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Leslie Ballentine Ballentine Communication Group Background/Area of Expertise: Brings animal agriculture subject matter expertise and hands-on involvement to controversial issues in animal agriculture, including; public affairs and legislative and regulatory issues related to animal use and care. Bio: Leslie Ballentine, AAg has more than 25 years experience in communication and policy development, issues analysis and management, and media and government relations. Ballentine Communication Group was established in 2004 to provide strategic communications and information services for animal-based sectors. Her company draws on a network of credible and knowledgeable expertise from across North America to monitor, analyze and address animal issues. Her clients include those in the farming, entertainment, research and wildlife communities. Prior to starting her own company, Leslie was the executive director for the Ontario Farm Animal Council, an organization she helped form in 1988. Her career has included communication and analyst positions with the Canadian Cattlemen's Association, Ontario Federation of Agriculture and Egg Farmers of Ontario. She is a graduate of the Ontario Agricultural College. Presentation Specific to Which Livestock Industry: All Presentation Title: What's Up with Animal Activists? Presentation Summary: You read about them in the news. Their fundraisers land in your mailbox. Your kids bring their stickers home from school. Their complaints end up on your voice mail and their protests appear on your doorstep. But do you really know what is going on in the animal activist movement? This presentation gives an overview and up-date on the animal activist movement in Canada and abroad. Presentation Title: Everyone Loves the Circus: Or do they? Presentation Summary: A case study on how Ringling Bros. and Barnam & Bailey Circus has successfully managed animal activist driven campaigns. Including what works, what doesn't and lessons learned. This presentation will be of interest to those faced with animal activist campaigns. Presentation Title: Global Trends in Animal Welfare. Presentation Summary: The barnyard is moving off the farm into legislatures and boardrooms around the world. Efforts to standardize and verify farm animal care began in the 1960's in Britain, when "Animal Machines" an alarming look at farm animal practices set the stage for reform. Today, decisions on what is and is not acceptable, or allowable, are being made beyond the farm and where governments, marketers and producer groups are regulating animal care. This presentation outlines the current policy trends in farm animal welfare and where things may be headed in the future. Presentation Title: The Customer is Always Right, Even When They're Wrong Presentation Title: How Not to Shoot Yourself in the Foot: - Communicating Effectively on Sensitive Issues Presentation Summary: Toss out the PR playbook when it comes to communicating on animal care. The standard rules of public affairs not only don't work, they can sometimes make matters worse. Public communication on animal use issues is filled with challenges and potential landmines but there are also opportunities for those willing to act outside the box. This presentation outlines what works, what doesn't work and why. Presentation Title: Facing the Opposition: Preparedness and Security Presentation Summary: It is an unfortunate reality that Canada's agri-food community has become a target of the animal rights and radical environmental movements. While the active members of these movements represent a tiny minority of society, their potential for causing short and long term harm to individuals, companies, sectors, and the industry overall should not be misjudged or underestimated. International trends and emerging patterns here in Canada clearly indicate a need to increase our preparedness for dealing with the animal rights and radical environmental movements. Many within Canada's agri-food community have begun to recognize this need. The purpose of this presentation is to increase awareness of security issues and learn how to deal with potential security and activist threats to the agri-food sector. Presentation Title: Breaking the Law in the name of animals Presentation Summary: Law breaking in the name of animals has been occurring on a consistent basis for more than 30 years. Time has seen an escalation of activity and intensity using a widening range of tactics resulting in increased economic damage and personal injury. In Canada and elsewhere, animal rights extremism, and its broader form of "eco-terrorism", is recognized as a threat to public safety and security. In a growing number of countries, this threat level is demanding more attention and resources by law enforcement and intelligence agencies, new specified laws, and greater use of legal and enforcement measures to protect the victims of extremist actions. Leslie Ballentine, A.Ag. is an issues analyst with more than 15 years of experience in monitoring and advising on the international animal rights movement. This presentation outlines the players, the trends and the tactics and their wider importance to Canadian security. Please note: this is a closed meeting presentation only. Speaker Cost: $650 plus travel expenses. Tailored presentations to address specific areas of interest can be provided for an additional charge.
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