Upcoming changes at Sentience

After four and a half fulfilling years full of transformation, growth, and unique projects, the time has come for me to turn a new page. I have decided to step down from my operational role as Co-Managing Director of Sentience at the end of this year. Philipp Ryf, currently Co-Managing Director and former Co-Campaign Leader of the Initiative to Abolish Factory Farming, will lead the organization from 2024 as the sole Managing Director.

There have been countless moments that have filled what has been an incredibly exciting and educational time at Sentience. I would especially like to highlight our Initiative “Fundamental Rights for Primates”, which has  significantly influenced the discourse on animal rights in Switzerland. The Federal Court decision of September 16, 2020, which classified a referendum on basic rights for non-human animals as constitutionally compliant, was  historic. The fact that the initiative was rejected in Basel-Stadt in February last year was to be expected. Nevertheless, the overriding satisfaction lies in the broad dialogue that the project has initiated on the relationship between humans and animals, and the media attention we received far beyond our national borders. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the countless team members, partner organizations, testimonials, and volunteers who have made this project unforgettable.

The largest project I accompanied during my time at Sentience was the Initiative to Abolish Factory Farming, which placed the issue of intensive animal farming on the political stage, making it a permanent part of the national discourse. The initiative has allowed Sentience to work with a wide range of interest groups and ensure that numerous stakeholders had to state their position on the issue of animal-friendly and sustainable Swiss animal farming. The media’s and Swiss society’s response to our initiative were tremendous, and I am enormously grateful for the over 1 million yes votes. Sentience will continue the important work on this topic in the future and move Switzerland towards animal-friendly agriculture, one step at a time.

I am proud that Sentience has been able to establish itself as an important stakeholder in the Swiss agricultural policy discourse in recent years. Our critical contributions and activities, our active cross-sector exchange with various organizations and parties, and our high profile l campaigns have established us as a respected player in Swiss agriculture and animal policy.

Our current project in the field of sustainable proteins, the Protein Lab, will receive my full attention until the end of the year. Here, too, the focus is on cross-sector collaboration, with the aim of tangibly advancing the protein transition in Switzerland. I am very much looking forward to this exciting process and am enormously grateful to be able to count on the active support of our partner organizations collaboratio helvetica and Bern University of Applied Sciences for this project.

At the same time, I am enormously pleased to witness the success of our “RRRevolution!” campaign which has already been supported by over 10,000 people. You too can sign our call and help to put pressure on Swiss politics and anchor the 3R principle in Swiss agriculture!

As I personally prepare for a new chapter, one emotion dominates: gratitude. I was incredibly lucky to be able to work on exciting and inspiring projects with fantastic people, which I will remember for a lifetime. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to all the people who have accompanied me on this journey.

Next year Sentience celebrates its 10 year anniversary – an occasion that I  very much look forward to attending. I am convinced that our organisation will continue to do pioneering work in its next decade that attracts attention beyond our borders, and that Sentience will continue to place the interests of non-human animals at the center of society – and into people’s hearts – for years to come.

Thank you for everything,
Silvano

PS: Our ambitious and motivated team in Zurich is currently looking for a person who wants to passionately advocate for the interests of non-human animals in Switzerland in the role of Head of Communication & Fundraising. All information about this position can be found here.