Meet our leadership team
Alesia Soltanpanah
Executive Director
Alesia Soltanpanah is the Executive Director of World Animal Protection US. Alesia leads World Animal Protection’s programs in the US to protect animals and help build a global movement to inspire people to change animals’ lives for the better.
Alesia has over 20 years of executive leadership, financial, marketing, fundraising, operational and program development experience at a variety of international and domestic nonprofits, including multiple animal welfare organizations. Most recently, Alesia was Executive Director of VIBS in Long Island, where she created new programs for domestic violence law, witnesses to homicide, human trafficking, and pet therapy. During her tenure, she more than doubled the number of clients served by the organization. She has also served in top-level development, communications and marketing roles in New York City.
As Vice President of Development at the Ms. Foundation for Women, and the Chief Development Officer at Safe Horizon, she increased revenue to all-time highs for the organizations. As Vice President of Development and Marketing Communications at Bideawee, the first animal rescue organization in New York City, and as Vice President of Development and Communications at the North Shore Animal League America in Port Washington, NY, she increased awareness and revenue for both organizations, launching national marketing campaigns to bring awareness to the plight of homeless dogs and cats. Prior to working in animal welfare, she was AVP, Direct Marketing at international NGO Save the Children, where she managed the direct marketing program.
Alesia holds a Masters of Business Administration in Management from Golden Gate University, San Francisco and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from California State University, Sacramento.
Ben Williamson
Programs Director
Ben Williamson is the Programs Director of World Animal Protection US. Ben oversees World Animal Protections’ five campaign areas: Wildlife. Not Entertainers, Wildlife. Not Pets, Raise Pigs Right, Change for Chickens, and Meat Reduction.
Ben’s areas of expertise include animals in entertainment, exotic pets, factory farming, vegetarian/vegan issues, cruelty to animals, and humane education. With nearly a decade of experience working within animal protection in both the United States and England, Williamson has made numerous television appearances including NBC, CNN, Fox News, CBS, and Good Morning America and authored numerous op-ed pieces in USA Today, Newsweek, New York Daily News, TIME, Washington Post, Fortune and more.
Ben holds a Masters of Political Science and Political Economy from The London School of Economic and Political Science and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University College London.
Elizabeth Quick-Corral (Liz)
Development Director
Elizabeth Quick-Corral (Liz) is the Director of Development at World Animal Protection US. Liz is responsible for overseeing and generating funds for the lifesaving work they conduct.
Liz has many years of senior development management experience at animal and university organizations.
She has spoken at five national fundraising conferences on a wide variety of topics and techniques. She brings over seven years of nonprofit fundraising experience ranging from digital and direct mail strategy, major and foundation giving, sustaining giving, legacy and bequests, events and strategic management. She is constantly inspired by the many people who chose to entrust their giving to animal causes.
Liz is based in Brooklyn, New York where she lives with her husband and two dogs Penny and Cocobella. In her free time, you can find Liz drinking coffee and reading a good book.
Cameron Harsh
Farming Campaign Manager
Cameron Harsh is the Farming Campaign Manager for World Animal Protection US. Cameron works to improves the lives of farmed pigs and chickens in the United States working with producers, farmers and suppliers to improve conditions.
Cameron's area of expertise include pig welfare, improvement of health, sustainability, and equity of our food system, food and farming policy. He has devoted his career to improving the health, sustainability, and equity of our food system, starting with food gardens and nutrition education in communities with limited access to fresh foods.
Before joining World Animal Protection, he spent seven years in food and farming policy, advocating for regulations that protect public health, the environment, and farmed animals.
Julie Cappiello
Wildlife Campaign Manager
Julie Cappiello is the Wildlife Campaign Manager for World Animal Protection US. Julie works on campaigns to protect wild animals from the abuses of the entertainment industry.
Julie's area of expertise include wildlife, animals used for entertainment with strong focus in animals used in circuses, elephant riding, animal-friendly travel, and marine mammals in captivity. She has been an animal welfare activist and vegan for nearly a decade, became active in animals in entertainment campaigns at the age of 18, and shortly thereafter started her own nonprofit to focus on the issue.
Before joining World Animal Protection, she worked in grassroots, political, and international animal welfare organizations and has expertise in nonprofit management, community organizing, social media and digital marketing, and managing staff from around the world including Latin America, Brazil, India, and Asia.
Ethan Wolf
Wildlife Campaign Manager
Ethan Wolf is the Wildlife Campaign Manager for World Animal Protection US. Ethan works on campaigns to protect wild animals from the exotic pet industry and the traditional medicine industry.
Ethan’s area of expertise includes international wildlife trade and the use of animals in traditional medicine products. He has been an animal activist and vegan for more than two decades and became involved in animal activism when he was 18 years old.
Before joining World Animal Protection, Ethan started two local grassroots organizations and worked with national and international organizations, organizing campaigns against fur products and animal experimentation, as well as participated in international campaigns to protect dolphins, sea turtles, and the vaquita porpoise. He is also an attorney and spent more than ten years protecting the children of New York City.
Joe Loria
Meat Reduction Campaign Manager
Joe Loria is the Meat Reduction Campaign Manager for World Animal Protection US. Joe works on a campaign that aims to inspire and educate the public, businesses and politicians to reduce meat consumption.
Joe has been an animal welfare and social justice activist for years. He first became involved in the animal protection movement while studying Advertising and Marketing Communication at the Fashion Institute of Technology where he interned at an animal organization. Upon graduation he worked in public relations, social media, and content marketing at PR firms and an animal organization.
