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Presidential Quarterly Update

By IZE President Chris Peters

September 2004

Rotterdam Zoo, Netherlands
c.peters@rotterdamzoo.nl

It is an honour for me to introduce myself as the new International Zoo Educators’ (IZE) President. Most of you know me well, but for the members who don’t, I have been an educator at the Rotterdam Zoo, the Netherlands for over 27 years. I have served IZE as the Regional Representative for Europe/Middle-East/Africa from 1996 to 2000. During that time, I separated the African region off from the European region, as these were just too big to handle as one. I also initiated the African Zoo and Reserve Educators Network. From 2000 to 2004 I focused on fundraising activities, especially for the IZE Scholarships, and over the last two years I have served as the IZE President-Elect.

During the last very successful IZE Conference in Hong Kong, I took over the lead of IZE from Annette Berkovits, now Past-President of our organization. Unfortunately, Annette was not able to attend the conference due to a complicated broken ankle. I really missed the official change of positions but mostly I missed the opportunity to express my admiration and gratitude for all Annette has done for IZE. She was an outstanding President. Annette is a great communicator, a keen analyst, an amazing organiser and a caring individual. On behalf of IZE, I would like to thank her for all she has done for the International Zoo Educators Association. It was great!

As the official elected IZE President, I feel the responsibility and trust you placed on me to be your leader for the next two years. The IZE Past-President Annette Berkovits, with all her experience, will be there for support, and IZE President-Elect Stephen McKeown, will be my excellent helper and substitute when I am not able to represent IZE. Together with the IZE Board we will do our best to lead IZE to greater heights as an organization. The focus will be on a stronger organisational structure, a continuation of educator involvement from developing countries and a closer cooperation with the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) and all the regional zoo associations, including the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA), ARAZPA ( The Australasian Regional Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria) , EAZA ( European Association of Zoos and Aquaria) , SEAZA ( South East Asian Zoos Association) and PAAZAB ( Pan African Association of Zoological Gardens, Aquaria, and Botanic Gardens.

With the help of my excellent board and the support of all of you as active members, we will have the opportunity to make a remarkable contribution to the field of conservation education and to create a worldwide awareness of the need to protect the biodiversity of the flora and fauna of our planet Earth.

Please help IZE realise this important challenge.

Chris Peters
IZE President