Victoria brings her skills as a fundraiser and her passion for wildlife and community development to Wild Welfare. She has more than 20 years’ experience as a fundraiser for international development and wildlife conservation organisations. Prior to joining us, Victoria worked in Kenya and Namibia, raising funds for animal welfare and conservation projects. Victoria’s favourite animal is the elephant, for its intelligent and noble nature.

Sarah has spent her decade-long career in animal management, having worked in several zoos and animal sanctuaries. She has also worked in the ethical ecotourism sector and is passionate about responsible tourism. With an enthusiasm for enrichment, Sarah initially became involved with Wild Welfare by creating enrichment portfolios and volunteering as an animal welfare advisor on overseas projects. Sarah has previously sat on the Association of British and Irish Wild Animal Keepers (ABWAK) council and is an NTU Alumni Fellow, helping to encourage and inspire industry students. Sarah’s favourite animal is the wolf because she says they just feel like home.

Andy’s career began in 2015, where he played a pivotal role in establishing a marketing team at an emerging UK wildlife park. Over the following decade, he honed his skills and amassed a wealth of understanding and experience within the domestic zoo sector. His collaborations with global wildlife charities have allowed him to contribute to the development of effective messaging strategies for public outreach and deliver many successful awareness campaigns. Beyond Andy’s passion for digital content creation, his other true love is Penguins. These charming creatures certainly hold a special place in his heart because of their unique characteristics, playful behaviour and adorable appearance.

Matt Hunt has been working with wild animals for 30 years in zoos and wildlife parks, focusing on combatting the illegal wildlife trade for the last 20 years. UK-born Matt lives in Southeast Asia, where as chief executive of wildlife-protection charity Free the Bears, he oversees multiple projects and partnerships across Asia, work that includes the rescue, care, and rehabilitation of hundreds of bears from the illegal wildlife trade and bear bile farms.
In 2018, Matt received San Diego Zoo Global’s Conservation in Action medal, he is a founding board member of both Wildlife Asia and Wild Animal Rescue Network Asia (WARN) and active member of the IUCN SSC Bear Specialist Group.
A staunch advocate for ‘good’ zoos and critic of ‘bad’ zoos, Matt believes that zoos globally have an increasingly important role to play in supporting long-term conservation strategies for wildlife in Southeast Asia.

Paloma is the Technical Director of Parque Das Aves, overseeing the institutional transformation to focus on birds of the Atlantic Rainforest. Amongst her many accolades, she has a masters degree in Veterinary Science from the Animal Welfare Laboratory of the Federal University of Paraná and is a member of WAZA’s Welfare Committee. Paloma is co-founder of the Centre for Conservation of Atlantic Rainforest Birds, a member of the IUCN SSC, the Claravis Institute, and established the Wild Fauna Support Centre (CAFS) “Aves da Mata Atlântica.” Acting for more than 20 years in zoos, Paloma is a specialist in animal behaviour and welfare and her principal passions are overseeing high standards of welfare and integrated conservation of ex-situ populations of threatened species.

Tamsin Cracknell worked with horses for 10 years and represented Great Britain while competing at advanced level dressage and eventing, as well as teaching both disciplines and in producing young horses. A career change saw Tamsin move into insurance where she currently works in underwriting within the Lloyd’s market for a substantial syndicate that underwrites global property portfolios.

Kris Vehrs spent more than 40 years playing a key role in the growth and modernisation of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), retiring as executive director in 2020. Kris’ work helped shape the complex regulations impacting zoos and aquariums in the USA and involved representing AZA before CITES, U.S. Congress, federal agencies, and government bodies.
Kris is current CEO of OAI Inc., a firm specialising in fisheries, oceans and marine wildlife issues. She holds both bachelor and law degrees, is a Species360 and WAZA board member and has advised the Latin American Zoo and Aquarium Association, the Mexican Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and the South Asia Zoo Association for Regional Cooperation, among others.
Kris received the Zoological Society of London’s Award for Outstanding Service to the Zoo Community; AZA’s highest recognition, the Marlin R. Perkins Award for Professional Excellence; and WAZA’s Heini Hediger Award – its highest professional recognition.

