Dublin Zoo’s Dr Christoph Schwitzer Chosen to Lead Europe’s Top Zoo Association, EAZA

• Dr Christoph Schwitzer recognised as a global leader in zoology and conservation with election as Chair of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA).
• Dr Schwitzer is the first Dublin Zoo Director to occupy this prestigious role.

Dublin Zoo is proud to announce that its Director, Dr Christoph Schwitzer, has been elected Chair of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) for a three-year term, running from April 2025 to 2028. Dr. Schwitzer’s election represents the first time a Dublin Zoo director has taken the prestigious role.

EAZA represents over 400 zoos, aquariums and affiliated institutions across Europe and the Middle East. Dr Schwitzer has been an active member of EAZA for many years, serving on numerous committees. Recently he has been leading EAZA’s European Species Task Force.

Following a unanimous vote to elect Dr Schwitzer to the role of Chair, he will lead EAZA’s efforts to promote the highest standards of animal welfare, conservation, education, and scientific research.

Commenting on the announcement, Dr Schwitzer said:

“I’m honoured to have been elected Chair of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria. In my career working in EAZA affiliated institutions I’ve seen first-hand the positive impact of the collaborative approach between members fostered by the Association. It’s my intention as Chair to nurture this spirit of cooperation, encouraging knowledge exchange among members to share best practices in animal care, conservation and research. Working together in this way will help us underline and enhance EAZA’s role as a global leader in species conservation.

I strongly believe that zoos and aquariums are essential cultural and conservation institutions, and I’m committed to expanding EAZA’s influence in policy discussions at national and EU level to ensure that this is recognized. I’m looking forward to balancing my role as EAZA Chair while working with my wonderful colleagues at Dublin Zoo to achieve our vision of becoming a zoo-based conservation organization of global significance.”

Dr Schwitzer has served as Director of Dublin Zoo since August 2020, overseeing the Zoo’s commitment to animal welfare, education and conservation. Before joining Dublin Zoo, he held the role of Chief Zoological Officer and Deputy Chief Executive of the Bristol Zoological Society.

Dr Christoph Schwitzer

An accomplished zoologist, Dr Schwitzer earned his PhD in Zoology from the University of Cologne and has held academic roles at the University of the West of England and Trinity College Dublin, where he is currently an Adjunct Professor of Zoology.

His conservation work has taken him as far afield as Madagascar, where he led a lemur research and conservation programme for two years. He currently serves as President of the Association Européenne pour l’Étude et la Conservation des Lémuriens (AEECL), a charity dedicated to lemur conservation and is a Deputy Chair of the IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group.

Dr Schwitzer previously held leadership roles in several international zoological organisations, including Chair of Council of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (2019–2022) and Vice President of the International Primatological Society (2012–2016).

Dr Schwitzer’s election is both a personal honour and a powerful reflection of the calibre of leadership and expertise at Dublin Zoo. His appointment underscores the international regard in which he, and by extension Ireland’s national zoo, is held.

The team at Dublin Zoo congratulates Dr Schwitzer on this significant achievement and looks forward to the impact of his leadership on the future of progressive, conservation-focused zoological institutions across Europe.