Allison Alberts

In 2020, Allison retired from the San Diego Zoo, where she served as Chief Conservation and Research Officer. She is co-founder of the IUCN Iguana Specialist Group and serves on the IUCN Conservation Planning Specialist Group, Conservation Translocation Specialist Group, and Snake and Lizard Red List Authority. Allison is President of Eden Project USA, and serves on the boards of the Turtle Conservancy, International Iguana Foundation, Center for Plant Conservation, Conservation Biology Institute, Turtle Survival Alliance, and San Diego Natural History Museum. In addition, she is an Advisory Board member for the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund.

Allison’s experience includes the implementation and management of reintroduction and recovery programs, as well as species conservation action planning. As a reptile and amphibian specialist, she has worked with endangered iguanas in Cuba, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and Fiji, as well as Komodo dragons, sea turtles, desert tortoises, and native California plants, frogs, lizards, and snakes. Her work has been recognized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Science Foundation, the American Association of Museums, and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. In 2015, she was honored with the Athena Pinnacle Award for excellence in recognition, promotion, and mentorship of women in STEM. Allison is a graduate of University of California Berkeley and obtained her in Ph.D. in Biology from the University of California San Diego. She is an adjunct faculty member at San Diego State University and has authored over 130 scientific articles and three books.