Jill Robinson honoured with inaugural Jane Goodall Hope Award

Dr Jill Robinson MBE, founder and CEO of Animals Asia, has been awarded one of the first-ever Jane Goodall Hope Awards at the Hope Gala in London last night, Monday 23 March 2026.

Presented by the Jane Goodall Institute, the award recognises Jill’s more than three decades of compassionate leadership and her pioneering work to end bear bile farming in Asia. She is one of only three recipients of the prestigious award, alongside Ricky Gervais and Peter Egan – who are longtime friends and supporters of Animals Asia.

The Hope Gala celebrates the life and legacy of Dr Jane Goodall, whose groundbreaking work transformed how the world understands and protects animals. Jill shared a close personal friendship with Jane, who was both a mentor and a longstanding supporter of her work.

To mark the occasion, we’ve also shared a special film of Jill and Jane in conversation – a moving reflection on friendship, compassion and the final chapter for bears in Vietnam.

Jill’s recognition comes at a defining moment for animal welfare. After more than 30 years of campaigning, Vietnam is now on the brink of becoming the first country in the world to end bear bile farming entirely, marking one of the most significant wildlife protection milestones in recent decades.

Bear bile farming involves the confinement of bears in small cages, where bile is extracted for use in traditional medicine, often over many years of suffering. Although the practice is now illegal in Vietnam, around 150 bears remain in need of rescue. Animals Asia is working urgently to bring every one of them to sanctuary and end the industry for good in 2026.

Jill’s journey began with a single moment, when a moon bear reached out to her from a bile farm cage. That encounter sparked a lifelong mission. Since then, she has worked alongside governments, communities and partners to transform both policy and public attitudes towards animals, helping to rescue hundreds of bears and improve the lives of countless more.

Like Jane, Jill is part of a generation of women who reshaped humanity’s relationship with animals, grounding science and conservation in empathy, respect and connection. In her later years, Jane continued to champion Animals Asia’s work, even naming a rescued bear “Robinson” in honour of their friendship.

Speaking at the event, Jill said:

“I’m deeply honoured to receive this award in memory of Jane’s incredible life and impact on the world. Jane was a dear friend and mentor and someone who inspired generations of us to dedicate our lives to animals.

Jane changed the world by showing us that animals think and feel and that understanding them changes everything about how we protect them. But despite her enormous influence and legacy, Jane remained endlessly kind, generous with her time, and had this rare gift of making you feel as though you had made a friend for life.

Jane always carried the banner of hope and reminded us that if we want to heal this suffering world, we must never stop believing that change is possible.”

With the final phase of bear rescues underway, Animals Asia is focused on ensuring that every remaining bear is brought to safety, and that bear bile farming in Vietnam is ended for good this year.