Zoo Aquarium Association Appoints New Executive Director

Zoo Aquarium Association Appoints New Executive Director

Taronga Conservation Society Australia would like to congratulate Chris Hibbard on his recent appointment as the Zoo Aquarium Associations Executive Director. Below is a letter from Zoo Aquarium Association (ZAA) President Karen Fifield. ZAA represents over 87 zoos, aquariums, museums and education bodies throughout Australasia, visited by over 17 million people and providing education to a further 600,000 students annually.      Dear Colleagues,It gives me great pleasure to announce that Chris Hibbard is the new Executive Director for the Zoo Aquarium Association. It was really wonderful to be able to recruit our new ED from within our zoo and aquarium community. We had a high standard of applicants but Chris’s passion for our work really set him apart. Chris comes to the role with a wealth of knowledge about our zoo and aquarium community both within our region and globally. Chris has worked in zoos in both New Zealand and Australia so he is well aware of the requirements of both countries. Chris is very excited to be in his new role and is looking forward to meeting with members and continuing to progress the Association’s excellent work in accreditation, species management and animal welfare. The professional standing of our zoo and aquarium community is very important and I believe that in Chris we have an Executive Director who will strive to continually improve our reputation, relationships and outcomes for all members.I would like to thank the Board members for all the work they have done during the recruitment process, especially those on the interview panel. We are all thrilled for Chris and I look forward to working with Chris in his new role.  Sincerely,Karen FifieldPresidentZoo and Aquarium Association