The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) Animal Care Expo 2023 featured an inspiring welcome keynote address by Dr. Jyothi V. Robertson in April 2023. Jyothi highlights six lenses through which we can view our world, or in this case, the conference. More than 2,500 people attended the event to learn from sessions that covered a wide range of topics, including animal sheltering, rescue and rehabilitation, disaster response, advocacy, fundraising, and community outreach.

Dr. Robertson’s keynote speech was one of the highlights of the event, providing a framework for experiencing the four-day expo as not just a week for learning but also for revitalization, connectedness, and restoration—a reminder of why the attendees do the work they do and how the community supports them.

Watch Dr. Robertson’s speech at the HSUS Animal Care Expo below.

Dr. Robertson offered attendees an opportunity to examine their role as learners, engage in self-inquiry and reflection, and find inspiration to take from the conference. She presented six lenses for viewing the event: self-inquiry, open curiosity, interdependence, clarity in action, grounding, and perspective, which can help build a stronger mindset to tackle the challenges waiting for them when they return home.

Dr. Robertson invited attendees to carry the intentions of her presentation with them throughout the week. After the keynote, she offered a unique learning experience and invited them to a coffee chat on the last day of the expo to share their reflections and next steps, as part of experiencing the conference as a whole.

“I am honored to be part of this gathering of like-minded individuals who share a passion for improving animal welfare. I feel like this is both a culmination and a launching point for me, marking an opportunity to share a way of listening and experiencing the work we do in the human and animal well-being space,” said Dr. Robertson.

The HSUS Animal Care Expo is a unique platform for animal care professionals, volunteers, and advocates to come together, share ideas, and learn from each other. The event offered over 100 engaging sessions that were geared towards animal and human well-being.

Dr. Robertson is grateful to The Humane Society of the United States and #ThankstoMaddie for the incredible invitation to deliver the welcome keynote address.