Wilder Voices Speaker Series Event Program

Welcome to the 2026 Wilder Voices Speaker Series

Tonight, we are proud to present Brian Keating, award-winning conservationist, alongside Dr. Gráinne McCabe, Chief Conservation Officer at the Wilder Institute.

Together, they’ll share powerful insights into the urgent need to protect wildlife and their habitats, and the impact of conservation work happening in Canada and around the world. You’ll also get to learn about the Wilder Canada Action Plan, our ten-year roadmap to protect biodiversity and build a future where wildlife and people can thrive together.

This special event brings together two passionate voices for wildlife and the natural world in an engaging discussion on the challenges and opportunities facing wildlife today and how each of us can help create One Wild Future. Thank you for joining us for this important conversation.

By being here, you’re adding your voice to a growing movement for a wilder, more resilient Canada.

Tonight's Program

6:30 PM: Doors Open

7:30 PM – 8:30 PM: Keynote: Brian Keating & Dr. Gráinne McCabe

8:40PM – 9:00 PM: Q&A

Throughout the evening you will get the opportunity to engage in some fun and interactive opportunities to learn more about our conservation efforts, including:

WildCare – With your donation, make a symbolic adoption of iconic Canadian species like the painted turtle, burrowing owl, and whooping crane, which are all at-risk.
Conservation species photo booth – Interact with select conservation species through an engaging photo booth experience, creating a memorable keepsake from the event.
Species-at-risk interactive map raffle – Test your knowledge of Canada’s species-at-risk. Every guess teaches you something and you might just walk away with a prize, all while supporting wildlife conservation with a small donation.
Biofact conservation touch table – Explore a collection of animal biofacts, offering a unique hands-on connection to wildlife.
Meet the conservation team – Discover how the Wilder Canada Action Plan is making a difference for species across Canada and learn about lesser-known local species, such as the rare curiously isolated hairstreak butterfly.
Share your conservation story – Our marketing and comms team will be capturing content throughout the event and inviting guests to share their thoughts, experiences, and passion for wildlife conservation.

Keynote Speakers

Dr. Gráinne McCabe

Chief Conservation Officer, Wilder Institute

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

Award Winning Conservationist

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.

Wilder Canada Action Plan

The Wilder Institute is answering Canada’s call to action with a bold 10-year plan, the Wilder Canada Action Plan, the largest coordinated effort for species recovery in our nation’s history.

This plan focuses on conservation translocations, the strategic movement of animals and plants to restore populations in the wild. These efforts may include reintroductions, assisted colonization, and reinforcement of existing populations, which are critical tools for recovery. In Canada, conservation translocations are recommended or under consideration for more than 40% of federally listed species-at-risk with published recovery documents. Yet, progress remains limited due to a lack of targeted implementation.

The Wilder Canada Action Plan will close this gap by delivering species-specific solutions guided by two global frameworks: the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the IUCN Global Species Action Plan. Together, these frameworks ensure measurable outcomes for species recovery while connecting Canada’s actions to international conservation goals.

Wilder Voices Event Program