John Frawley, director/CEO of Minnesota Zoo and president at the Minnesota Zoo Foundation, Graham MacVoy, co-founder & managing director at Wake the Tiger, and Carrie O’Keefe, director of business development at EDG & culturenut will speak at greenloop: sustainability in visitor attractions conference 2024.
We will start by discussing reuse and recycling but then may well move on to sustainability challenges, accessibility, wellness and more!
Don’t miss out. Join us at greenloop on 30 April online. Tickets start at just £10pp here.
Minnesota Zoo, Wake the Tiger, and culturenut
Minnesota Zoo won the Sustainability category of the 2023 blooloop Innovation Awards with their Treetop Trail walkway project which has repurposed the Zoo’s 1979 monorail. Frawley will be discussing the project, inspired by New York’s High Line and the added accessibility and wellness aspects that connect visitors to nature. Frawley will be discussing how visits to the Treetop Trail are now a “prescription for nature” from the local children’s hospital.
Since 2016, John Frawley has served as the director of the Minnesota Zoo and president of the Minnesota Zoo Foundation, and has spent his career working in the zoo and aquarium industry. Prior to this, Frawley most recently acted as the President/CEO of bay.org, a coalition of five California institutions dedicated to promoting environmental awareness and protecting the bay area’s wildlife and waterways. He has served as a council member for the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) and an advisor to the SAFE Committee, which was developed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is working diligently to Save Animals from Extinction (SAFE).
Minnesota ZooThe mission of the Treetop Trail is to provide a year-round, welcoming, and accessible journey into nature for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities through self-guided experiences as well as special events and programming.
The Treetop Trail is a key component of the Minnesota Zoo’s future. It will reinforce the Zoo’s reputation as a trusted nature destination and is an evolution of the role that zoos play around the globe.
As a native Minnesotan, a graduate of Mankato State University and a former Minnesota Zoo zookeeper, Frawley applies his nationally recognized expertise and commitment to zoos and conservation. Frawley aims to create and deepen partnerships locally and worldwide to help ensure the Zoo fulfills its mission to save wildlife, while providing an extraordinary and inspiring family destination for all guests of the Minnesota Zoo.
Graham MacVoy is co-founder and MD of the world’s first Amazement Park, Wake The Tiger, an immersive and interactive art experience. Prior to this, Graham worked as a business consultant and site and operations director at Boomtown Fair, the UK’s largest independent festival. Graham also served as the founder & non-exec director at GMC Events International, where they provided high-calibre solutions for various projects in the event and creative industries.
Graham will be talking about the challenges of creating a ground breaking new immersive attraction with sustainable ambitions.
Wake The TigerWake The Tiger creates Amazement Parks®; immersive experiences that combine story-telling, art and purpose in a journey of discovery. We do this whilst balancing environmental and societal impact alongside profit to ensure we are part of a sustainable future.
Carrie O’Keefe is the director of business development at Exhibits Development Group and culturenut, where she has played a pivotal role for the past six years. With a robust background in fostering customer relations, O’Keefe is dedicated to ensuring unparalleled satisfaction among clients.
O’Keefe will be talking about culturenut – “a global agora, a marketplace
where cultural institutions can buy, sell and exchange idle assets”.
Beyond her professional endeavours, O’Keefe is deeply committed to promoting health and wellness, as well as showcasing her athletic prowess on the volleyball court. Her passion for her work extends into her love for the museum’s cultural community, where she finds fulfilment in contributing to its growth and enrichment.
O’Keefe’s unwavering dedication and enthusiasm make her an invaluable asset to Exhibits Development Group, culturenut, and the broader cultural landscape. Additionally, O’Keefe is an avid traveller who delights in visiting museums and engaging with clients worldwide, further enriching her professional and personal experiences.
Join us at greenloop
greenloop is a sustainability conference that has collaboration at its heart. With speakers from museums, zoos, theme parks, aquariums, and suppliers, attendees can get a cross-sector perspective of how the industry at large is tackling climate issues.
Blooloop is subsidising tickets to this year’s event to ensure that the conference is accessible to as many people as possible, with tickets starting from £10pp each. Register today to be part of the conversation around sustainability in the attractions industry.
