With nearly two decades of animal welfare leadership, Kate Meghji joined KC Pet Project as Chief Executive Officer in May 2025.
 
Meghji comes to KC Pet Project after serving as Chief Operating Officer for the Humane Rescue Alliance in Washington, D.C., where she supported the leadership team on  Pets in Housing Amendment Act of 2024, known as “Roscoe’s Law.”  The landmark legislation makes pet ownership more accessible and affordable in D.C. by placing caps on pet-related rental fees and eliminating breed and size restrictions.
 
Previously, she served as Chief Executive Officer for the Humane Society of Vero Beach & Indian River County in Florida, where she implemented best practices in animal welfare, resulting in significant reductions in the length of stay for animals, shelter disease, and euthanasia. Meghji also directed animal rescue operations during four Florida hurricanes — including Hurricane Ian. She collaborated with the State of Florida and animal welfare groups across the country to transport thousands of shelter animals and community pets to safety. 
 
As the Executive Director of the Lawrence Humane Society in Kansas, Meghji spearheaded and completed a multi-million-dollar campaign for the construction of a state-of-the-art animal shelter and resource facility.
 
Meghji also assisted the City of Lawrence in modernizing its animal ordinances to strengthen protections for animals and improve public safety, including more comprehensive definitions for adequate animal health care, water, and shelter; replacing “habitual violator” with a stronger “Reckless Pet Owner” category carrying a five-year pet ownership ban; and formally codifying TNVR (Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return) ordinances to recognize community cats and reduce unnecessary impoundments while supporting humane population control.
 
A self-proclaimed nerd, Meghji is a passionate advocate for what she calls “data-driven compassion” to address root issues and community needs to help keep pets out of shelters — and home with their families. She especially enjoys collaborating with leading  animal welfare organizations and university shelter research programs while working closely with city leaders, businesses, and community organizations to collectively improve the lives of pets and people.
 
Born and raised in Urbana, Illinois, Meghji also lived several years with her family in France and Switzerland. Meghji holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Illinois in Urbana and a Bachelor of Science degree in molecular biology and biochemistry from Evergreen State College in Washington. She is a founding advisory board member of SPARC (Supporting People & Animal Relationships for Change) and a member of the Association for Animal Welfare Advancement.
 
As a native Midwesterner, she is happy to return to her roots. Meghji shares her life in the Kansas City metro area with her husband, daughter, and their ridiculously adorable rescue dog (Edna), two chubby guinea pigs (Axel and Milo), and a tank of colorful fish.