An Introduction by Charlotte England revealed that Dr Jenny Gary had completed her PhD in ethics with a thesis on “An Ethical Defence of Modern Zoos.”  Jenny went on to tell us how Zoos Victoria in the past decade has become a conservation organisation, working for the preservation of animals in general. She showed  a short video on what Zoos are doing to prevent extinctions. 

Her talk was accompanied by a number of informative slides.

1. Zoo based conservation can provide a future rich in wildlife, preventing extinctions and allowing for a gain in biodiversity.

2. Zoos Victoria’s strategy of fighting extinction and creating a future rich in wildlife promotes the values of always being compassionate, optimistic, trustworthy, curious, inclusive and calm.

3. She showed how Zoos Victoria is involved in working for wildlife when events such as bushfires create a need.

4. Connecting the community: Dr Grey told how the Zoo involves children, and how a small girl raised over $1,000 to protect turtles.

5. Creating special places, in view of the changes in the world; "We have created a beautiful, natural, inviting immersive space that people feel relaxed in. It is an escape from daily life that benefits emotional wellbeing" - ZV Staff Member

6. Creating special places also describes the new environment being established as the elephant herd is transferred to open area at Werribee. The logistics of moving a herd of elephants down the freeway will be a challenge.

7. Zoos Victoria is a thriving ethical business, but attendances have fallen dramatically during the Covid outbreak.

8. Partnerships: Zoos Victoria partners with RSPCA, Safe Cat and Safe Wildlife.

9. “If working apart we’re a force powerful enough to destabilise our planet, surely, working together, we are powerful enough to save it.” - Sir David Attenborough.

Jenny answered questions from the club, revealing

a) the benefits of Zoos Victoria membership, including exciting sleepovers at the Zoo for children

b) how bandicoots are being relocated on islands, where they are free from fox and cat attacks and

c) the international breeding programme, whereby the gene pool across several countries can be accessed to prevent the extinction of rare animals. 

Charlotte England thanked Dr Gray for giving us a new reception of modern Zoos and their role in the preservation and protection of animals. Things have certainly advanced a far way from just keeping animals in cages. 

Dr Jenny Gray - Chief Executive Officer of Zoos Victoria

Dr Jenny Gray is the Chief Executive Officer of Zoos Victoria, charged with the operation of the Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary and Werribee Open Range Zoo.  Jenny has a wide range of public and private sector experience having worked in transportation, airlines and banking, before moving into the zoo industry in South Africa, then Australia.

She has qualifications in Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Business Administration and Ethics.  She brings a passion for animals and the environment, having facilitated the transformation of Zoos Victoria into a Zoo Based Conservation Organisation.  Her operational and financial skills will ensure that this is achieved in a financially sustainable manner, led by inspired executives and staff.

In 2016 Jenny completed her PhD in ethics with her thesis on “An Ethical Defense of Modern Zoos.”   Her thesis has been published by CSIRO, and is a commercially available book titled “Zoo Ethics”.

Jenny serves on a number of governing bodies; she is Past President of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, is a council-appointed member of the Victoria University Council, and President and Chair of Not In My Workplace, a small association committed to addressing sexual harassment in the workplace.