PATRICIA FORKAN
PRESIDENT, HUMANE SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, INTERNATIONAL, THE HSUS
Patricia Forkan is President of Humane Society International and Senior Vice President for External Affairs, International for The Humane Society of the United States. Forkan focuses her efforts on international policy affecting animals, especially marine mammals, farm animals, and animal fighting.
As a member of the Trade and Environment Policy Advisory Committee, Forkan works closely with the U.S. Trade Representative and the Environmental Protection Agency advising them on the environmental provisions of free trade agreement and World Trade Organization negotiations.
One of Forkan's specific areas of expertise is the protection of marine mammals, particularly whales and dolphins. Under her leadership, The HSUS and other organizations achieved a moratorium on commercial whaling and the creation of the dolphin-safe tuna label. She represents HSI and The HSUS at the annual International Whaling Commission meetings and has also served as a member of the U.S. delegation to the IWC.
Forkan has also been instrumental in the passage of many laws affecting animals in the U.S., including the Humane Slaughter Act, the Wild Horse and Burro Act, and amendments to the Animal Welfare Act.
In the years she has been with The HSUS, Forkan has developed and overseen many programs and departments, including video, public relations, government affairs, disaster and state legislation. She served as an executive vice president for 12 years.
Forkan received a bachelor's degree in political science from Pennsylvania State University in 1966. She has done graduate work at American University in political science and attended a special course for executives in non-profit management at Harvard University. She has been listed in Who's Who in American Women and Who's Who in America.
