Immotion, the global leader in immersive edutainment, is celebrating the appointment of Élio Vicente as its partnership director for the European market.
Vicente’s significant expertise in marine biology, as well as a notable background in environmental education and scientific leadership, make him a significant addition to the Immotion team.
Environmental & marine conservation
Vicente’s career in marine biology began in 1991, when he joined Zoomarine, a leader in entertainment and conservation which has repeatedly been named the “best entertainment company” in Portugal, most recently in 2023. He joined Zoomarine two weeks before the company’s official launch, exhibiting his commitment and early enthusiasm for the industry.
He has served in various roles at Zoomarine, including educator, head of education, head of science and education, zoological director, and director of science. Vicente was the director of institutional relations from 2013 to 2023, and director of conservation from 2021 to 2023. He has been director of Porto d’Abrigo, the ground-breaking rehabilitation centre for stranded and confiscated aquatic specimens, since 2002.
Vicente represented Zoomarine in a variety of national and international organisations, including the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA), where he served on the Species Committee for the Bottlenose dolphin. He also collaborated with organisations such as the Algarve Anima, Algarve Tourism Agency (ATA), and Algarve Tourism Board (RTA), demonstrating his dedication to both maritime conservation and the promotion of the Algarve region.
He was appointed the official spokesperson for Zoomarine in 1997 thanks to his impressive communication skills and public speaking ability. Vicente has made a vast number of contributions to newspapers, radio, and television over the past 25 years, providing live commentary on prime-time newscasts around the country. In this, he has played a crucial role in increasing public awareness of environmental and marine conservation issues.
Services to the sector
Vicente has worked on a range of environmental projects, including a sustainability initiative which reused human wastewater for a new botanical garden and greenhouse. This project was internationally recognized by the European Commission as a leading example of effective and collaborative teamwork around a special cause.
Other environmental projects have included “Operação Montanha Verde,” which involved 7,000 volunteers and resulted in the planting of over 90,000 trees in the Algarve. He also led “Operação Praia Limpa,” in which over 1,100 volunteers helped to remove 17,500 pounds of marine debris.
In addition, Vicente has written the foreword to five books, including a scientific edition by the University of Algarve on the unique ecological habitat of Ria Formosa. He has also contributed to “The Marine Mammal Contribution – A Path with a Past and a Future” for the European Association for Aquatic Mammals (EAAM). Vicente is currently a guest lecturer at the University of Bologna in Italy and one of 30 mentors at the University of Algarve in Portugal (both of which are on a pro bono basis).
Vicente has received several significant honours in acknowledgement of his services to the sector, including the “2018 Alumni Award” from his alma mater, the University of Algarve, one of the highest accolades in the Portuguese Academy.
He was invited to join the Portuguese Biologists’ Guild, and has held several positions including board member, president of the fiscal council, and secretary of the general assembly.
Rod Findley, president, Immotion, says: “We are thrilled to welcome Élio to Immotion. His extensive experience and unwavering dedication to marine conservation and education perfectly align with our mission to provide captivating and educational immersive experiences to audiences worldwide. With Élio leading our European partnerships, we are confident in our ability to expand our reach and deliver exceptional immersive content.”
Vicente’s dedication to environmental issues, combined with his expertise in marine biology, places him as a key figure in supporting Immotion’s continued mission to produce immersive experiences that delight, educate, and inspire.
Immotion recently celebrated the launch of its Gorilla Trek VR experience at the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund’s Ellen DeGeneres Campus in Rwanda.
