An unexpected visit to a bear bile farm in China inspired Jill to dedicate her life to end the practice of bear farming once and for all. Jill founded Animals Asia (www.animalsasia.org) in 1998. Beginning as a small group working out of her front room, she has since grew the organization into a respected international NGO with over 300 staff, an annual turnover of more than $9 million, with award-winning bear sanctuaries in China and Vietnam, and offices around the world. Among many awards, Jill was awarded an MBE by Queen Elizabeth in recognition of her services to animal welfare in Asia. Jill Robinson MBE, Dr.med.vet. h.c. has been a pioneer of animal welfare in Asia since 1985 and is widely recognised as the world’s leading expert on the cruel bear bile industry, having campaigned against it since 1993. In 1998, she founded Animals Asia, an organisation devoted to ending the barbaric practice of bear bile farming and improving the welfare of animals in China and Vietnam. Across Asia, up to 20,000 bears are cruelly farmed for their bile, despite the herbal and synthetic alternatives that exist. Over the past 20 years, Jill and the organisation have accelerated the campaign to the point of seeing the issue officially noted as one of the top ten most discussed topics of the country in 2012. In early 2014, the foundation embarked on an unprecedented project to illustrate a solution, with the intended outcome that ending bear farming can be achieved where the needs of farmers, bears and the government can be addressed. Together with a bear farmer in Nanning, Animals Asia's Peace by Piece Campaign is rescuing 130 bile farm bears and converting the farm to a sanctuary. Animals Asia has rescued over 400 bears from bear farms, with major efforts going into reducing demand, education & raising public awareness, political negotiation & policy change, monitoring trade, and the development of bear sanctuaries. Among other awards, Jill has an honorary doctorate from the University of Zurich, is Asia World Animal Day Ambassador, and Council Member World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies Herbal Committee. In 2010, Jill was awarded "You Bring Charm to China" with 12 prominent people who have enriched life in China.