Bridget Coughlin

Bridget Coughlin, PhD, became president and CEO of the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Illinois, in 2016. Since then, she has overseen all operations and initiatives, leading the Aquarium in its work to inspire compassion, curiosity and conservation for the aquatic animal world.

The Aquarium dates back to 1930, cares for approximately 32,000 animals, and welcomes 1.9 million visitors each year.

In 2026, Shedd became a full IUCN institutional member, following its designation as an IUCN Center for Species Survival: Freshwater in 2023.

As the institution approaches its 100-year anniversary, Coughlin has led the launch of Shedd’s Centennial Commitment, a historic $500 million plan that reinvents guest engagement, expands digital and physical accessibility, and elevates animal care standards.

Advocating for access in all forms, she commits the organisation to providing tens of millions of dollars in free admission each year, champions a wide range of learning methods and styles, and speaks out in favour of diversity, equity, and inclusion policies in the corporate world.

Her dedication to education and conservation extends beyond the walls of the Shedd Aquarium, with urban outposts and immersive virtual learning experiences that have introduced locals and visitors alike to Shedd's aquatic life on the Great Lakes.

Speaking to blooloop in 2022, on the enduring appeal of aquariums, Coughlin said:

"There is a yearning, emotionally and cognitively, to connect with the natural; to connect with life. We are social beings. That doesn’t have to mean being social with humans. That truly means social in a broader, multi-species sense.”

Shedd Aquarium is a founding member of the Aquarium Conservation Partnership (ACP), which Coughlin has guided in its efforts to enhance the protection of marine sanctuaries and minimise plastic waste globally.

As a driving force behind this alliance, she represented 19 US aquariums at the Our Ocean Conference in Malta in 2017 as a member of the US delegation, where she pledged their commitment to end single-use plastics in all corporate activities.