Call for Expressions of Interest

Updated: September 2026

We are inviting expressions of interest from people who can help ICLAC in its founding phase. Open a section below to read about the available roles, then use the form at the bottom of this page — or email rob.wright@iclac.org.uk.

Occasional expert advice is welcome

You don't need to take on a role. We also welcome small, occasional contributions from professionals who can spare time only when they have it.

That might mean reviewing a one-page document, commenting on a draft, or giving an opinion on a specific question. Someone might have an hour this month, half an hour next month and five hours the month after. That is enough.

We will keep a confidential list of people who have offered to help when they can. When a specific question or short document needs expert eyes, we will contact you with a clear request and an estimated time. You decide whether that request fits your diary. There is no expectation of meetings, task tracking or a fixed monthly commitment unless you agree to a particular piece of work.

Express interest as an occasional adviser

The sections below describe ongoing leadership and working roles. Those are a more substantial commitment.

Appointed from among Committee members. Together they keep the Committee organised, accountable and moving. Upon formalisation these become the officer roles of the Board of Directors. These are roles with regular meetings and ongoing responsibility.

Leads the Board and ensures it fulfils its governance, fiduciary and strategic duties. Keeps the organisation legally viable, culturally careful and focused on a small number of high-impact priorities.

  • Provides overall leadership of the Board.
  • Ensures ICLAC respects local political, lobbying and foreign-agent registration laws in every country where we campaign (including frameworks such as FARA if lobbying in the United States).
  • Ensures public positions, vocabulary and international advocacy strategies are culturally sensitive and legally viable across different political regimes.
  • Serves as the global face of the organisation for international media interviews, press releases and high-profile public panels.
  • Keeps the international board aligned on two or three high-impact global advocacy priorities, so limited volunteer energy is not split across too many local issues.
  • Mediates strategic or ideological disagreements between board members who may have different regional views on how to achieve lobbying goals.
  • Keeps meetings focused on strategy and delivery.
  • Convenes and chairs meetings and ensures decisions are clear and recorded.
  • Works with the Secretary to meet legal obligations as an English entity (such as a company limited by guarantee), including annual filings.
  • Works closely with the Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and portfolio holders.
Express interest

Supports the Chair, shares leadership, and steps in when the Chair is unavailable. Helps protect the organisation from overload, data-protection risk and lobbying-rule breaches.

  • Supports the Chair and shares leadership responsibilities.
  • Represents the organisation at high-level international forums, meetings or media requests when the Chair cannot attend.
  • May lead one agreed portfolio or external relationship, such as chairing a global task force or a regional campaign committee.
  • Monitors the workloads of other international directors so campaign targets are met without volunteer burnout.
  • Ensures the international network uses secure communication channels and handles supporter data in line with UK GDPR.
  • Works with the Secretary to monitor UK Electoral Commission rules and international lobbying registers, so public campaigns do not trigger legal fines.
  • Serves as a trusted sounding board to the Chair.
Express interest

Keeps accurate records, minutes and the official paper trail. Coordinates the Main Committee Virtual Office and supports legal and lobbying filings.

  • Writes clear minutes of committee meetings.
  • Maintains accurate records of decisions, votes and actions.
  • Records the exact wording of approved board resolutions on high-risk political positions, public statements or legal actions, to help protect the board from personal liability.
  • Shares past minutes and meeting papers ahead of meetings for review.
  • Keeps an up-to-date register of board members, including terms and contact details.
  • Coordinates the Committee’s presence in the Main Committee Virtual Office (papers, agenda, decision log).
  • Sends official meeting invitations.
  • Maintains a secure, central digital repository for founding documents, board resolutions and legal filings, with access for directors worldwide.
  • Works with the Chair and Vice-Chair to track and file registrations with the UK Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists or the Electoral Commission if campaign spending thresholds are met.
  • Ensures the organisation is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) as a data controller.
  • Ensures papers and follow-up are tracked. May be supported by a volunteer in the early stages.
Express interest

Acts as chief financial officer, bookkeeper and political-compliance monitor. Oversees budgeting, banking, controls and registration-related finance.

  • Serves as chief financial officer, international bookkeeper and political compliance monitor.
  • Vets large international donations or corporate sponsorships for UK anti-money laundering rules and rules on foreign political interference.
  • Oversees budgeting, banking arrangements, financial records and reporting.
  • Manages international bank accounts, digital payment gateways and multi-currency transactions, while limiting foreign-exchange losses and transfer fees.
  • Sets up online banking protocols so the Treasurer cannot move funds alone. At least two international directors must digitally sign off payments above an agreed threshold.
  • Establishes simple, proper financial controls as the organisation moves toward formal registration and begins to hold funds.
  • Prepares and submits annual financial accounts to Companies House (typically as a company limited by guarantee).
  • Documents expenditure on direct political lobbying for accurate reporting if registered with the Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists.
  • Works with the Governance and Compliance portfolio on registration-related finance.
Express interest

The International Advisory Council provides independent, expert, evidence-based advice to the Committee. The roles and working groups below are standing commitments. If you can contribute only from time to time, please use the occasional adviser button at the top of this page.

