Chris Pfefferkorn, President & CEO, Birmingham Zoo
With over 30 years of progressive zoological experience, Chris Pfefferkorn has worked at several AZA-accredited zoos throughout his career. He has served as the Senior Vice President of the Birmingham Zoo, Deputy Director of Living Collections at Oregon Zoo, General Curator at Ellen Trout Zoo, and a Zookeeper at the San Antonio Zoo. He began his zoo career at the Glen Oak Zoo after earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology at Eureka College.
Chris has spent his career dedicated to animal welfare and conservation. His work with the Chipangali Large Carnivore Project in Zimbabwe focused on Leopard and Brown Hyena conservation near the Matopos National Park. Chris also helped Chipangali to establish the Environmental Programs Involving Children (EPIC Kids) education program for rural children to teach them about the value of the natural world around them.
Chris also has a passion for professional development, and has completed numerous AZA courses, including the AZA Executive Leadership Development Program. He has served as an accreditation inspector for over 20 years, often participating as the Team Chair. He strongly believes in AZA’s accreditation process and its ability to assure that all members are providing the highest standards of animal care, welfare, education, and conservation.