BIAZA Newsletter | Winter 2017 | Issue 13

office news from the Dear Members

Painted Dogs Cover Story Protecting the pack

Cover photo: Yorkshire

Wildlife Park

Our Vision - To be a powerful force in the care and conservation of the natural world Our Mission - BIAZA is a professional organisation which represents its members and promotes the values of good zoos and aquariums. It leads and supports its members to: • inspire people to help conserve the natural world • participate in effective cooperative conservation programmes • deliver the highest quality environmental education, training and research • achieve the highest standards of animal care and welfare in zoos, aquariums and in the wild BIAZA is a member of :

I see the first CEO’s letter in the New Year as an opportunity to look ahead to the coming year and try to highlight how we will move forward. However, I am, like many others, still feeling a little bit mystified by the events of 2016 and how to respond to them. Certainly 2016 was a year of startling outcomes to events that may greatly shape our futures, some of which have left people feeling uncomfortable and uncertain.

Traditionally in times of uncertainty, many people tend to stick to what they know; we do not have the luxury of resting on our laurels. The ripples of the events of 2016 will certainly affect the workload in the BIAZA office, and will have knock-on effects for our committees and our members. But let us just take some time to remember a couple of key achievements. 2016 saw the creation of the world’s two biggest marine reserves. Papahanaumokuakea in Hawaii was announced as the world’s largest marine reserve in September but only held the title for a short time before the Antarctic Marine Reserve was announced in October. One of the key issues to remember with the Antarctic reserve is that this was brought about by cooperation between multiple stakeholders and governments. An example of how, in a year where there were major divisive events, achievements can still be made through cooperation. 2016 was also BIAZA’s 50th Anniversary year. We feel that we have celebrated our achievements and those of our members well. But now is the time to look forward to greater and better things. We are uncertain of what exactly will be the challenges in 2017, leading on from the events in 2016 but we do know that we need to be brave and adventurous and ensure that we have the ability to adapt to the possible changes ahead of us. To begin with the Association is looking to bring online a number of changes with regards to how we operate for the members (including the dreaded Annual Questionnaire) which we believe will put BIAZA in a strong position to support the membership. Finally, I would like to start 2017 by welcoming our newest members SeaLife Adventure (Full member), Ardmore Open Farm (Provisional member), Noah’s Ark (Provisional member) and AWCP Gibraltar (Provisional and our first British Overseas Territory member). A big welcome too to our new Corporate Associates Kay Elliot Architects, Medimark, and Riverside Garden Centre, Ruth Smith who has joined us as a Basic Associate, and our newest Educational Associate member SGS College.

European Association of Zoos and Aquaria EAZA

Global Information Serving

World Association of Zoos and Aquariums WAZA

International Union for the Conservation of Nature IUCN

Conservation Breeding Specialist

Conservation SPECIES 360

Group CBSG

Council

Officers: Chair: Rebecca Willers, Shepreth Wildlife Park Vice-Chair: Sean McKeown, Fota Wildlife Park • Treasurer: Mike Bird Committee Chairs: Dave Naish, Bristol Zoo Gardens (Learning & Volunteering Committee) Scott Wilson, Chester Zoo (Field Programmes Committee) Jessica Harley, Tayto Park (Research Committee) Nic Dunn, Shaldon Wildlife Trust (Living Collections Committee) Bryan Carroll, Bristol Zoo Gardens (Membership & Licensing Committee) Members: Stewart Muir, SWEP Newquay Zoo • Douglas Richardson, RZSS Highland Wildlife Park • Mark Pilgrim, Chester Zoo • Feike Molenaar, BVA Representative • Sarah Forsyth, Colchester Zoo • Mark Challis, Belfast Zoo • Lynn Whitnall, Paradise Wildlife Park and Wildlife Heritage Foundation • Matthew Ford, Associate Representative • Gary Batters, ZSEA Banham Zoo and Africa Alive! • Claire Rugg, SWEP Living Coasts Katy Duke, The Deep • Charlotte MacDonald, Twycross Zoo

Office

Kirsten Pullen CEO • Nicky Needham Programmes and Policy Manager Zoe Williamson Communications and Membership Manager Lucia Pettifer-Hansen Communications and Membership Officer Janice Chandler Financial Controller BIAZA NEWS is a quarterly publication for BIAZA. Submissions for BIAZA NEWS are welcome from all members of BIAZA, and should be sent, preferably by email, to admin@biaza.org.uk

Dr Kirsten Pullen CEO

BIAZA is a charitable company limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales, Number 6789783. Registered Office Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY. Registered Charity number: 1128168

2 www.biaza.org.uk

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