Meet Our Team
TAILS is carried by a dedicated team of volunteers who generously give their time to keep all running smoothly.
Director
As a psychologist, Esslin splits her day between psychotherapy and corporate training for humans, and rescue and nurture for animals in need. She has over 15 years of experience in the animal field, including fostering, training, enrichment, healthcare, rescue, and husbandry.
Esslin balances her compassion for animals with scientific understanding of animal behaviour, which guides her in constructive dialogue with diverse human parties.
Esslin currently forms a pack with two forever dogs and a steady flux of foster animals.
Cindy Bouw
Foster & Adoption coordinator
Cindy is a Belgian Chief of Immigration who spent over ten years working with refugees. This experience has shown her the importance of general well-being and volunteer work. Growing up, she was an active member of GAIA, a Belgian organisation that promotes animal welfare and a ‘voice for the voiceless.’ Moving to Hong Kong, Cindy’s passion for animals grew. Cindy and her family have now fostered more than 23 dogs, with three very lucky ones who were later adopted by them.
Cindy lives in Pui O with her family and pack of four with additional fosters. She is delighted to be part of the TAILS team.
Carina Milligan
Events & Marketing Coordinator
TBA
Andrew McDonald
Field team coordinator
Andrew is an Australian who throughout his childhood has cared for dogs, rabbits, turtles and fish. He moved to Hong Kong in 1994 to persue a career in aviation.
Moving to Lantau in 2000 he rescued and adopted his first dog from an abandoned in Cheung Sha. He is passionate about animal welfare and conservation.
As a Field Team Coordinator for TAILS, Andrew will coordinate and conduct rescuse missions to help animals in need within the Lantau area.
Andrew lives in Mui Wo with his two rescue dogs and is delighted to be part of the TAILS team.
Cary Shakeshaft-Nicholson
Field team coordinator
Cary was born and raised in Ontario, Canada with many amazing pets along the way. Her love for animals grew deeper and deeper in 2012 when she moved to HK. Cary and her husband have fostered many animals before joining our team. As a stay at home dog mom to two Lantau mongrels, Cary spends her time helping and feeding local dogs , while rescuing and fostering pups in need. She hopes to help make a difference on our beautiful island.
As a Field Team Coordinator for TAILS, Cary will coordinate and conduct rescuse missions to help animals in need within the Lantau area.
Jenny Kim
Admin coordinator
Jenny spent the past 13 years working with the private sector and NGO’s to promote human rights and environmental sustainability. With a deep seeded belief that the world belongs to all beings, she is now a proud TAILS team member.
Jenny lives in Mui Wo with her husband and fur baby Blue. She’s always up for time in nature or furry cuddles!
Kim McCoy
Legal Advisor
Born in Hong Kong but raised in New Zealand, Kim studied Law and Psychology at the University of Otago. He practised law in New Zealand before returning to Hong Kong to qualify and work as a barrister.
Kim is a devoted animal lover and an active member of the New Zealand Animal Law Association. He is passionate about the protection and welfare of all animals, as well as the changes and developments of this vital area of the law.
Andrew Trotto
Accountant
Born in Australia, Andrew is a qualified accountant and member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand. He has worked in both Hong Kong and Australia overseeing the accounting and financial function of a number of organisations including those operating in the not for profit sector.
With over twenty years of experience he brings to TAILS a wealth of knowledge to ensure appropriate standards of stewardship are in place in the reporting and safeguarding the organisation’s financial affairs.
Now residing on Lantau, he lives with his wife and their two family dogs. His passion for TAILS and the welfare of animals is an extension of his fondness for life on Lantau.
Aiko Fujioka Henderson
Vet Nurse in training
Aiko grew up on Lantau Island where she accumulated a variety of rescued feathered and furry family members: 20 chickens, several dogs, cats, rodents, rabbits and a variety of aquatic animals. Over the years she has scaled down and now has just two mongrel dogs.
Aiko attained a BA Degree in Sports and Education Studies, yet found herself volunteering for animal organisations, as it was what made her happiest. Aiko then decided to become a certified Animal Nursing Assistant, which started her career change into the animal care industry.
Aiko worked at a Fitzpatrick Veterinary Referrals of Orthopedics and Neurology before moving back to Hong Kong to join City University’s Veterinary Nursing course. She is due to be a qualified veterinary nurse in September 2019, if all goes well.
Monique Dayaram
Dog Trainer
Monique graduated from the renowned Karen Pryor Academy and is a Certified Training Partner. Monique specialized in Clicker Training which is a force-free science-based training method focusing on positive reinforcement.
She has been a regular foster for different rescue groups which provided her the opportunities to have firsthand experiences living with dogs with different characters.
Monique has a soft spot for helping shy dogs to come out from their shells and is newly addicted to the African Wildlife.