SEATTLE, Wash – The Seattle Aquarium announced it has selected Dr. Erin Meyer as the Aquarium’s new Chief Conservation Officer.
Meyer brings more than a decade of complex, multicultural, conservation-program leadership. She also brings vigorous experience in development and program implementation to her new role. Meyer served as the Aquarium’s Vice President of Conservation Programs and Partnerships (CPP). She originally joined the Aquarium in 2018 as Director of CPP.
“I am proud that Dr. Meyer, a proven marine conservation trailblazer will help lead our marine conservation mission in the next decade. While we face deeply concerning climate challenges to save our one ocean’s ecosystems, Dr. Meyer brings a dynamic vision to connect marine science with hearts and minds here at home and with our global partners,” said Robert Davidson, the Seattle Aquarium’s President & CEO.
The Seattle Aquarium showcases complex global marine conservation and regeneration efforts. The Seattle Aquarium is slated to open its $160 million Ocean Pavilion in the summer of 2024. This addition to our campus will feature species and ecosystems from the Coral Triangle while connecting visitors to a waterfront park with panoramic views overlooking the region’s Salish Sea.
Meyer’s leadership and advocacy within national and international ocean communities have helped nurture ground-breaking conservation programs. She is a founding leader of the innovative ReShark Initiative and StAR project to restore endangered shark populations in the wild. This program and its global partners were prominently featured in the July Issue of National Geographic Magazine.
“I am truly honored to step into this new role and thrilled to collaborate with fellow Aquarium staff and a myriad of partners, to propel us toward achieving our ambitious vision to regenerate the ocean for present and future generations,” said Dr. Meyer. “While we strive to regenerate the health of our one ocean, I recognize that working together across cultures and boundaries, disciplines and perspectives can ignite systemic change and build equitable, just, and resilient systems for tomorrow.”
After a robust international search, the Aquarium chose Meyer for her proven leadership in establishing ocean conservation initiatives in Washington and globally. Prior to her work at the Aquarium, Meyer spent nearly six years at the California Ocean Science Trust. She served in senior scientific and program management roles, preceded by two years in environmental education and six years in academia.
Meyer has served as an Executive Committee member of the Aquarium Conservation Partnership (ACP) since 2019. She became chair of the ACP steering committee at the start of this year. She serves on the Salish Sea Institute Advisory Board, the Washington Sea Grant Advisory Committee and others.
About the Seattle Aquarium:
Founded in 1977, the Seattle Aquarium is a conservation organization working to regenerate the health of Earth’s one ocean. We work among global leaders to advance animal wellbeing, marine and ecosystem science, public policy, field conservation, education, and species recovery programs that benefit the ocean. Help support the Aquarium’s mission of Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment.
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