BIAZA CEO makes the blooloop 50 Zoo & Aquarium Influencer List 2025

Last week, visitor attraction news site blooloop published its annual Zoo and Aquarium Influencer List. BIAZA CEO Dr Jo Judge joined global industry giants in making the list of 50 inspiring individuals. 

Now in its fourth year, the 2025 blooloop 50 Zoo & Aquarium Influencer List recognises those who are having a significant impact and whose work is driving forward today's great zoos and aquariums.

Jo Judge, who has been CEO of BIAZA since 2021, has been selected among the 50. As CEO, she draws on experience of working with a wide range of partners to achieve shared objectives, and offers a unified voice for the sector.

Before joining the association, Judge served as CEO of the National Biodiversity Network. From 2006 to 2016, she was a wildlife biologist for the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), where she led research projects and advised internal and external stakeholders, as well as government policy. She has also worked for Defra and Central Science Laboratory, and was awarded a PhD in Wildlife Disease Ecology and an MRes in Ecology and Environmental Management from the University of York.

Judge is co-chair of the IUCN NCUK Species Survival Working Group and a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) associations committee. She is also a trustee of Wild Welfare, an international charity that works to improve the welfare of animals in captivity worldwide.

One person who nominated Judge says: “Under Jo’s leadership, BIAZA has strengthened its voice in national policy, advocating for science-based animal welfare standards and biodiversity protection.”

“She has been instrumental in uniting member institutions around a shared vision of environmental responsibility, including the development of climate action frameworks and sustainability benchmarks that are now influencing global best practice.

“Jo’s collaborative approach has fostered partnerships across academia and government, amplifying the impact of zoo-based conservation and research. Her commitment to inclusivity and public engagement has helped reshape perceptions of zoos, positioning them as vital contributors to the planet’s future.

“In a time of global ecological crisis, Jo’s leadership exemplifies the values of integrity, innovation, and impact. Her influence extends beyond BIAZA, inspiring professionals across the sector to think boldly and act decisively.”

Judge said: "I am absolutely thrilled and honoured to have been named amongst such inspiring leaders in the zoo and aquarium sector. None of what I do would be possible without the collective work of the amazing BIAZA Executive Office team and the wider BIAZA community. So my thanks go to them, it's only by working together than we can continue to advance and advocate for the vital work zoos and aquariums do."

The list features substantial representation from British and Irish zoos. Jo is joined by Brian Zimmerman (Bristol Zoological Society), Aileen Tennant (Fota Wildlife Park), Angela Matthews (Colchester Zoological Society), Lizzy Humphries (Battersea Park Children’s Zoo), Rebecca Biddle (Twycross Zoo) and Jamie Christon, who joins the blooloop ‘Power 10’ as both Director of Chester Zoo and Chair of BIAZA.

Jo is also joined by our friends and colleagues Myfanwy Griffith and Lauren Florisson (EAZA) and Paula Cerdán (WAZA). Congratulations to everyone who made the list for their inspiring contributions to the sector.