John Racanelli joined the National Aquarium in 2011. This organisation works to “inspire conservation of the world’s aquatic treasures”. To this end, it runs a world-class attraction in Baltimore, US, which welcomes 1.2 million visitors each year, along with a worldwide conservation programme. Under Racanelli’s leadership, the National Aquarium is also working to establish a groundbreaking oceanside dolphin sanctuary.
Speaking to blooloop shortly after his appointment, Racanelli explained the importance of marine conservation, saying, “Earth is an ocean planet. The ocean is our life support system. Every four out of five breaths you take are coming to you courtesy of the phytoplankton in the ocean. It generates significantly more oxygen than all the rainforests and land masses combined.”
Before joining the National Aquarium, Racanelli spent ten years at Racanelli Partners, Inc., a consulting firm which he founded to advise nonprofit leaders around the world. In this work, he supported organisations such as the Sylvia Earle Alliance/Mission Blue, International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Surfrider Foundation, and worked with Dr Sylvia Earle to launch Google Ocean, which brought the ocean to Google Earth.
He has extensive experience in aquaria across the US, and was formerly CEO at the Florida Aquarium in Tampa, vice president of marketing and development at Monterey Bay Aquarium, and worked as a diver and aquarist while at college. He told blooloop: “ “I never really contemplated any kind of profession that didn’t involve the ocean and conservation.”
One person who nominated Racanelli said: “In his roles, John has a clear focus on the future and how aquariums need to develop to fulfil their missions in this changing world. His unique style is considered and eloquent, although with purpose and clarity. Always willing to help and share learnings to create experiences that effectively engage and inspire new generations of ‘hopeful conservationists’.”