Anneleise Smillie

Chair

Anneleise has 24 years of international experience in the non-profit sector and has worked in fundraising, programme operations, events, education and general management.

Anneleise joined Animals Asia as a volunteer in 1999 and worked her way up to become Education Director, before accepting a board position in 2010 and taking up the role of Chair in 2020. Her involvement with Animals Asia is a lifelong passion and has seen her examining potential Dr. Dogs across Asia, developing educational materials, organising conferences and even helping out with the odd bear surgery. Anneleise also founded Animals Asia’s successful Professor Paws education programme.

Anneleise has also worked for the Brooke Hospital for Animals in London managing their Major Giving team, following which she took up the role of Executive Director at Redress, an environmental charity working to reduce waste in the fashion industry. Anneleise now lives in Holland with her family and a motley collection of rescued animals from HK and Shanghai.