Humanimal Trust was established in May 2014 by Professor Noel Fitzpatrick, known globally as a ground-breaking orthopaedic-neuro veterinary surgeon.

As a vet, he experienced personally the deep divide between human and animal medicine and saw how unfair this was. Frustrated by the lack of opportunities to share what he was learning from day to day practice, or to benefit from relevant learning from human medicine, he decided to create the platform himself.

This laid the foundations for the work the Trust does today, removing barriers and seeking to close the divide between human and animal medicine.

As Chief Impact Officer at The Buddyhood, Nichola has over 20 years’ experience supporting children and young people who are disengaged from education. She specialises in mental health, wellbeing, and helping children whose needs are often misunderstood to reconnect, thrive, and reach their potential.

The Buddyhood share stories with purpose to help empower, educate and entertain children so that they can express themselves effectively and responsibly. This helps them thrive by creating a safe space for them to be their authentic selves, while taking the pressure off from caregivers. Nichola’s role helps to create an environment in which all those around a child can find a path to stable energies so that the child can learn and grow, while being given the chance to have a childhood to really enjoy. As a keynote speaker with lived experience, Nichola challenges perspectives on behaviour, inclusion, and the power of connection over control. Together, their work has supported thousands of children, but Nichola’s passion remains reaching the many more who still need support.