Wilder Institute Welcomes Dr. Kyle Burks as New President & CEO

January 17, 2025

17 January 2025 (Calgary, AB) – Dr. Kyle Burks was announced as the new President & CEO of the Wilder Institute earlier today.

“Dr. Burks is a passionate advocate of conservation and brings with him a strong desire to evolve the Wilder Institute into world-class status,” said Board Chair Jennifer Koury. “His career uniquely combines animal management and wildlife conservation with cutting-edge business principles.”

Dr. Burks has more than 20 years of broad-based management, wildlife conservation and animal care experience.  He has held executive and senior leadership portfolios at Sacramento Zoo, Denver Zoo and The Walt Disney Company, most recently working as the Chief Operating Officer of Audubon Nature Institute in New Orleans. Dr. Burks earned his doctorate and master’s degree from Georgia Institute of Technology.

Jamie Dorgan has served as the interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer since Dr. Clément Lanthier’s retirement in June 2024.

-30-

For more information contact:

Alison Archambault
Director, Brand & Engagement
403.232.7766 | 403.919.9482 | mediarelations@wilderinstitute.org

The Wilder Institute is a global authority on wildlife conservation, reintroducing threatened species to the wild and empowering communities to conserve their own natural resources to positively impact both nature and communities. The staff and volunteers of Wilder Institute are passionate about restoring balance to wildlife and human life, together. Using innovative science, our team is working to save threatened and endangered species and return them to the wild, where our planet needs them to be. We proudly operate the Archibald Biodiversity Centre, Canada’s largest conservation breeding and research facility. Our conservation expertise is in conservation breeding and community conservation, where we collaborate with community members to positively impact both nature and local communities. Learn more at WilderInstitute.org to join us in making the world a wilder place.