MILAN, Italy—Martina Pluda, director of Humane World for Animals Italy (formerly called Humane Society International Italy), has been named one of Forbes Italy’s 100 Women Leaders of 2025.
The magazine is known for its focus on leading figures of change. For the eighth consecutive year, the editorial team selected 100 women who “combine talent, determination and leadership skills” and who “are driving the progress—economic and otherwise—of the country.” They include managers, entrepreneurs, artists, scientists, journalists, and athletes.
“I am incredibly honored by this recognition,” Pluda says, “and to be the first woman leading an animal protection organization in Italy to be included in the Forbes list. I’m just a person like many others, putting my passion and professionalism at the service of the causes I believe in, not for personal gain but to leave things in my corner of the world a little better than I found them. I believe it’s important to have a collective awareness of the impact our production systems and consumption habits have on animals, communities, and the environment. Contributing is essential, and I am very proud to do so with Humane World for Animals and my team in Italy. No change, no result is ever achieved alone.”
Martina Pluda’s voice thus joins those of other women who, over the years, have been selected by Forbes Italy for their contribution to the protection of animals and biodiversity, including journalist Donatella Bianchi, former president of WWF Italy, and fashion designer Elisabetta Franchi (both in 2020); entrepreneur Claudia Pievani (in 2023); and journalist Giulia Innocenzi (who in 2024 received the Aretè Award for the documentary Food4Profit).
Pluda’s recognition stands as a testament to the commitment of Humane World for Animals and its representatives around the world and reflects growing attention to animal welfare and protection. This honor comes just two years after the inclusion of Kitty Block, CEO and President of Humane World for Animals, in Forbes’ 2023 50 Over 50 list, in the “Impact” category, which recognizes those working to create positive change in society.
“For over 30 years globally and the past five years in our country, Humane World for Animals (formerly called Humane Society International) has worked to eliminate the root causes of animal suffering and cruelty,” Pluda says. “I am incredibly proud that the impact of our work in Italy has been noticed and recognized in such a short time. Moreover, this recognition comes to me and to us in a very special year for our organization — the year in which, through a rebranding journey, we decided to make our work more impactful and to move toward a clear vision of the future. Humane World for Animals is a promise, but also a call to action.”
In February 2025, the organization announced its new name, aimed at highlighting its mission and global presence. It also unveiled a new logo: the five featured species are the stars of a powerful campaign video that envisions a future free of cruelty toward animals, set to a newly created rendition of Peter Gabriel’s hit “Solsbury Hill”, recorded by pop superstar Sia. The rebranding campaign—developed in collaboration with Lippincott and FlyteVu—was nominated in five categories at the 2025 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, held annually in Cannes.
In Italy, Humane World for Animals is actively working to prevent and combat dogfighting through the “Io non combatto” project; to end intensive confinement agriculture, in collaboration with the “End the Cage Age” coalition; and to promote alternatives to animal experiments. The organization has also supported the introduction of two draft laws aimed at banning the import and export of hunting trophies from endangered species. After playing a leading role in the campaign that led to the closure of fur farms in the country, it is now working to ensure that Italian fashion brands adopt fur-free policies.
In September, Pluda will be invited to Forbes Women’s Week, a series of events organized by Forbes Italy to highlight female leaders in the Italian professional landscape: a unique opportunity to also give a voice to the animals Humane World for Animals fights for every day.
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Martina Pluda is the Italy country director for Humane World for Animals, an international organization and a global leader in animal protection. For over a decade, Martina has led advocacy campaigns aimed at improving the legal protection of farmed, wild, and companion animals, influencing corporate practices and supply chains that use animals, shifting public awareness, and promoting plant-based and cruelty-free alternatives. Her current focus includes cruel farming practices, fur production, trophy hunting, dogfighting, and other related issues. Her goal is to expose the hidden suffering of animals to achieve meaningful and lasting change. Martina holds a master’s degree in law and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Salzburg, as well as a master’s in animal law from the Autonomous University of Barcelona. Before dedicating herself to animal protection, she worked for Austria’s national public broadcaster (ORF). Since 2008, she has been a registered freelance journalist with the Order of Journalists of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and in 2018 she published the book “Animal Law in the Third Reich.” Martina is often invited to speak in the media on issues related to animal protection, and her work is frequently featured in national and international news outlets. In 2023, she was named a Fellow of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics for her “outstanding contribution to the field of animal ethics.” In 2024, she was nominated as a candidate for the European Parliament.