Blog

“Reaching the summit is an achievement. Reaching the peak requires intention, strategy and the courage to keep climbing.” Dr. Ken Chandler, PCC, LCOP, ICMA-CM Chief Potential Officer, Quest Strategic Solutions, LLC  Using the metaphor of climbing Mount Career, I invited delegates at the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) Mid-Year Meeting 2026 to consider that […]

Stewards of Tomorrow: Building the Leaders, Organisations and Partnerships Conservation Needs Conservation is often measured in decades.  Species recovery programmes span generations. Habitat restoration can take years before results become visible. Behaviour change, policy development and education initiatives rarely happen overnight.  Yet behind every conservation success story is something less visible: people.  People who lead. People who

The Power of Connection: Reflecting on the 6th Joint TAG Meeting in Taipei Population management is often associated with data, demographics, planning, and technical expertise. Yet behind every successful programme lies something equally important: connection.  Connection between people. Connection between institutions. Connection between regions. Connection between ex situ and in situ conservation. And ultimately, connection between knowledge and action.  From 25–28 May

Strengthening Ecological Connectivity: Key Outcomes of CMS COP15 By Loïs Lelanchon, Head of Partnerships and Advocacy, WAZA The 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP15) recently concluded in Campo Grande, Brazil. As the only global convention specialising in the conservation

The Power of Persistence: Reflections on Leadership for International Women’s Day By Cynthia Whitbred-Spanoulis When I reflect on my journey as a leader in the zoo and aquarium community, I often think about the people who shaped my understanding of leadership long before I ever held a formal title. Leadership, for me, did not begin

The Making of a Milestone: Behind the Update of WAZA’s Animal Welfare Strategy 2025 By David Powell, Director of Research at Saint Louis Zoo The Challenge of Updating a Global Strategy  Comprehensive, global guidance documents are visionary, widely applicable, and frequently referenced if they are done well. At the same time, they are a lot of work

CITES CoP20 Outcomes: Strengthening Wildlife Trade Policies for a Sustainable Future By Loïs Lelanchon, Head of Partnerships and Advocacy, WAZA From 24 November to 5 December 2025, WAZA – alongside several of our Association and Institution members – took part in the 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES (CoP20) in Samarkand,

Furthering WAZA in Sustainability: Biodiversity Impact and Buying Power Author: Catherine Barton, Policy Lead Deforestation-Free Commodities and Regenerative Agriculture at Chester Zoo The story behind palm oil and zoos “What on earth is a zoo doing at a palm oil conference? Don’t you just feed animals?” These were the words I heard from a delegate

From Hope to Impact: 14 Stories of Change Author: Dr Sarah Thomas, Auckland Zoo and IZE President. (on behalf of the Editorial Team: Rosa Pons- WAZA, Lian Wilson, Zoos Victoria and Dr Judy Mann, Two Oceans Aquarium) Posted: 28 November 2025 As outlined in Social Change for Conservation: The World Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Education

A 90th WAZA Anniversary Celebration in Cali A recap of the 80th WAZA Annual Conference in Cali, Colombia and online Posted: 14 November 2025 In 2025, WAZA reached a milestone very few organisations in global conservation can claim: its 90th anniversary. To mark this extraordinary occasion, the 80th WAZA Annual Conference unfolded as a true