Paula CERDáN

As Head of Conservation and Animal Welfare at WAZA, Paula collaborates with a global network of leading zoos, aquariums, and like-minded organisations to strengthen collective impact on biodiversity and animal welfare. She supports and coordinates the work of key WAZA committees, including Conservation & Environmental Sustainability (CESC), Ethics and Animal Welfare (EAWC), and Population Management (CPM), helping to shape the strategic goals and frameworks that build common ground and guide the advancement of the global community.

Paula has led the development and implementation of WAZA’s 2023 Animal Welfare Goal, contributed to the WAZA 2027 Population Management Goal, and is now steering the upcoming WAZA 2030 Conservation Goal. Her focus is on building tools, resources, policies, and spaces that embed zoos and aquariums within broader global conservation frameworks—enabling them to think critically and strategically, act boldly, and collaborate meaningfully to fulfil their roles as conservation organisations and catalyse positive outcomes for animals and biodiversity conservation worldwide.

She thrives on cross-cultural dialogue, strategy development, and creating momentum for accelerating change. Paula is especially driven by the bigger picture: identifying links between initiatives, finding synergies across efforts, and helping to amplify their impact through shared purpose and collaboration.