Liza Dadone

Liza Dadone is the founder of Giraffe Veterinary Services, PLLC, and a veterinary advisor for giraffe for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). She has worked with zoo and conservation organisations, including through fieldwork involving anaesthesia, health issues, community engagement and translocations and reintroductions of wild giraffe.

Dadone spent 12 years at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, where she served as head veterinarian and later vice president. She specialises in giraffe neonate care, lameness management, emergency medicine and rescue techniques. She co-founded the Giraffe Plasma Bank with Dr Priya Bapodra-Villaverde, which helps provide plasma for giraffe calves, and co-led the AZA’s Giraffe SAFE conservation programme for six years.

She is a member of the IUCN Giraffe and Okapi Specialist Group and has contributed to research on anaesthesia, lameness and preventive medicine. Dadone also presents nationally and internationally on giraffe health and conservation.

One person who nominated Dadone said: "What makes Dr Dadone especially influential is her ability to connect research, clinical practice, husbandry, professional training, and conservation. She helps teams translate evidence into safer procedures, earlier recognition of disease, more proactive care, and stronger collaboration."