We welcome expressions of interest from qualified professionals, including veterinary behaviourists, ethologists, certified force-free trainers and behaviour consultants, animal welfare scientists, shelter or rescue directors, academic researchers, educators, veterinarians with relevant expertise, data analysts, animal law attorneys, and specialists in international government relations, law or policy.

Standing members of these groups take part in collaborative work and meetings as needed.

Press releases, TV and radio, journalists and public-facing communications.

  • Draft press releases and respond to journalist enquiries.
  • Support TV and radio appearances.
  • Help ICLAC speak clearly and consistently in public.
  • Useful skills: writing, media relations, interview preparation and campaign communications.
Express interest
Media Representative / Spokesperson

A visible role helping raise awareness and build support for kinder laws that protect dogs worldwide.

  • Take interviews with press, podcasts and media outlets.
  • Represent ICLAC on TV and radio, and speak about campaigns, petitions and the science behind force-free training.
  • Useful qualities: strong communication skills, comfort speaking publicly, a genuine passion for dog welfare and force-free methods, and a professional, reliable approach.
  • Support is needed right away for upcoming opportunities.
Express interest

Peer-reviewed research on aversive tools and force-free methods.

  • Review, summarise and organise the scientific evidence that underpins ICLAC’s position.
  • Track peer-reviewed studies on aversive tools and force-free training.
  • Prepare evidence files and briefings, and help keep public and legislative materials accurate.
Express interest

Legislative tracking, comparative analysis and legal arguments.

  • Follow bills and regulations and compare approaches across jurisdictions.
  • Help build clear legal and policy arguments for restricting aversive tools and promoting humane standards.
  • Legal, policy, parliamentary or campaign experience is especially welcome.
Express interest

Toolkits, briefing notes, retailer letters and campaign resources.

  • Produce practical materials that members and partners can use.
  • Campaign toolkits, briefing notes, letters to retailers and talking points.
  • Support consistent, evidence-based advocacy.
Express interest
Active Advocates and Change-Makers

People already working to influence policy, retailers, training organisations or public opinion in favour of force-free methods.

  • If you are already campaigning, lobbying, educating or organising around humane training standards, we would like to hear from you.
  • Your existing networks and practical experience can strengthen ICLAC’s work without duplicating what you already do locally.
Express interest

Country intelligence and respect for local processes and timing.

  • Gather local knowledge of laws, political timing and stakeholder landscapes.
  • Strong local networks and an understanding of how change happens in your jurisdiction is particularly useful.
Express interest
Country, Regional, Provincial or State Representative

People with strong local knowledge who can report on legislative progress, barriers and opportunities in their jurisdiction.

  • Help ICLAC understand how change actually happens on the ground: current laws, political timing, key stakeholders, retailers, training organisations and public debate.
  • Work closely with the Regional Coordination Group.
  • Support both the Main Committee and the International Advisory Council Working Groups.
Express interest

Campaign support, retailer engagement, research assistance, technical or administrative help, and other specialist contributions.

  • As ICLAC develops we will need additional skills.
  • If you have relevant experience or a particular skill set that could help us, please tell us about it.
Express interest

Standing roles operate primarily within dedicated secure virtual offices on the ICLAC website. Access is limited to the members of each core group. Communication between the Main Committee, the Advisory Council working groups and the wider supporters network takes place through formal channels.

Members of standing roles should expect:

  • Regular virtual meetings (frequency will depend on the role and stage of development).
  • Collaborative work within their virtual office (document review, discussion, task tracking).
  • A commitment to evidence-based practice and to ICLAC’s declaration.

How to express interest

Use the form below, or email rob.wright@iclac.org.uk.

Please include:

  1. Your full name and contact details
  2. Which role (or roles) you are interested in — or “Occasional expert adviser” if you prefer to help by request
  3. A brief summary of your relevant experience, expertise or local knowledge (around 150 words)
  4. Any particular skills or perspectives you would bring
  5. If you are registering as an occasional adviser, a note on the kinds of request you would be willing to consider (for example: review a one-page brief; comment on a scientific claim; advise on a legal or policy question in your jurisdiction)

All expressions of interest are treated confidentially. You will receive a reply by email once your submission has been reviewed.

Thank you for considering this invitation.

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