New Year’s Honour for zoo boss Sharon

Recognised for services to science and skills

TWYCROSS Zoo’s chief executive Sharon Redrobe has been appointed an officer of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen’s New Year Honours List 2017.

The honour comes for her services to skills, science and the economy in Leicestershire.

Dr Redrobe is currently steering the zoo through an ambitious £55 million Masterplan, which will transform the 88-acre site in rural Leicestershire over the next 20 years into one of the UK’s, tourist attractions.

The last three years have already seen strategic invest- ments at Twycross resulting in an exceptional increase in visitor numbers and generating a financial surplus.

Dr Redrobe, said: “I am delighted and humbled by this unexpected honour. Ever since I started working at Twycross Zoo, I was inspired by the great legacy of the Zoo’s co-founders Nathalie Evans and Molly Badham, who herself was appointed OBE.

“The job of the CEO of Twycross Zoo is certainly challenging, but my belief in the role modern zoos must play in conservation keeps me focused on moving forward to help save our precious wildlife.

“I hope this honour will help increase awareness of the good work we do at Twycross Zoo to protect endangered species and habitats.”

Internationally renowned as a wildlife vet and a world leader in primate conservation, Dr Redrobe has over 20 years’ experience working in academia, charity and busines.

She is the chair of trustees for Ape Action Africa, a rescue charity based in Cameroon, a board member of the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance, and a personally appointed member of the Zoos Expert Committee, the UK Governmental advisory body.

Dr Redrobe was awarded Business Woman of the Year by the Vitalise Women of the Year awards in October 2015 for her business skills shown in trans- forming the zoo from a loss-making charity into one achieving considerable business growth.

In June 2016, the Institute of Directors recognised her as the West Midlands Director of the Year Award in the Not-For-Profit category.

She is also a board member of the Confederation of British Industry West Midlands and is leading work on the strategic tourism sector plan for the Leicestershire region for the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP).

Twycross Zoo is open to the public from 10am to 6pm. For more information and to book tickets visit www.twycrosszoo.org or call 0844 474 1777.