MEET THE HSBC LEADERSHIP TEAM
Hello, it's nice to meet you.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Rachel FItzgerald
Rachel began her career in animal welfare in 2005 and has since built a comprehensive and diverse background spanning direct animal care, brick-and-mortar shelter operations, emergency shelter management, veterinary and shelter medical support, consultation, and large-scale disaster response.
For eight years, Rachel served as a Senior Animal Rescue Responder on the Global Animal Rescue Team of a national animal welfare organization. In this role, she provided expert support for large-scale cruelty and disaster response efforts across the United States and abroad. She is internationally certified in animal rescue and disaster response, and has extensive hands-on experience working with wildlife, domestic and farm animals, as well as exotic species. Her work has included aiding survivors of puppy mills, meat farms, cruelty and neglect cases, hoarding situations, animal fighting operations, laboratory research, and animals exploited by the entertainment industry.
From 2020 to 2025, Rachel served as President of the Board of Directors for the Humane Society of Barron County, offering strategic guidance during a period of operational strengthening. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Wisconsin Federated Humane Societies. Beyond her formal roles, Rachel volunteers with multiple state and national emergency animal rescue organizations, as well as a raptor rescue.
She holds a Master of Animal Law from Lewis & Clark Law School and a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership with specializations in Emergency Management and Criminal Forensics from Colorado State University. Additionally she is a certified Animal Control Officer, and Animal Cruelty Investigator.
