Susana Acle Olivo
Director of Veterinary and Research
Bioparc Acuario de Gijón
Susana Acle Olivo is director of biology, veterinary medicine, and research at Bioparc Acuario de Gijón, an aquarium in Asturias, Spain.
She has been at the institution for more than two decades and served as head of veterinary medicine and research before being promoted in 2024.
Acle Olivo was responsible for preparing Bioparc Acuario de Gijón for admission to the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA) in 2025.
Her duties also include leading the biology department’s internship programme and overseeing agreements with official research institutions worldwide.
Further demonstrating her commitment to research and education, Acle Olivo recently earned a PhD in Chemical, Environmental and Bio-food Engineering from the Universidad de Oviedo.
She also co-directs and teaches extension courses in Marine Environment Conservation and Aquarium Management at Universidad de Oviedo.
Acle Olivo has carried out important studies on the impact of microplastics in the marine environment.
She created CRAMA, the region's first rescue and rehabilitation centre for marine animals. It cares for endangered species such as turtles and seals.
Additionally, she is a vital champion for the zoo and aquarium sector, both through her political and social advocacy and appearances as a prominent public figure.
“Her continuous contributions across public advocacy, mass media communication, international diplomacy, and critical field science make her a vital driver of change, proving the irreplaceable socio-environmental value of 21st-century urban aquariums,” says one nominator.
