Holly Thompson

Holly Thompson has dedicated more than two decades to wildlife care, primate conservation, and sector leadership. She began her career at Perth Zoo in 2002, while also contributing in a voluntary and consultative capacity to conservation NGOs across Southeast Asia. Since 2012, she has held supervisor and manager roles within Perth Zoo’s Life Sciences Directorate, leading diverse teams in animal care, welfare, and operational planning.

A highlight of Holly’s work has been overseeing the completion of the Gibbon Crossing habitat for critically endangered Northern White‑cheeked Gibbons, and coordinating the transfer of Asian elephant Permai to Monarto Safari Park, one of the longest elephant road transfers in Australia. Holly holds a Bachelor of Science in Conservation and Wildlife Biology, a Certificate III in Wildlife and Exhibited Animal Care, and a Certificate IV in Frontline Management. She also serves on the Curtin University Animal Ethics and Welfare Committee.

Internationally, Holly is an active member and consultant with the IUCN Section on Small Apes, contributing to conferences in Australia, Vietnam, and Malaysia, and supporting the review of the IUCN Guidelines for Gibbon Rehabilitation and Release. Within the Zoo and Aquarium Association (ZAA), she coordinates multiple Species Management Programs, including the WAZA International Studbook for Javan Gibbons, and is Co‑Convenor of the ZAA Primate TAG. Her conservation fieldwork has focused extensively on Sumatra, and she coordinated the release of zoo‑born Sumatran orangutan Nyaru to the wild.

In 2024, Holly was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to investigate emergency response and disaster preparedness in zoos and conservation agencies. Over three months she visited more than 30 institutions across Madagascar, Europe, North America, Canada, and New Zealand. Her Fellowship report, published in 2026, provides evidence‑based recommendations for the Australasian and New Zealand Zoo and wildlife sector, focusing on preparedness frameworks, mutual aid networks, staff wellbeing, and climate‑driven conservation campaigns. Holly describes the Fellowship as “an all‑time highlight” and “a privilege to share the breadth of information so many people entrusted to me.”

Currently, Holly is in Laos working with Free the Bears as a Primate Conservation Advisor, applying many of the strategies developed through her Fellowship. She will also present her findings at the Zoo and Aquarium Association conference in August, facilitating a workshop on emergency preparedness and resilience in the sector.