 Chief executive officer – David Field
David returned to RZSS in 2020 having been a Section Moderator at Edinburgh Zoo early in his career. His previous roles include Chief Executive of the Zoological Society of East Anglia, Zoological Director of the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), Curator of ZSL Whipsnade Zoo and Assistant Director of Dublin Zoo. As an Honorary Professor of the Royal Veterinary College, David has served as Chair of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquaria (BIAZA) and is the current President of the Association of British and Irish Wild Animal Keepers (ABWAK), Vice President of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), chairs the WAZA Population Management Committee and represents WAZA as the Reverse the Red Co-Chair.
Contact info@rzss.org.uk
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 Director of engagement and business development – Ben Supple
Responsible for all public-facing activities, including marketing, communications, discovery and learning, membership and fundraising, Ben began his career as a journalist with D.C. Thomson and spent over a decade with the Scottish SPCA before joining the Scottish Ambulance Service. A chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, Ben has served on the board of Keep Scotland Beautiful and on the Diabetes Scotland Advisory Council.
Contact comms@rzss.org.uk
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 Director of finance and resources – James Stewart
Responsible for all financial accounting and management activities such as financial forecasting and accounts, VAT, corporate governance, risk assessment, payroll, insurance, pensions administration, IT and property and estates.
Contact finance@rzss.org.uk
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 Director of people and culture – Mark Haddow
Mark leads our Human Resources department in providing a high quality, proactive and effective service that is tailored to meet the current, emerging and future needs of the Society. Joining in 2019 as one of our HR Business Partners, Mark supported various areas within the organisation prior to moving into the role of Head of HR in December 2020. Mark's career spans across the public, private and charitably sectors, spending a good proportion of his working career in Aberdeen prior to returning home to the Edinburgh area.
Contact hrteam@rzss.org.uk
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 Head of living collections – Darren McGarry
Darren is responsible for all the animal species in our care at Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park, including husbandry, health management, nutrition and veterinary services. Originally employed on a youth training scheme, Darren has been with RZSS since 1986, working with birds, primates and hoofstock, and was head hoofstock keeper for 10 years before becoming animal collection manager, followed by head of animals, and then Head of Living Collections in 2013.
Contact info@rzss.org.uk |
 Head of conservation and science programmes – Dr Helen Senn
Helen manages the RZSS conservation department and has worked at RZSS since 2011, with her roles including managing the RZSS WildGenes lab. A specialist in conservation genetics, Helen works on species conservation strategies and action plans across the globe.
Contact conservation@rzss.org.uk
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 Head of veterinary services – Prof. Simon Girling
Simon has been head of veterinary services at RZSS since 2009. He has been Recognised by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons as a Specialist in Zoo and Wildlife Medicine since 2003 and the European Board of Veterinary Specialisation as a European Veterinary Specialist in Zoo Health Management since the creation of the discipline in 2012. He is immediate Past President of the European College of Zoological Medicine, a previous President of the British Veterinary Zoological Society and sits on and Chairs a number of UK and Scottish Government Committees regarding animal welfare of domestic, wild and captive wild animals.
Contact info@rzss.org.uk
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 Head of retail – Laura Paterson
Laura is responsible for retail at Edinburgh Zoo, Highland Wildlife Park and online for RZSS. Before becoming head of retail, Laura was business operations and retail manager for Edinburgh Zoo and joined in August 2017. She started her retail career in H. Samuels before moving onto Boots where she trained as a fragrance consultant, dispenser and finally assistant store manager. Before joining RZSS, Laura worked as retail and duty manager for The Real Mary King’s Close.
Contact info@rzss.org.uk
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 Head of marketing and sales – Lisa Robshaw
Lisa is responsible for marketing, events, membership and sales within RZSS, and has a 20 year career within the tourism and hospitality industry. She joined RZSS in 2019, having spent time at Historic Environment Scotland, Continuum Attractions and Visit Britain, and joined the board of the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions in late 2022.
Contact marketing@rzss.org.uk
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 Head of communications and public affairs - Alan Bannon
Having spent most of his career in Scottish public sector communications, Alan joined the organisation in September 2023 to head up a team of communications specialists working to raise the profile of RZSS as Scotland’s leading wildlife conservation charity. The team works to promote Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park as our gateways to nature and as world-class visitor attractions, highlight RZSS’s role as an international leader in conservation and science, grow brand awareness, income and support, and engage with stakeholders to help influence or assist with relevant policy and legislation.
Contact: comms@rzss.org.uk
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 Head of information technology – Ade Worley
Ade is responsible for strategically developing, implementing and maintaining our charity's IT estate, covering areas such as applications, infrastructure and communications architecture, service delivery and information/data security. Ade joined RZSS in February 2017 as IT manager and became our head of IT in May 2018. Prior to this he worked for the RSSPCC as their IT Manager for 14 years. He has extensive knowledge of the Scottish charity sector, and the challenges of delivering IT service within constrained budgets and resources.
Contact info@rzss.org.uk
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Head of estates and development
Responsible for developing, directing and leading a full facilities management programme and capital development programme in support of site masterplans. Ensuring the maintenance, development and environmental sustainability of infrastructure and assets across the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS).
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General manager - Highland Wildlife Park
Responsible for co-ordinating, managing and delivering the day-to-day operations of Highland Wildlife Park as an accessible, exciting, and secure visitor attraction, ensuring five-star customer service standards.
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