Key Staff Biographies

Dr Jo Gipps – OBE, Director of Bristol Zoo Gardens

Dr Jo Gipps joined Bristol Zoo Gardens as Director in September 2001. He previously worked at London Zoo for 12 years, eight of those as Director. Jo chairs the Conservation Committee of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) and is also a member of WAZA Council. He is a member of the Steering Committee of the Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG), and a former Trustee of the International Species Information System (ISIS). In January 2000, he was awarded the OBE.

John Partridge – Senior Curator of Animals

John Partridge joined Bristol Zoo Gardens in January 1975. As the Senior Curator he is responsible for the whole of the Animal Department and during his time at the Zoo has worked on many of the animal sections although his particular expertise is linked to mammal husbandry.

John sits on several UK and European working groups and species committees and is responsible for the European studbook for black howler monkeys. He is an assessor for the nationally recognised zoo keepers' training course and has produced three internationally used animal husbandry publications on exotic cats, bears and raccoons and mustelids.

Sallie Blanks - Deputy Project Manager/Client Representative

Sallie Blanks joined Bristol Zoo Gardens in 2005 and quickly moved across to join the Project Team for the National Wildlife Conservation Park and has since taken over the post of Deputy Project Manager/Client Representative. A Prince 2 qualified Project Manager and with a background in Company Secretarial skills and Occupational Psychology, Sallie has been responsible for the latter stages of the planning and design phase of NWCP, culminating in the delivery of the planning application.