Boston/Vienna, 22 January 2025 – Josef Pfabigan is going to be the new president of the World Federation for Animals (WFA), a global non-profit advocating for animal welfare at the international level and promoting the recognition of animals’ vital role in sustainable development. As of 1st February 2025 Josef Pfabigan, the president and CEO of the global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS, is stepping into this new role on an interim basis until the coalition’s next General Assembly in 2026. The 63-year-old Austrian is taking over the WFA Presidency from Chris Sherwood, who is joining UK’s National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC). With FOUR PAWS being one of WFA’s founding members, Josef Pfabigan has steered the direction of the coalition’s work already as a WFA Board member since December 2020.

"I am delighted that Josef will take on the mantle of leading our world federation. FOUR PAWS is at the forefront of international collaboration and fully recognises that creating meaningful change for animals requires us to operate effectively at the highest global level and truly unite as a movement. This year, we have an opportunity to strengthen our collaboration even further, working together to achieve far more than we ever could alone," comments James Yeates, CEO World Federation for Animals.

The World Federation for Animals is striving towards integrating animal welfare considerations into international health, food, environmental, trade, and development policies. It holds Special Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council and is an Accredited Observer to the UN Environment Programme, as well as to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Josef Pfabigan is Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer at FOUR PAWS International and is responsible for realising the FOUR PAWS vision worldwide. He oversees the strategic direction, leadership and development of the global organisation to ensure the protection of animals under direct human influence. He has been a member of the FOUR PAWS board since its founding year in 1988 and was instrumental in the founding of FOUR PAWS International in 2003. From 2006 to 2020, he was responsible for the economic management of the entire organisation as Chief Financial Officer. In January 2020, following the unexpected death of FOUR PAWS founder Heli Dungler, he was appointed Chairman of the Board and CEO of FOUR PAWS. In addition, Josef Pfabigan is also Chairman and Board Member of all FOUR PAWS organisations. His life-long commitment for global animal welfare goes beyond his work at FOUR PAWS. On 1st February 2025 Josef Pfabigan is going to assume the Presidency of the World Federation for Animals. Even before he has helped to steer the direction of the WFA’s work and has been a WFA Board member since December 2020.  

About World Federation for Animals – The World Federation for Animals is a global federation of 70+ NGOs working towards the recognition of animal welfare as essential for sustainable development. Our efforts focus on integrating animal welfare into international health, food, and environmental regimes and trade and development finance rules. Established in 2020, this coalition now drives transformational change for animals as a UN-accredited force that harnesses the collective strength of animal protection peers and experts worldwide and influences global decision-making at the UN and other international institutions. We achieve global impact for animals – together.

About FOUR PAWS

FOUR PAWS is the global animal welfare organisation for animals under direct human influence, which reveals suffering, rescues animals in need and protects them. Founded in 1988 in Vienna by Heli Dungler and friends, the organisation advocates for a world where humans treat animals with respect, empathy and understanding. The sustainable campaigns and projects of FOUR PAWS focus on companion animals including stray dogs and cats, farm animals and wild animals – such as bears, big cats and orangutans – kept in inappropriate conditions, as well as in disaster and conflict zones. With offices in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Kosovo, the Netherlands, Switzerland, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine, the UK, the USA and Vietnam, as well as sanctuaries for rescued animals in eleven countries, FOUR PAWS provides rapid help and long-term solutions.