Jonathan Wilcken | Executive Director
Before joining AArk in 2023, Jonathan worked for more than 20 years within the ex situ community. As the former Director of Auckland Zoo, he steered the organization through 10 years of growth and development as a modern conservation-focused zoo. Prior to that, he led the Australasian Zoo and Aquarium Association. Jonathan has also worked extensively with the global zoo community, having led efforts to establish global conservation breeding programs for zoos under WAZA and promoted global standards for wildlife data as Chair of Species360. As part of the SCC’s Conservation Planning Specialist Group, Jonathan helped develop the OnePlan philosophy, aimed at integrating the management of ex situ and in situ wildlife populations for conservation. Originally from Australia, Jonathan is currently based in the UK. Email: jwilcken (at) amphibianark.org
Luis Carrillo, DVM (MV), EMCV, MMVZ | Director of Training
Luis assists in the organization, development, and facilitation of Conservation Needs Assessment workshops and is a lecturer in AArk’s amphibian biology and management courses in Latin America. Since 2005, Luis has also worked with the Conservation Planning Specialist Group (CPSG/SSC/IUCN) Regional Network Mexico and since 2012, he has been the regional representative for Mexico with the main role of organizing and facilitating conservation workshops for many species in the Latin American region. Originally from Venezuela, Luis is currently based at Brevard Zoo in Florida, USA. Email: luis (at) amphibianark.org
Becca Brunner, PhD, MSc, MPA | Director of Programs 
Becca facilitates Conservation Needs Assessment workshops for amphibian species worldwide and assists AArk partners in identifying priority taxa and regions for ex situ conservation work. Becca also manages AArk’s Conservation Grants Program and the Program Progress database of ongoing ex situ amphibian conservation programs. She also develops communications strategies, messages, newsletters and other materials to promote understanding and action on behalf of amphibian conservation. Becca enjoys assisting AArk partner organizations in reaching multiple audiences within the conservation community, governments, and the public. She studied Ecuadorian frog communities (bioacoustics, disease, effects of habitat fragmentation) for her PhD dissertation in Conservation Biology. Originally from Illinois, Becca is currently based in New Mexico, USA. Email: becca (at) amphibianark.org
Elizabeth Townsend
| Administrative Assistant
As part of the IUCN/SSC CPSG’s commitment to support the efforts of AArk, Elizabeth spends part of her time working in an administrative capacity for AArk. Her primary role is in taking care of the financial side of operations, such as handling incoming donations and managing grant awards. She is currently based in the CPSG office in Minnesota, USA. Email: elizabeth (at) amphibianark.org
is grateful for the generous support of these organizations that sponsor and/or host our staff
