Dr Brian Davis is the president and CEO of Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Georgia, US. He joined the aquarium team before its founding in 2003, initially serving as director of education until 2006 and later returning in 2010 to take on the role of vice president of education and training. In 2014, he was appointed as President and CEO of the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, before moving into his current role at Georgia Aquarium in 2018. He has also held teaching and administrative roles in Cobb County’s school system.
One of the key projects that Davis has overseen as president and CEO of Georgia Aquarium is the attraction’s expansion in 2020. This saw a major new addition to the largest aquarium in the Western hemisphere, designed to enhance the guest experience and inspire conservation efforts. The new saltwater gallery features floor-to-ceiling acrylic windows, bringing visitors closer to the animals than ever before.
Part of the mission of the expansion was to challenge the damaging mythology that persists around sharks, as Davis explained in an interview with blooloop in 2020.
“We felt like we needed to have our guests gain a better understanding of sharks. Because misconceptions tend to supersede people’s understanding of them, and of their value in the ecosystem. How could we demystify those misconceptions? And then how could we ensure our guests gain a healthy appreciation and respect for sharks?”
In September 2021, Davis was also sworn in as chair of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Board of Directors. Dan Ashe, president and CEO of AZA, said: “Brian is AZA’s first Black chair and he was central to crafting AZA’s newest promise, focused on advancing diversity, equity, access, and inclusion within the zoological profession. DEIA issues are close to his heart, and I know he will deliver on that pledge.”