hear from you.

Organisation team

Claudia Schenk
Claudia Schenk
Event manager with a background in sustainable agriculture.
Lotte de Lint
Lotte de Lint
Fund manager for animal welfare and food transition at Doneer Effectief; PhD researcher on plant-based eating behaviour.
Leon Borgdorf
Leon Borgdorf
PhD researcher on ethics and genetic modification of farmed animals; co-host of the podcast Lettuce Talk; co-founder of the plant-based coffee petition at Utrecht University.
Aiko Unterweger
Aiko Unterweger
PhD researcher on greenwashing and humane-washing; active in national animal activism.
Laura Bindschedler
Laura Bindschedler
Ruben van den Bulck
Ruben van den Bulck
Founder of Effective Animal Advocacy Netherlands; event organiser and speaker on effective animal advocacy.

Partners

Effective Altruism Netherlands Studio Plantaardig Vegan Student Association Utrecht