Alejandro is President and CEO of the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, USA. He is actively exploring the evolving role of zoos and aquariums in the 21st century, how zoos reconnect people with animals and drive pro-environmental behaviours. Previously, he worked at the Chicago Zoological Society, National Audubon Society and Wildlife Conservation Society in New York. He was on the AZA Board of Directors and is currently on the WAZA Council, and chair of the Ethics and Animal Welfare Committee. He has worked on protected areas and conservation programs with the US Agency for International Development, the Global Environmental Fund, the World Bank, and the European Union. His publications include books, chapters, popular and scientific articles on ecology, animal behaviour, biodiversity policy and visitor studies.

Jo is the Chief Executive at the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA), working with their over 130 members to drive excellence in animal welfare, conservation, education and research and to advocate for the positive roles and societal value of good zoos and aquariums. Previously she was Chief Executive of the National Biodiversity Network, following over a decade as a researcher into how the behaviour of wildlife affects the spread of disease. She is also Co-chair of the IUCN NCUK Species Survival Working Group and an active participant of both the European and World Associations of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA & WAZA) National Association Committees.

Kumar joined the Singapore Zoological Gardens as a volunteer and truly enjoyed working with animals. He started his career as an animal keeper and has since been with the organization for over four decades. He progressed to become the Director or Animal Care, Wildlife Reserves Singapore, (Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, Bird Park and the River Wonders) now known as Mandai Wildlife Group (MWG). Kumar helped to develop concept and design for the Night Safari and operated as the general manager. He was also instrumental in driving initiatives for MWG to ascertain Animal Welfare Accreditation by Zoos and Aquarium Association Australia (ZAA). Currently, as Vice President, Special Projects and Development, Kumar is part of the design team in developing the new parks in MWG. He also sits on the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) and Southeast Asian Association of Zoos and Aquariums (SEAZA) Membership Committees.

Dr Sally Sherwen is an inter-disciplinary scientist and the Director of Wildlife Conservation and Science at Zoos Victoria (the Conservation Organisation charged with the operation of Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Open Range Zoo, Kyabram Fauna Park and Healesville Sanctuary in Australia). Sally leads a dynamic team of scientists and specialists that develop and deliver strategic programs in conservation, animal welfare, education and environmental sustainability. Sally has a PhD in Animal Welfare Science and in previous roles has established an evidence-based research program in animal behaviour and welfare science, developed and implemented an institutional welfare assessment tool to advance welfare standards and designed and ran collaborative training courses with several NGOs for industry professionals and community groups.

Judy is passionate about the oceans. She started her career with the South African Association for Marine Biological Research (SAAMBR) in Durban in 1992, where she held various roles including – Director of Education, uShaka Sea World Director, the first woman Chief Executive Officer of SAAMBR and Conservation Strategist. She is now Executive – Strategic Projects with the Two Oceans Aquarium Education Foundation in Cape Town. She holds a master’s degree in Ichthyology, a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and PhD in Culture and Environmental Learning from the University of Queensland in Australia. She is President Elect of the International Zoo Educators Association (IZE) and serves on the Council of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).

Dr. Stephan Hering-Hagenbeck is a distinguished zoologist and the sole managing director of Tiergarten Schönbrunn (Austria), the world’s oldest zoo. His early life in South Africa sparked a profound interest in nature and animals, which he pursued through formal education in biology at prestigious institutions in Berlin and Paris. His doctoral research focused on the parasitic fauna of wild reptiles in South Africa. In 2015, he founded a planning and architecture firm specialising in zoo design, emphasising the integration of natural habitats into animal enclosures. Hering-Hagenbeck is actively involved in various zoological associations, serving as president of the Austrian Zoo Organisation and holding positions within international conservation groups. His leadership is characterised by a commitment to animal welfare and enhancing visitor experiences at zoos globally.