Wildlife trust searches for new CEO

Next year will make 100 years since the birth of the trust’s visionary founder

A wildlife conservation trust in Jersey is looking for a new chief executive officer (CEO).

Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust said next year will mark 100 years since the birth of the trust’s founder, Gerald Durrell, and a new CEO would lead the trust into the "exciting next chapter".

It comes after Dr Lesley Dickie resigned from the position last year.

The trust, which operates Jersey Zoo, said Rebecca Brewer, previously director of finance and commercial, had been acting as Interim-CEO since the end of 2023.

Gerald Durrell founded Jersey Zoo in 1959

'Global conservation'

Chair Matthew Hatchwell said Durrell had grown from a small zoo to a "global conservation".

"As pressures on the natural world increase, the role of organisations like Durrell has never been more important," he said.

The trust said 2025 would see the culmination of Durrell’s "Rewild our World" strategy and the formulation of "an impactful, ambitious, and inspiring plan to guide the trust through the next 10 years of its journey".

It said it was also looking to elect four trustee to its board later in the year.

Chair of Durrell’s governance committee Richard Daggett said: "We are specifically looking for trustees who have significant experience in fundraising and philanthropy, zoo management, conservation science and training or experience in professional directorships and investments."

The deadline for applications is 1 September 2024, the trust said.