Washington, D.C. — The Trustees of the renowned international wildlife charity, the Born Free Foundation, have announced the unanimous confirmation of Adam M. Roberts as its new Chief Executive Officer. [teaserbreak]
Roberts replaces Will Travers, who served with vision and dedication for three decades in the post, and who has now transitioned to the role of President of the organization.
Born Free co-founder Virginia McKenna, OBE was clearly delighted with the news: “When my husband and I founded Born Free 30 years ago along with our son, Will, we could have only dreamed that its impact would be this profound. This announcement is a testament to Adam’s hard work, and to the trust he has earned to successfully manage the CEO position in both the U.S. and the U.K. Adam’s steadfast dedication to our mission has done my family proud. I am confident that his vision will guide Born Free into our next phase as a global leader in wildlife protection.”
Roberts has more than two decades of experience campaigning on international wildlife trade issues, including the trade in elephant ivory, rhino horn, tiger bone, lion trophies, and bear gallbladders. He has expertise in wildlife trade policy, trapping and fur, animals in entertainment, and the exotic pet trade.
Will Travers, OBE, President of the Born Free Foundation, said: “Adam is a remarkable individual with extraordinary levels of energy, commitment, and compassion. He is also my close friend. He is exactly the right person to lead Born Free forward to even greater heights in the years ahead. He is surrounded by a wonderful team of dedicated professionals and I am looking forward to working closely with him to deliver compassionate conservation for wild animals in need around the world.”
In addition to his work at Born Free USA, he serves on the board of directors of the Species Survival Network (SSN), where he chairs their press and financial committees, the bear working group, and the animals in captivity working group. SSN is dedicated to ensuring that the international wildlife trade does not cause overexploitation of animals and plants, and includes nearly 100 member organizations from more than 30 countries.
He is also a founding member of the board and current chairman of the board of the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing species-specific humane standards of care for animals held in animal sanctuaries, and accrediting facilities globally based on these standards.
In 2003, Roberts founded The $10 Club, a charity to fund poverty alleviation projects in developing countries. He runs the organization singlehandedly and as a volunteer. To date, the organization has supported work in more than 50 countries and has given out in excess of a quarter of a million dollars in grant awards.
He began his animal protection career in Washington, D.C. in 1991 after graduating from Vassar College in New York.
Roberts has written and presented more than 50 articles for medical, legal, scientific, and advocacy organization publications around the world. He is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences on issues concerning captive wild animals, compassionate conservation, and the protection of animals. He is interviewed regularly by the international media about animal welfare and wildlife conservation issues.
He will split his time between the Born Free USA office in Washington, D.C., where he resides with his wife Stephanie, daughter Mia, two dogs, and five cats, and the Horsham office of Born Free Foundation in the U.K.
The Born Free Foundation is a dynamic international wildlife charity, devoted to compassionate conservation and animal welfare. Born Free takes action worldwide to protect threatened species and stop individual animal suffering. Born Free believes wildlife belongs in the wild and works to phase out zoos. The organization rescues animals from lives of misery in tiny cages and gives them lifetime care.
Born Free protects lions, elephants, tigers, gorillas, wolves, polar bears, dolphins, marine turtles, and many more species in their natural habitats, working with local communities to help people and wildlife live together without conflict. The organization’s high-profile campaigns change public attitudes, persuade decision-makers, and get results. Every year, Born Free helps hundreds of thousands of animals worldwide. For more information about Born Free, please visit: www.bornfree.org.uk
Born Free USA is a global leader in animal welfare and wildlife conservation. Through litigation, legislation, and public education, Born Free USA leads vital campaigns against animals in entertainment, exotic “pets,” trapping and fur, and the destructive international wildlife trade. Born Free USA brings to America the message of “compassionate conservation” — the vision of the U.K.-based Born Free Foundation, established in 1984 by Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna, stars of the iconic film Born Free, along with their son Will Travers. Born Free’s mission is to end suffering of wild animals in captivity, conserve threatened and endangered species, and encourage compassionate conservation globally. More at www.bornfreeusa.org, www.twitter.com/bornfreeusa, and www.facebook.com/bornfreeusa.
Media Contact: Rodi Rosensweig, 203/270-8929, therodicompany@gmail.com