Welcoming New Trustees to the Species360 Board
- By Taylor Johnson
Species360 is pleased to welcome several new members to our Board of Trustees, reflecting the global diversity and expertise of our member community.
Species360 is pleased to welcome several new members to our Board of Trustees, reflecting the global diversity and expertise of our member community. Additionally, we are pleased to welcome Bjarne Klausen, from Odense Zoo, Denmark as the new Chair of the Board.
As an international non-profit organization, Species360 is led by a volunteer Board of Trustees representing our members and partners from around the world. The Board provides governance, strategic oversight, and guidance to support Species360’s mission of facilitating international collaboration through shared data for animal care, conservation, and research.
The newest trustees bring deep experience across zoological institutions, conservation science, wildlife health, public administration, and international collaboration.
Below are our newest Trustees.Â
Institutional Trustees
Mara Cristina Marques
São Paulo Zoo | Brazil
Mara Cristina Marques has worked as a biologist at São Paulo Zoo since 1992 and currently serves in the institution’s Conservation and Research Department. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences with a specialization in Zoology from São Judas Tadeu University.
Over her career, Mara has held leadership roles including Curator of Mammals and General Curator, and she served as President of the São Paulo Society of Zoos from 2013 to 2019. She currently serves as President of the Brazilian Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZAB).
Mara is the International Studbook Keeper for lion tamarins, working in collaboration with Brazil’s federal conservation agency ICMBio, and acts as a management consultant for ex situ conservation programs supporting lion tamarin species.
Nadine Lamberski, DVM, DACZM
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance | USA
Dr. Nadine Lamberski is Chief Conservation and Wildlife Health Officer for the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, where she leads teams of conservation scientists, nutritionists, and veterinary professionals advancing global conservation efforts.
A graduate of the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Lamberski completed additional training at the University of Tennessee and the University of California, Davis. She joined the San Diego Zoo Safari Park veterinary team in 2001 and became part of SDZWA’s executive leadership team in 2016.
Her career has focused on the health and welfare of zoological species, with contributions to more than 100 scientific publications. Her field experience includes work with black-footed cats in southern Africa, thick-billed parrots in northern Mexico, desert tortoises in the southwestern United States, and collaborative conservation efforts at the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary in Kenya.
Heather Barron, DVM, DACZM
Loggerhead Marinelife Center | USA
Dr. Heather Barron serves as Chief Science Officer and Veterinarian at Loggerhead Marinelife Center, overseeing both a resident aquatic population and thousands of wildlife rehabilitation cases each year.
She received residency training in zoological medicine and was later tenured faculty at the University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Her international experience includes serving as Professor and Department Head of Clinical Medicine at St. Matthew’s University in the Cayman Islands, where she also provided veterinary care for the Cayman Turtle Farm and Cayman Wildlife Rescue.
Dr. Barron later spent more than a decade as Medical and Research Director at the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) in Florida. Her work focuses on the intersection of wildlife, human, and environmental health, and she has trained more than 60 veterinary interns now working across the global field of zoological medicine. She has worked with ZIMS and other data systems throughout her career and is a strong advocate for collaborative, One Health approaches.
Malcolm Fitzpatrick
Zoological Society of London | United Kingdom
Malcolm Fitzpatrick is Chief Zoological Officer at the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), where he is responsible for advancing ZSL’s role as a global leader in species care, science, and conservation impact.
With more than 35 years of experience in zoos, Malcolm plays an active role in international population management and conservation governance.
His professional roles include serving on the EAZA Council, acting as WAZA Sumatran Tiger Global Species Management Plan (GSMP) Convenor, participating in Action Indonesia GSMP, and contributing to several EAZA Species Committees and TAGs.
He is also an advisor to multiple conservation initiatives, including cheetah translocation, tamaraw metapopulation recovery, and the IUCN SSC Extinct in the Wild Action Partnership. Malcolm is deeply involved in training conservation professionals across ex situ and in situ programs and has published extensively on animal care and welfare.
External Trustee
Vera Westphal
Milwaukee County Zoo | USA
Vera Westphal is Deputy Zoo Director for Administration, Finance, and Operations at the Milwaukee County Zoo, where she oversees fiscal and operational functions for an organization with a $24 million annual budget and more than 450 staff.
Her leadership has supported major initiatives including securing federal funding, implementing dynamic pricing models, and advancing sustainability and conservation programs. Vera brings extensive governance experience, having served as Interim Zoo Executive Director, Chair of the Milwaukee County Pension Board Audit Committee, and in multiple civic and professional leadership roles.
She holds a B.A. in Business Management and Communications from Concordia University and is deeply committed to public service, organizational stewardship, and mission-driven leadership.
Association Trustee
French Association of Zoological Parks (AFdPZ)
Represented by Cécile Erny | France
Cécile Erny has served as Director of the French Association of Zoological Parks (AFdPZ) since 2009, overseeing a network of more than 100 zoological institutions and leading conservation, advocacy, and education initiatives at national and European levels.
In 2024, she was appointed Head of the Seized Wildlife Assistance Service (SAASS) under the French Ministry of Ecology, coordinating the placement of live seized animals. In 2025, she became Director of IUCN CSS France, the Species Survival Center for French species.
Cécile represents France in international conservation forums including EAZA, WAZA, IUCN, CITES, the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, and the European Commission. She holds a Master’s degree in Biodiversity Conservation from the University of Paris VI, and brings deep expertise in conservation policy, species management, and international collaboration.
2026 Board Officers
Species360 would like to extend sincere thanks to Nicola Craddock (Zoo and Aquarium Association Australasia – ZAA) for her dedicated service and leadership as Chair. Nicola’s steady guidance and commitment to collaboration have helped strengthen Species360’s governance, and we are grateful that she will continue to support the organization in her role as Past Chair.
We are also pleased to welcome the 2026 Board Officers, who bring a wide range of experience and global perspective to their leadership roles:
- Chair: Bjarne Klausen
- Vice Chair: Leigh Clayton
- Treasurer: Mike Adkesson
- Secretary: Kazu Takami
- Past Chair: Nicola Craddock
Together, this leadership team will support the Board of Trustees in guiding Species360’s strategic direction and ensuring the organization continues to serve its global membership with transparency, integrity, and purpose.
Strengthening Global Governance
The Species360 Board of Trustees reflects the breadth of expertise and geographic reach of our membership.
Together, these trustees help guide Species360’s strategic direction and ensure that our work continues to support collaboration, data integrity, and conservation impact worldwide.
We are grateful for their willingness to serve and contribute their experience on behalf of the global Species360 community.
Learn more
See the full list of Species360 Board of Trustees members, here.Â
