Emergency Management, Risk and Compliance
Prepare for risk. Respond with confidence. Build organizational resilience.
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LIVE VIRTUAL
Facilitator-led sessions
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21 HOURS
1 - 4 p.m. ET (10 a.m. - 1 p.m. PT)
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7 SESSIONS
Starting on Jan. 5, 2027
Why This Course Matters
Prepared Leadership Starts Before the Emergency
Effective animal welfare leadership means being prepared for what could go wrong, not simply responding when it does.
Leaders must anticipate risks, prepare their organizations for emergencies, protect people and animals, meet legal and regulatory obligations, and strengthen organizational resilience when challenges arise.
This practical module brings together emergency management, risk management, organizational resilience, and compliance to help leaders navigate the complex risks facing animal welfare organizations.
The goal is not simply to respond to disruption. It is to build an organization that can anticipate, prepare, respond, recover, and learn.
What You'll Explore
Seven sessions. From preparedness to resilience.
Move through emergency preparedness and response, organizational risk, compliance, investigations, workplace safety, and resilience—building practical leadership capacity to anticipate, respond to, recover from, and learn from disruption.
01
Session 1 · Jan 5
Introduction to Emergency Management
Explore emergency management foundations, terminology, legislation, the emergency management cycle, and the principles that support effective emergency management programs in animal welfare organizations.
02
Session 2 · Jan 12
The Role of Animal Welfare Organizations in Emergencies
Examine the dual role of animal welfare organizations in managing emergencies affecting their own facilities and supporting animal welfare during larger community emergencies.
03
Session 3 · Jan 19
Emergency Management
Session details coming soon.
04
Session 4 · Jan 26
Emergency Management
Session details coming soon.
05
Session 5 · Feb 2
Emergency Management
Session details coming soon.
06
Session 6 · Feb 9
Risk Management and Organizational Resilience
Identify and prioritize operational, financial, reputational, cybersecurity, and organizational risks, and develop practical strategies to strengthen resilience and continuity.
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Session 7 · Feb 16
Legal, Compliance, Investigations and Workplace Health and Safety
Explore legal and compliance responsibilities, investigations, evidence and reporting, workplace health and safety, and how to develop a practical risk management action plan.
The Resilience Cycle
From Preparedness to Organizational Resilience
Resilient organizations don't simply react to disruption. They anticipate risk, prepare their people and systems, respond effectively, recover with purpose, and use what they learn to become stronger.
01
Anticipate
Identify hazards, vulnerabilities, risks, and critical dependencies.
02
Prepare
Build plans, controls, resources, roles, and organizational readiness.
03
Respond
Act effectively while protecting people, animals, operations, and trust.
04
Recover
Restore critical functions, services, capacity, and organizational stability.
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Learn AND Strengthen
Use evidence and experience to improve plans, controls, policies, and practice.
The goal is not simply to manage emergencies or individual risks. It is to build the leadership capacity to anticipate disruption, protect what matters, recover effectively, and continuously strengthen organizational resilience.
Who Should Enroll
Built for Animal Welfare Leaders
This module is for experienced animal welfare professionals who shape organizational direction, lead people or programs, manage operations, and help their organizations prepare for and respond to risk and disruption.
Executive Directors and CEOs
Senior Leaders
Animal Shelter and Humane Society Leaders
Managers and Supervisors
Program and Operations Leaders
Municipal Animal Services Leaders
Rescue Organization Leaders
Emerging Senior Leaders
This module will be applied to the CAWP if you choose to register for the designation (Certified Animal Welfare Professional Designation).
Meet Your Facilitators
Learn from Leaders in Emergency Management and Risk
Kathrin Delutis, BA, CRM
Risk Management and Organizational Leadership
Kathrin Delutis brings more than 35 years of senior leadership experience in the charitable, not-for-profit, association, and animal welfare sectors.
A Certified Risk Manager with more than 25 years of risk management experience, Kathrin has worked across organizational, operational, financial, legal, and reputational risk.
As a former CEO and national association leader, she has extensive experience developing risk resources and training and supporting Boards and senior leaders with governance, compliance, accountability, and organizational decision-making.
Her practical, real-world approach helps animal welfare leaders translate risk management principles into strategies that protect their people, organizations, and mission.
Areas of Expertise
Risk Management
Organizational Resilience
Governance
Compliance,
Operational Risk
Leadership
Patricia Martel, PhD
Emergency Management Practitioner and Consultant
Patricia Martel brings more than 18 years of emergency management experience across provincial, regional, and municipal governments, Indigenous communities, NGOs, and the private sector.
Her operational experience includes Emergency Operations Centre roles during severe wildland fire seasons and northern flooding, the G8/G20, the Goderich tornado, Hurricane Sandy, COVID-19, the Southern Niagara Blizzard/Multi-Hazard Emergency, and the Total Solar Eclipse.
