WAZA Awards
Please click on each category to expand the list of past award recipients.
Call for nomination usually starts in mid-May each year.
About the Heini Hediger Award
In 1996, WAZA established its highest award for professional excellence, named the Heini Hediger Award in honour of the Swiss biologist known as the “father of zoo biology”.
Only one individual can be honoured in any given year, and since the award criteria are lofty, it is anticipated that the award might not be given out every year.
| Past recipients of the Heini Hediger Award | Year | WAZA Conference |
| Simon Tonge, Executive Director Emeritus of Paignton Zoo, United Kingdom | 2021 | Virtual conference |
| Jörg Junhold, Director of Zoo Leipzig, Germany | 2020 | Virtual conference |
| Kris Vehrs, Former Executive Director of Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), USA | 2019 | Argentina |
| Mark Reed, Former Director of Sedgwick County Zoo, USA | 2018 | Bangkok |
| Anna Croukamp, Founder of Parque das Aves, Brazil | 2017 | Berlin |
| Rick Barongi, Former Director at Houston Zoo, USA | 2016 | Puebla |
| Lena Linden, Director at Nordens Ark, Sweden | 2015 | Al Ain |
| Anne Marie Baker, Former Director at Toledo Zoo, USA | 2014 | India |
| Miranda Stevenson, Former Executive Director of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA), UK | 2013 | USA |
| Alex Rübel, Director of Zoo Zürich, Switzerland | 2012 | Melbourne |
| Gordon McGregor Reid, Former President of WAZA | 2011 | Prague |
| Bert de Boer, National Foundation for Research in Zoological Gardens | 2010 | Cologne |
| Karen Sausman, Former Director of The Living Desert, USA | 2009 | St.Louis |
| Peter Dollinger, Former WAZA Executive Director | 2008 | Adelaide |
| Willie Labuschagne, Former Director of National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, South Africa | 2007 | Budapest |
| Gunther Nogge, Former Director of Cologne Zoo*, Germany | 2006 | Leipzig |
| Sally Walker, Secretary and Founder of Zoo Outreach Organisation | 2004 | Taipei |
| Roger Wheater OBE FRSE FIBiol, Former Director of Edinburgh Zoo, UK | 2001 | Perth |
| William Conway, Former President of the Wildlife Conservation Society, New York, USA | 1999 | Pretoria |
| Jeremy Mallinson OBE, Former Director of Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Jersey, USA | 1998 | Nagoya |
| Ulysses Seal, President Conservation Breeding Specialist Group of IUCN-SSC | 1996 | Denver |
| George Rabb, Former President of Brookfield Zoo, USA | 1996 | Denver |
About the WAZA Conservation Award
In 2016, WAZA established its highest award for institutional commitment towards conservation, named the WAZA Conservation Award.
This award is granted to an institution for an outstanding, comprehensive specific conservation programme that has clear objectives and excellent conservation outcomes.
| Past recipients of the WAZA Conservation Award | Year | WAZA Conference |
| Prague Zoo, Czech Republic | 2021 | Virtual conference |
| Georgia Aquarium, USA | 2020 | Virtual conference |
| Zoo Zürich, Switzerland | 2019 | Argentina |
| Taronga Zoo, Australia | 2018 | Bangkok |
| Monterey Bay Aquarium, USA | 2017 | Berlin |
| Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, UK | 2016 | Puebla |
About the WAZA Environmental Sustainability Award
In 2018, WAZA established its highest award for institutional commitment towards environmental sustainability, named the WAZA Environmental Sustainability Award.
This award is granted to an institution for outstanding, comprehensive environmental sustainability initiatives that advances its commitment and efforts towards environmental sustainability.
| Past recipients of the WAZA Environmental Sustainability Award | Year | WAZA Conference |
| North Carolina Zoo, USA | 2021 | Virtual conference |
| Detroit Zoological Society, USA | 2020 | Virtual conference |
| Taronga Zoo, Australia | 2019 | Argentina |
| Wellington Zoo, New Zealand | 2018 | Bangkok |
2022 WAZA Awards Call for Nomination
The 2022 Heini Hediger Award, WAZA Conservation Award, and WAZA Environmental Sustainability Award are now open for nominations.
WAZA Voting Members (Association and Institution members) are invited to nominate candidates for the three awards. Self-nominations are permitted for the WAZA Conservation and WAZA Environmental Sustainability Awards, but are not permitted for the Heini Hediger Award.
Nominators, seconders, and nominees must all be WAZA Members in good-standing. Candidates for the Heini Hediger Award must have worked or be currently working for a WAZA Institution or Association member. Past recipients of the awards cannot be nominated again for the same award.
Please contact Janet Ho at membership@waza.org to obtain the nomination forms. Nominations must be submitted on or before 15 July 2022, 23:59 CEST (GMT+2), late submissions will not be accepted.
The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) is the global alliance of regional associations, national federations, zoos and aquariums, dedicated to the care and conservation of animals and their habitats around the world.
