Jill Robinson MBE, Dr.med.vet. h.c. has been a pioneer of animal welfare in Asia since 1985 and is widely recognised as the world’s leading expert on the cruel bear bile industry, having campaigned against it since 1993.

Born in the UK, Jill Robinson arrived in Hong Kong in 1985 and spent 12 years working in Asia as a consultant for the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

Repeatedly faced with scenes of widespread animal cruelty, Jill founded “Dr Dog” in Hong Kong in 1991 — the first animal-therapy program in Asia. This groundbreaking initiative introduced the concept of “change through empathy”, the belief that empathy for one animal can evolve into empathy for an entire species and ultimately for all species.

More than 1,000 dogs have qualified as therapy dogs since Jill started Dr Dog, and today over 250 dogs make regular visits to hospitals, disabled centres, schools and elderly homes in 10 cities across Asia, spreading warmth and love to people in need, while promoting companion animals as our friends and helpers.

In 1993, a visit to a bear farm in southern China changed Jill’s life. Exposing the plight of endangered Asiatic black bears (also known as moon bears) cruelly farmed for their bile, and learning how easily herbs and synthetics could replace bear bile, Jill embarked on a journey to end the practice of bear farming once and for all.

In 1998, she founded Animals Asia, an organisation that is devoted to ending the painful practice of bear bile farming and improving the welfare of animals in China and Vietnam by promoting compassion and respect for all animals, and working to bring about long-term change.

In July 2000, Jill signed an agreement with the Chinese authorities to set up a bear sanctuary and rescue bears from the bile industry. This was the first agreement between the Chinese government and an international NGO. Animals Asia is the only organisation with a bear sanctuary in China.

In July 2017, Jill and Animals Asia's Vietnam Director, Tuan Bendixsen signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the government of Vietnam to end bear bile farming in Vietnam, one of the organisation's founding goals.

In 2022, Animals Asia commenced construction of their second Vietnam-based sanctuary to expand their capacity and ability to rescue the remaining 300-plus bears that remain in cages on farms across the country, effectively achieving one of Animals Asia’s founding goals of ending bear bile farming in Vietnam. Once the last bear is saved, this trade will be history for Vietnam and will set a precedent for other countries in the region to follow.

To date, Animals Asia has rescued over 680 bears, caring for them at its award-winning bear sanctuaries in China and Vietnam. From its small beginnings in Hong Kong, where it is still headquartered, Animals Asia has grown into a respected international NGO, with over 300 staff and offices in Australia, China, Germany, the UK, the US and Vietnam.

2020: Recognised by Tatler Asia, as one of “Asia’s Most Influential 100 Philanthropists”, selected for her contribution to animal rights in the region.