Shareen Knowlton is chief strategy & engagement officer for Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, Rhode Island. In addition, she has made significant contributions to the larger zoo and aquarium community through her work with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ professional development committee, ethics board and conservation education committee. Additionally, she serves as an instructor for AZA’s conservation learning courses.
“Having worked on her team at Roger Williams Park Zoo and alongside her in various roles with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), I am ever inspired by the ways in which her strategic, empathetic, and visionary approach can transform both individuals and systems,” said one person who nominated Knowlton.
“In all cases, Shareen is driven by her belief in the unparalleled role that zoos and aquariums play in influencing communities to care for wildlife, wild places, and their fellow human beings, and actively seeks opportunities to pursue greater good. It is in the combination of Shareen’s skillful leadership, authenticity, resilience, passion, and strategic vision that she is a catalyst for change, shaping a progressive future for zoos and aquariums.”
Shareen Knowlton recently collaborated with a number of colleagues and partners on a research project to investigate the best methods for co-designing conservation programmes with community members to maximise the conservation impact and address the various needs of impacted communities.