From odd jobs picking up seaweed and counting Lego bricks, to setting up his own business, and then running a conservation charity and two zoos, this episode covers a lot of ground talking to our CEO Dennis Flynn.

So who is Dennis? 

Dennis’ first 'career' was as an officer in the British Army with a focus on international crisis management and anti-operations. He was awarded the OBE for distinguished operational leadership. After his military career Dennis set up a consulting firm that provided crisis management and resilience services to top-tier companies and government agencies around the globe. In the private sector he directed consulting teams for global clients including; Deutsche Bank, Lloyds Banking Group, RBS, Rothschild, Virgin Money and Zurich Financial Services, to name a few. 

In 2015 Dennis exited the consulting firm to begin a full-time academic and research programme to better understand why, in challenging conditions, some people and teams appear more resilient. He holds an MSc in Applied Positive Psychology. Positive psychology is the science of the conditions, behaviours and processes that contribute to the flourishing and resilience of people, groups, and institutions.

Outside work his interests include trekking in remote hill areas. In 2017 he successfully completed a 13-day, 300km coast-to-coast self-supported challenge trek across the Scottish Highlands.. Dennis is also a keen downhill skier, an activity in which he has more enthusiasm than skill.

As you can probably tell, we only cover a brief part of a storied career. You'll have to let us know if you want to hear more from our CEO Dennis Flynn in future episodes. 

Visit Our Zoos:

https://www.paigntonzoo.org.uk/

https://www.newquayzoo.org.uk/

Wild Planet Trust: https://www.wildplanettrust.org.uk/

Support us through our Amazon Wishlists:

Paignton Zoo: https://amzn.to/327HJeb

Newquay Zoo: https://amzn.to/3tDeWty

Modern zoos are all about conservation. Here at Wild Planet Trust we run two zoo sites Paignton Zoo and Newquay Zoo, but we also run and look after other conservation projects both overseas and here in the UK. In this episode of the podcast Jo and Ollie are chatting to Dr Andrew Bowkett and Dr Tracey Hamston the people in charge of our conservation projects. 

Dr Andrew Bowkett, is the Trust's Conservation Planning and Partnerships Manager, and at the time of releasing this podcast he is over in Nigeria having meetings about our conservation project with our partners there in the Omo Forest reserve. In this instalment we are focusing on how he has come to do what he does and we touch on some of our overseas projects through our discussion. For more details about our overseas conservation projects take a look at this page on the Trust's website: https://www.wildplanettrust.org.uk/wild-conservation/ 

Dr Tracey Hamston, is the Trust's Conservation Officer, she looks after our conservation projects here in the UK. Of note are a series of native species reintroduction programs including the plants strapwort and sorbus, white-clawed crayfish and hazel dormice. She also oversees our marine conservation efforts across Torbay, protecting our important seagrass beds, as well as Slapton Ley a national nature reserve in South Devon. You can find more detail on our UK projects here: https://www.wildplanettrust.org.uk/wild-conservation/ 

In this episode we barely scratch the surface of the work that these two do, so be sure to tune in for potential further updates from Andy and Tracey in the future.

Visit Our Zoos:

https://www.paigntonzoo.org.uk/

https://www.newquayzoo.org.uk/

Wild Planet Trust: https://www.wildplanettrust.org.uk/

Support us through our Amazon Wishlists:

Paignton Zoo: https://amzn.to/327HJeb

Newquay Zoo: https://amzn.to/3tDeWty

In a Zoo you need a curator, they're the person in charge of what animals the zoo works with. At Wild Planet Trust we have a curator for each animal department, Mammals, Birds and Lower Vertebrate and Invertebrates (LVI). In this Episode of 'So You Want To Work In A Zoo?' Matt and Ollie are chatting to John Meek, the person in charge of our LVI department.  

Previously John was a keeper, deciding on that career when he was only 8 years old, a head keeper and even curator at Newquay Zoo before he started looking after LVI across both Trust Zoos, Newquay and Paignton. In the discussion, they touch on moving animals, collection planning, conservation projects, returning animals to their country of origin and the classic question... What's you favourite animal?

Visit Our Zoos:

https://www.paigntonzoo.org.uk/

https://www.newquayzoo.org.uk/

Wild Planet Trust: https://www.wildplanettrust.org.uk/

Support us through our Amazon Wishlists:

Paignton Zoo: https://amzn.to/327HJeb

Newquay Zoo: https://amzn.to/3tDeWty