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Past President

Chris Peters
Rotterdam Zoo, Netherlands
c.peters@rotterdamzoo.nl

Rotterdam Zoo
P.O. Box 532
3000 A.M. Rotterdam, Netherlands
Tel: 31 10 4431430
Fax: 31 10 4431443

Chris Peters has been an education officer at Rotterdam Zoo, The Netherlands for the past 27 years.  Peters finished his high school with a specialization in biology.  He started his career at Rotterdam Zoo as the founder of the Blijdorp’s Information System (BIS).  This system included all kinds of information about zoo animals.  Because of his knowledge built up through BIS, he was asked to join the education department in 1982.  Since that time Peters has been involved in a wide range of educational activities, such as designing education programs, coordinating the creation/production of all zoo signage and providing educational input into the design and production of new exhibits.

In 1982 Peters joined for the first time an IZE Conference.  He was so impressed and touched by the stimulating contacts with educators from all over the world that in 1993 he sought greater involvement with the IZE organization.  Thanks to support from the Dutch government Department of Foreign Affairs, Peters was able to invite three educators from developing countries to join the IZE Conference 1996 in Copenhagen.  During that conference Peters was elected as the IZE Regional Representative for Europe/Africa/Middle-East.  On his initiative the successful African Zoo and Reserves Educators Networks (AZOREN) was set up.  Nowadays AZOREN already has organized three regional conferences and is one of the best functioning education networks in Africa.  The IZE membership in Peters’ own region increased by 35% during his tenure as regional representative.

Peters is also an active member of the Education Contact Group of the Dutch Zoo Federation, the Education and Exhibit Design Committee of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria, and because of his function in IZE, he is also active during the annual meetings of the World Association of Zoos and Aquaria.

Peters has been working to encourage zoo and reserve conservation educators from all over the world to join the IZE, because only by working together can we realize the dream of living in harmony with nature. 

Letter from IZE Past President, Chris Peters

Dear IZE Members,

At the Business Meeting of the 18th IZE Conference 2006 I officially take over the position of IZE Past President previously held by Annette Berkovits. With great pleasure I handed over the IZE organisation to our brand new IZE President Stephen McKeown, head of the Education Department of the very supportive Chester Zoo UK.

The time when I led IZE as President was the professional highlight in my thirty year career as a zoo educator. Together with my excellent board we were able to improve the IZE organisation greatly.

Maybe the biggest professional improvement was the realisation of an IZE Central Office in Bern. Thanks to the yearly attendance of IZE board members to the WAZA Conferences, the relationship with this top zoo body was and still is very good. In 2004, they warmly accepted my request to facilitate and pay the costs of a central office. Three months later Silvia Geser was selected to start the IZE Central Office from scratch. Silvia took over the membership and financial administration from Gerda Vest Hansen, who was the very dedicated IZE Treasurer for more than ten years. Silvia is now the ‘spider in the web’ for all kinds of work related to the administration, the IZE Journal, the elections, the archive, the mailings, the organisation of the IZE Conferences, etc.

Also important was the realisation of the IZE Grants for educators from developing countries to attend the IZE Conferences which are held in places like Hong Kong and Pretoria. The participation of the IZE Grant winners proved to be enriching to the conferences. Often their participation is an important starting point for a long-term relationship with colleagues from all over the world.

Of great value for IZE is the improvement of cooperation with WAZA, EAZA, ARAZPA, AZA, SEAZA, PAAZAB, AMACZOOA, ALPZA and CBSG. This all resulted in much more acceptance and respect for IZE. Today it is almost a privilege to become a board member of IZE.

In 2006 many things were organised. There was an election resulting in an almost complete board with only two vacancies, which soon will be fulfilled. About 120 participants joined the extremely successful and very well organised 18 th IZE Conference, hosted by the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa. During that conference many ideas were brought up to improve IZE even more in the coming years.

Yes, Stephen McKeown stepped in as President during an exciting time. The coming decades will be crucial for humans. When educators and other communicators are not able to create an urgent awareness that a sustainable way of life is the only key to survive…we will be extinct.

So please, give Stephen and all the IZE Board Members all your support and dedication. Only together can we save our future and the future of planet Earth.

For me it was an honour to serve you as President.

With warm regards,

Chris Peters;
IZE Past President

Chris Peters
IZE Past President
c.peters@rotterdamzoo.nl