Tuan Bendixsen, PhD

Senior Advisor / Director, Cat and Dog Welfare, Vietnam

After nearly 20 years heading up Animals Asia’s operations in Vietnam, Tuan stepped back from this leadership role in favour of a new direction as Senior Advisor and Director, Cat & Dog Welfare Vietnam, on 1 October 2024.

This momentous change allows Tuan to continue to advise on Vietnam operations and Animals Asia’s campaign to end bear bile farming, working with national and local government authorities with whom he maintains solid relations, and to also direct his focus towards our campaign to end the dog meat trade in Vietnam.

Tuan has developed the Cat & Dog Welfare Program in Vietnam over recent years, through research, alliances and activities to monitor and prevent national and international transport of dogs for food. He will focus on providing strategic direction while working closely with the Cat & Dog Welfare team to drive the campaign forward.

Before joining Animals Asia in 2005, Tuan managed a veterinary clinic/laboratory in Hanoi in partnership with a French and Vietnamese vet and worked with the moon bear project on a voluntary basis.

Originally from Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), Tuan emigrated with his family to Australia in 1973. After obtaining a PhD in Agricultural Science, he worked with the Division of Livestock Industries, CSIRO, to improve the welfare of farm animals through disease and husbandry management. Moving back to Vietnam in 2000, Tuan joined the United Nation Volunteers helping the Ministry of Foreign Affairs set up a project to encourage professional overseas Vietnamese to return to help with the development of the country.

After nearly two decades with Animals Asia, Tuan says, “Animals Asia’s kindness in action approach is winning over the hearts and minds of the Vietnamese communities and respect from the government. Bear farming is due to end by the end of 2026, and the Vietnam government is committed to ending elephant riding in Dak Lak. People’s attitude and perception towards animals in Vietnam are changing, and hopefully by the end of this decade, Animals Asia will end the dog meat trade in Vietnam.”