Dr. Gráinne McCabe joined the Wilder Institute’s Calgary Zoo in May 2023 as the Chief Conservation Officer, responsible for leading strategic development for conservation translocations and community conservation initiatives worldwide. Most recently Head of Field Conservation and Science for Bristol Zoological Society – where she directed conservation work across 10 countries – Gráinne brings deep expertise in leading transformations, translocations, and capacity building. She holds a PhD in Ecological Anthropology from the University of Texas at San Antonio, a Masters in Primatology from the University of Calgary, and is a member of the IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group and IUCN BIOPAMA Regional Advisory Committee.

Brian Keating is one of Canada’s most respected naturalists, conservation advocates, and wildlife storytellers. A longtime conservation leader at the Calgary Zoo, he now serves as the Zoo’s Honorary Conservation Advisor, inspiring audiences to connect with and protect the natural world.

For more than 30 years, Brian has led wildlife expeditions to some of the planet’s most remarkable ecosystems and has shared his passion for nature through television, radio, books, and public speaking. A regular guest on CBC Radio Calgary, he speaks at approximately 40 events each year, captivating audiences with stories from his global conservation adventures.

Brian is the author of five children’s books celebrating nature and is the co-director of Great BIG Nature and founder of Going Wild. His lifelong contributions to conservation have earned numerous honours, including Reader’s Digest Canadian Hero of the Year, honorary doctorates from Brandon University and the University of Calgary, the Royal Canadian Geographical Society’s Louie Kamookak Medal, and the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal.

Brian’s engaging storytelling, deep expertise, and unwavering commitment to conservation continue to inspire people of all ages to explore, appreciate, and protect our wild world.