Myfanwy Griffith has been the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) executive director for the last decade. She is also a member of the WAZA Council and on the Board of Trustees for Species 360. She has spent the last decade leading, progressing and catalysing the positive impacts of the largest zoo and aquarium regional association.
Griffith began her career in zoos, first as a zookeeper intern and then in the education department at Chester Zoo. During this time, she discovered her passion for wildlife education and moved from zoos to animal management colleges. She joined EAZA in 2011 in the new position of EAZA Academy training officer, where she helped expand the number and range of training events and courses EAZA offers. After three years, she moved to the position of manager at the EAZA Academy.
Myfanwy Griffith took on her current role as executive director in 2014 at the helm of EAZA, a large, diverse, and complex membership organisation. Over the last decade, she has transformed EAZA by expanding roles and services to the membership, developing a new strategic roadmap, and setting new/renewed standards for conservation, education, animal health, and welfare.
One nominator said, “In terms of influence, every EAZA zoo and aquarium has benefitted from Myfanwy’s influence and commitment to progressing policies, practices, and networks over the last decade. EAZA works to serve its 400+ members spread over 47+ countries, and Myfanwy is a leader known for her authenticity, cultural sensitivity, clear communication, and ability to calmly lead the organisation and its members through any storm.
“She has been working diligently over the last few decades to transform and stir our community into a better direction, and I feel it’s time she is both celebrated and thanked for her decades of service to so many individuals and organisations that have been positively impacted and grown because of her.”