Arianna Ferrari, PhD, and Dr. iur. Dr. h.c. Antoine F. Goetschel will deliver the conference keynote addresses.

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Arianna Ferrari, PhD

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Ferrari is an ethicist and philosopher of science and technology with extensive experience in technology assessment, the critical evaluation of visions of technological futures (vision assessment), foresight, and human-animal studies. She earned her PhD in Philosophy in 2006 through a joint program involving the University of Turin and the University of Tübingen in Germany. Her academic career has included appointments at the Universities of Darmstadt and Münster, as well as at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). She later broadened her work beyond academia, contributing to Futurium in Berlin, a museum dedicated to future-oriented perspectives, and to NABU e.V., a major environmental NGO in Germany.​

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Dr. iur. Dr. h.c. Antoine F. Goetschel

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Goetschel serves as an international advisor on animal law and ethics, supporting governments, animal protection organizations, universities, and media institutions as a lecturer and expert consultant. His work includes analyzing the legal status of animals in different jurisdictions, developing policy recommendations, drafting legislative texts, and strengthening the structural position of animals in constitutional and statutory frameworks. He also contributes as a guest lecturer at universities and engages in public discourse on the ethical foundations of animal protection law.

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A central focus of his work is the relationship between animal ethics and animal protection legislation. He emphasizes that coherent and consistent laws depend on clear ethical foundations, and that meaningful legal reform requires a well-reasoned justification for improving the legal status of animals. In this context, he has been closely associated with the concept of the "dignity of the creature", which was incorporated into the Swiss Federal Constitution in 1992 and later reflected in animal protection legislation. This principle extends beyond the prevention of suffering and pain, recognizing the intrinsic value and integrity of animals and shaping debates on farming, slaughter, companion animals, therapeutic uses, and broader human-animal relationships.

 

In recent years, Goetschel has observed growing international interest in strengthening the legal standing of animals. As president of the Global Animal Law GAL Association, he increasingly shares his expertise with global stakeholders seeking to enhance the constitutional, legislative, and practical implementation of animal protection norms. Through his keynote, he offers deep insights into the ethical and legal evolution of animal protection, practical strategies for reform, and the broader societal implications of redefining humanity’s relationship with animals.