Our Patron Philip
Philip Wollen OAM
We are honoured to welcome Philip Wollen OAM as our Patron.
A renowned Australian humanitarian, Philip’s leadership helps power a kinder future—and brings us closer to ending live animal export.
“When we suffer, we suffer as equals.” — Philip Wollen OAM
I am proud to support the “STOP LIVE EXPORT” campaign. It’s leaders exemplify all that is noble in the compassionate Australian heart. This campaign is a moral, courageous and a litmus test of our decency, the North Star of Australia’s moral compass.
60 years ago, I arrived in Australia on my own as a teenage boy. No parents, no money, no education. Nothing.
What I knew about the country I learned from a library book. I instinctively loved the country from afar.
When the wide eyed boy arrived, Australia was in the throes of changing her Fiat currency, the Pound, to the decimal currency, the dollar. The naïve boy believed differently. Australia’s real surrogate currency was not the Dollar – but Decency.
Australia didn’t pretend to be rich, smart, or powerful. She just presented the open face of Decency.
It was a sweeter time. A time when decent Australian citizens simply asked their governments to do good.
Sadly, today we are forced to publicly demand that politicians stop doing evil. O tempora. O mores.
“Live Animal Export” is not an “industry”. It is a shameful atrocity.
Terrified innocent Australian animals, born on Australian soil, are dragged onto death ships, and transported across thousands of miles of heavy seas, to the Middle East and elsewhere.
Imprisoned in cramped, claustrophobic, steel racks, they will endure gruelling hardship, nauseating sickness, heat, thirst, filth, and disease. They will watch as thousands of their fellow victims die enroute, their bodies callously chucked overboard into the sea. And they are the lucky ones.
And when our tragic animal survivors finally arrive at these hell holes they WILL be tortured and killed. Each individual sentient Australian animal WILL suffer an agonizing, terrifying death at the bloodstained hands of brutal, knife wielding strangers. And it WILL be another nail in the coffin of Australia’s reputation.
These are the facts. Anyone who defends this hideous atrocity is indescribably cruel, blindingly ignorant or deliberately obtuse.
Isn’t it ironic? Our Australian history books tell touching stories of young Australian soldiers in the Middle East at the End of WW1. They refused to leave their faithful horses behind, choosing instead to take that last sad and lonely walk with their beloved horses out of sight, and end their lives with a bullet in the brain from a service revolver.
And where did all these tragic, sad scenes take place? In the same places that this cruel trade is sending tens of millions of Australian animals to their agonizing deaths. For 30 pieces of silver.
Can you think of a more humiliating betrayal of a nation’s trust? Can you tell me, and tell me the truth, can you think of a more egregious betrayal of trust?
I have invested many millions of dollars in 850+ humanitarian projects in over 58 countries around the world. Every penny I invested in the Bassatine Government Slaughterhouse in Cairo to reduce cruelty on Australian animals was utterly wasted. The cruelty is as vile as ever.
I have seen atrocities that would terrify and disgust the most battle-hardened Australian soldier. I am a prisoner of what I know. And a victim of what I have seen.
I have learned from experience that the “Good” will do the “Best” they can. The “Bad” will do the “Worst” they can. But for Good people to do Evil things, it just needs ignorance and greed. Traits this grubby trade possesses in abundance.
The Australian historian Donald Horne said we are the “Lucky Country”. Prime Minister Bob Hawke said he wanted us to become the “Clever Country”. Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser lamented that “Australia is the “Cruel Country”.
But I say, “Because of our vile Live Export Trade, all around the world we are known as the “Anything for a Buck Country””.
While progressive nations were developing intelligent industries in science, aviation, aerospace, Artificial Intelligence, research, computers, engineering, and clean energy, our grasping, idle, cheaply bought politicians bragged about Australia’s economy riding on the sheep’s back.
Isn’t it time we grew up and learned to walk on our own two feet? To use our brains to create rather than our brawn to kill? We can no longer be a nation of factory farmers and bloody quarrymen.
Every industry in our economic history has undergone rationalization; Mining, Airlines, Banking, Automobiles, Steelmaking, Retailing, Insurance, Transport, Textiles, Clothing, Footwear, and Forestry.
But this grim trade demands they be given preferential treatment, protected like a sacred cow, demanding privileges to which they have never been entitled. It has to go. And go it will.
Sadly, we still have the “Squatter” mentality.
When I listen to the haunting chords of Waltzing Matilda, I wish the swagman had kicked the squatter’s backside, chucked him into the billabong, nicked his thoroughbred and run off with Matilda. Australia would have been a wiser, richer, kinder and sustainable country.
Our first atrocity wasn’t “Live animal Exports”. It was “Live animal Imports”.
Foisted on us with the same thoughtless brutal, and cruel mindset by the same myopic, boorish constituency which contaminated us with us feral cane toads, European carp, rabbits, foxes, pigs, deer, camels, brumbies, donkeys, dogs, cats, and cruelty. And if that is not enough, deforestation, climate change and the world’s worst record of species extinction.
Why Philip?
Philip Wollen OAM is a humanitarian and philanthropist. A former vice president at Citibank, he has devoted his life to ethical causes across animals, people and planet. He has spoken widely on animal welfare—including a widely viewed address calling for an end to live animal export—and now serves as Patron of Stop Live Exports, helping to accelerate a kinder, future-ready alternative to live export.
Achievements in Philanthropy & Animal Welfare
Philip Wollen OAM is a highly respected Australian philanthropist, environmentalist and animal rights advocate who has devoted four decades to advancing compassion for animals, children and the environment
Humanitarian and Philanthropist
Supporting 800+ welfare projects across 50+ countries, with a sustained focus on exposing cruelty in the global live export trade.
Public voice for animals
A renowned advocate and speaker whose patronage helps accelerate investigations, public education and evidence-based policy to end live animal export.
Senior leadership to service
Former Vice-President of Citibank and General Manager at Citicorp; named Australian of the Year (Victoria) in 2007, before dedicating his work to ethical causes.
Stand with us
Kindness moves faster when we act together.
Let’s keep animals off ships and end the cruel live export trade. Together we can move faster: stronger safeguards now, and a humane, future-ready alternative for the long term.