A Senior Expert in Animal Health, One Health and Animal Welfare, Dr. Hiver Boussini is a distinguished veterinary scientist and strategic leader with over 30 years of experience advancing animal health, One Health, livestock development, and animal welfare across Africa. He has held senior leadership positions with the African Union Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the Government of Burkina Faso.

A Doctor of Veterinary Medicine with a Master's degree in Animal Biotechnology, Dr. Boussini is internationally recognized for his expertise in animal health systems, epidemiology, transboundary animal diseases, veterinary public health, wildlife health, livestock policy, and the One Health approach.

During his tenure at AU-IBAR, he served as Head of the Animal Health Unit and Coordinator of the Pan-African PPR Secretariat, leading continental initiatives on the African Animal Health Strategy (AHSA), the African Animal Welfare Strategy (AWSA), and the African Animal Welfare Platform (APAW). He has provided technical leadership to African Union Member States in disease surveillance, emergency response, veterinary systems strengthening, and livestock policy development.

Dr. Boussini has authored more than 25 peer-reviewed scientific publications and is a certified WOAH Performance of Veterinary Services (PVS) Expert and member of the WOAH Ad Hoc Group on PPR Disease Freedom. Fluent in English and French, he is widely respected for translating scientific evidence into practical policies that improve animal welfare, public health, food security, and sustainable livestock development across Africa.

As Professional Advisor to the Africa Initiative for Animal Sentience and Welfare (AIASWE) and the Africa Center for Animal Sentience (ACAS), Dr. Boussini brings forth his Francophone and Anglophone Geopolitical expertise and inclusiveness to strategic guidance on animal health, One Health, animal welfare, and the advancement of animal sentience policies across Africa, drawing on his extensive experience within the African Union system and international organizations.

Bonventure Otieno is a seasoned legal professional, certified mediator, human rights advocate, and governance expert with over a decade of experience in law, alternative dispute resolution, policy development, and institutional strengthening. He holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa and a Postgraduate Diploma from the Kenya School of Law, and is a Certified Professional Mediator.

Bonventure serves as a Court-Annexed Mediator with the Judiciary of Kenya and has extensive experience in legal practice, constitutional and legislative drafting, human rights, cross-border legal affairs, and organizational governance. He has contributed to the drafting of constitutions, public policy, and legislation, while also providing legal training and mediation services across Kenya and the East African region.

A respected trainer, public speaker, and thought leader, Bonventure has delivered capacity-building programs on human rights, conflict resolution, succession law, and peace-building. His work reflects a strong commitment to justice, youth empowerment, leadership development, and the promotion of good governance. He has also held leadership roles in civil society, legal associations, and regional initiatives, combining legal expertise with practical experience in institutional development, advocacy, and community transformation and he is keen in using his skills in the advancement of animal sentience and welfare