An international expert in hazard identification and risk assessment, Patricia contributed to Ontario's 2012 Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment Program, recognized for its innovative approach to changing risk and climate change.
Her PhD focused on operational emergency planning for vulnerable populations. She has taught emergency management at the graduate level at Canadian universities and is a Past President of the Canadian Risk and Hazards Network (CRHNet).
Areas of Expertise
Emergency Management
Emergency Preparedness
Hazard and Risk Assessment
Emergency Response
Organizational Preparedness
Vulnerable Populations
The CAWP Journey
Your Path to the Certified Animal Welfare Professional Designation
Build your professional practice through a progressive learning journey designed to strengthen leadership and organizational capacity across the animal welfare sector.
1
Leading People, Culture and Team Performance
5 live virtual sessions
2
Governance, Strategic Leadership and Organizational Performance
7 live virtual sessions • 21 hours
3
Emergency Management, Risk and Compliance
7 live virtual sessions • 21 hours
4
Fundraising Methods, Principles and Practices
5
Communications
6
Leading the Organization
7
Professional Practice and Ethics
8
Community Engagement and Partnerships
9
Financial Management and Fiduciary Responsibility
Each module builds professional knowledge and practice across the CAWP learning pathway, supporting progression toward the Certified Animal Welfare Professional designation.
Continue Your CAWP Journey
Explore the Full CAWP Professional Designation
Emergency Management, Risk and Compliance is the third module in the Certified Animal Welfare Professional (CAWP) journey. If you are pursuing the full designation, you can register for the CAWP program and receive benefits that apply throughout your professional learning journey.
CAWP Program Registration
The one-time CAWP Program Registration Fee is $99 for Humane Canada Members and Associates and $125 for Non-Members.
Once registered, you will receive a 10% discount on every CAWP module as you continue through the program.
Visit the CAWP program page for full details about the nine modules, registration benefits, Professional Practice Portfolio, fees, requirements, and the pathway to earning your professional designation.
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Pilot Program Notice
The CAWP Designation is currently being offered as a pilot program. Participant feedback and ongoing evaluation will help shape the program's future development. As the program evolves, some requirements or program elements may be refined. Any significant changes will be communicated to participants.
Read the full pilot program notice ›Enroll in Module 3
Strengthen Your Emergency Management and Risk Leadership
Choose the rate that applies to your Humane Canada affiliation.
Working toward your CAWP designation?
Once you pay your CAWP Program Registration Fee, you'll receive a 10% discount coupon you can apply to CAWP modules.
See registration fee ›
Frequently Asked Questions
If you don't find your answer here, please email Kathrin at [email protected]
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Who is this course designed for?
This course is built for leaders in animal welfare, including CEOs, Executive Directors, Directors, Senior Managers, and supervisors working in humane societies, SPCAs, rescues, and municipal animal services.
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What makes this course unique to animal welfare?
The course addresses emergency management, risk, and compliance topics specific to humane societies, SPCAs, rescues, and municipal services, including how to act effectively when an emergency arises while protecting people, animals, operations, and trust.
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How is the course delivered?
The course is fully online and highly interactive. You’ll participate in discussions, analyze real‑world scenarios, and engage with peers from across the sector to deepen your leadership practice.
The course runs over five weeks with a weekly session every Tuesday, from September 29 to October 27, from 1:00 to 4:00 PM Eastern Time.
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How much time should I expect to commit each week?
Each weekly session is 3 hours long. Most participants will spend 3 - 5 hours per week attending live sessions and reviewing course materials, discussions, and assignments.
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Will the sessions be recorded?
Yes, and you will have access to the recording after every session. We encourage you to make time in your schedule to attend all sessions live, if possible, and make the most of them.
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What is the cost to take this course?
We have pricing tiers for Humane Canada members, Humane Canada associates and the general public.
- Humane Canada members: $595
- Humane Canada associates: $695
- General: $795
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Can my organization pay for my registration?
Yes. Many participants register through their organization’s professional development budget.
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Will I receive a certificate?
Yes. Participants who complete all course requirements will receive a certificate of completion.
This certificate may be applied toward the Certified Animal Welfare Professional (CAWP) designation.
Ready When You Are
Emergency Management, Risk and Compliance
Prepare for risk. Respond with confidence. Build organizational resilience.
Jan 5 – Feb 16, 2027
Tuesdays
1 - 4 p.m. ET (10 a.m. - 1 p.m. PT)
21 Hours
7 Live Sessions
Enroll in Module 3 →
Choose the Humane Canada Member, Associate or Non-Member rate that applies to you.
Thank you for your interest in this course
We will review your eligibility form and contact you once the review is complete.
Leading People is part of Humane Canada’s evolving professional development program and is expected to form one module within the upcoming Certified Animal Welfare Professional (CAWP) designation or certificate pathway.
Have a question or need more info about this course? Email: Kathrin Delutis at [email protected].
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