News

Friday 6 December 2024

As 2024 draws to a close, the Board of Trustees and leadership team at Durrell are now firmly focused on the future. Together with our outstanding teams around the world, as well as our members, partners, donors, volunteers, visitors and supporters, we are starting the next chapter in the Durrell story.  

2025 marks a year of positive change for the Trust. We will be evaluating the impact of our Rewild Our World strategy, which launched in 2017, and challenging ourselves on what went well and where we could have done better. This process will inform and guide us as we prepare our new 10-year strategy. This is a crucial time for Durrell. The pressures on the natural world are relentless and never has our mission to save species from extinction been more important. 

Durrell's mission is delivered by the dedicated team working at Jersey Zoo and over 10 countries around the world. While recruiting for the position of Durrell’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Board of Trustees sought a leader with significant professional expertise and the ability to inspire and unify the Trust's talented and committed international teams. 

Following an extensive global selection process, the Trustees have appointed Rebecca Brewer as Durrell’s new CEO.  

Over the past 12 months, in her role as interim CEO, Rebecca has skillfully navigated the organisation through a challenging period, uniting teams and fostering collaboration to strengthen our mission. Rebecca’s new role at Durrell perfectly combines her passion for wildlife and the environment with her professional experience. Rebecca is well supported by a strong leadership team and a new Board of Trustees, who were elected by the members at Durrell’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday 5 December 2024. 

Matthew Hatchwell, Chair of the Board of Trustees of Durrell, said: “We are delighted to appoint Rebecca as Durrell CEO. Rebecca brings strong professional experience, having worked across complex, global organisations along with, most importantly, a passion for Durrell and its mission. In an excellent field of candidates, her commitment and clarity of purpose stood out: ensuring the long-term sustainability of the Trust and continuing to grow its global impact on species, ecosystems and communities. The Trustees were unanimous in their decision to appoint Rebecca, valuing her positivity, enthusiasm and integrity. The Board is especially looking forward to working with Rebecca and her leadership team over the next 12 months to shape Durrell’s new strategy.” 

Dr Lee Durrell, Honorary Director of Durrell, said: “I am thrilled that Becky Brewer is to be Durrell’s next CEO. Ever since she started working for us, she has shown that she lives by our values of being ‘purposeful, accountable and supportive’. In a manner that is both fair-minded and compassionate, Becky will lead us into a bright future, strengthening and expanding our conservation mission to meet the many challenges that lie ahead.”  

Rebecca Brewer, newly appointed CEO of Durrell, said: “I am proud to be given the opportunity to lead Durrell. I look forward to working with my colleagues and our partners to develop and deliver an ambitious and sustainable strategy with Gerald’s legacy at its heart, that carries Durrell into the future. I am truly excited for our next chapter and to build on our incredible success to develop a wilder, healthier and more colourful world for both people and wildlife.”  

Gerald Durrell often said, “our members are the backbone of the Trust”. The Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) in May and the recent trustee election and AGM have demonstrated their overwhelming support for the Board of Trustees. The recent campaign against the Trust has placed unsustainable demands on our time and resources, diverting us from vital work saving species and restoring habitats. To achieve our ambitious goals, we must now focus all our efforts on our mission. We must move forward together. If any member feels they cannot support our leadership as we enter this new period in Durrell’s history, we encourage them to reflect on whether Durrell is the right fit for them. 

Next year marks 100 years since the birth of our founder and we hope our members and supporters will join us as we celebrate Gerald Durrell’s extraordinary contributions to wildlife conservation and the lasting legacy he left behind.