The Georgia Aquarium Board of Directors has announced the selection of Travis Burke (pronounced BURR-key) as the new President and CEO. Burke, who has been serving as Interim CEO since the passing of Dr. Brian Davis in August 2024, brings more than 25 years of global experience in marine animal care, aquatic attractions and a deep commitment to advancing the Aquarium’s mission of connecting guests with the wonders of the ocean and protecting marine life.

Steve Koonin, Chairman of the Board of Georgia Aquarium, expressed his confidence in Burke’s leadership. “Travis has demonstrated extraordinary dedication and capability as Interim CEO. His extensive expertise and passion for marine life and education make him the ideal leader to guide Georgia Aquarium into its next chapter.”

Burke, a seasoned leader in the aquarium community, shared his gratitude and vision for the Aquarium’s future. “It is an immense honor to serve as President and CEO of Georgia Aquarium, and I am excited for its future. I am focused on further enhancing our conservation efforts, community outreach, sustainability, and aquarium innovation. As I step into this role officially, I am grateful for the opportunity to be a steward of the great work achieved in the last 20 years and to have a part in ushering in the next 20 years and beyond, and perhaps most importantly, continue to bring the ocean to millions of people each year.”

Burke came to Georgia Aquarium in 2023 as Executive Vice President. In this role, Burke helped manage the teams to some of its best attendance years and to the achievement of Top Workplace of 2024 by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. With a career spanning decades and continents, Burke’s expertise includes finance and management, park development, mergers and acquisitions, and operations across the U.S., Mexico, the Caribbean, and Europe. His previous roles, including executive leadership positions in zoological and conservation organizations, as well as the travel and tourism industry have positioned him as a global leader.

As President and CEO, Burke will oversee all aspects of Georgia Aquarium’s operations and strategy, focusing on strengthening its conservation initiatives, expanding public programs, and enhancing the guest experience. Burke will be assuming the CEO position at an exciting time, as the Aquarium prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary on November 23, 2025, and begins to lay the groundwork for the next 20 years.

For Travis Burke’s headshot and additional photos, click here.
Photo credit: Georgia Aquarium
For more information, visit www.georgiaaquarium.org

Oceanic Institute and Georgia Aquarium have partnered in order to successfully produce Squarespot Anthias (Pseudanthias pleurotaenia) through aquaculture!

Squarespot Anthias (Pseudanthias pleurotaenia) are a beautiful marine fish species found throughout the Pacific Ocean. They are sequential hermaphrodites that start off life as yellow to orange-colored females. The dominant individual will change to male displaying deep pink coloration with a square shaped spot on their side, hence their name. Harems of this species are popular in public aquariums for their beautiful colors and interesting social dynamics. At Georgia Aquarium, these colorful fish can be seen at the Indo-Pacific Barrier Reef exhibit in its Tropical Diver gallery.

When brought in from the wild, these fish can often have parasites or bacterial infections that are difficult to treat. Aqua cultured fish often have fewer disease issues and are hardier than their wild counterparts, being more suited for aquarium settings. So far, 9 anthias species are known to have been reproduced using aquaculture techniques.

In a first for Oceanic Institute, in partnership with Georgia Aquarium, the Institute has successfully raised this species!

Georgia Aquarium obtained broodstock squarespot anthias (the adult individuals from which the eggs and offspring come from) and went through the vigorous process of quarantining, caring for, and conditioning those individuals. The adults were then shipped all the way across the ocean to Oahu, Hawaii. They were received and cared for by the Finfish department at Oceanic Institute of Hawaii Pacific University (OI). In less than one month the broodstock spawned viable eggs!

These eggs were stocked into the Finfish hatchery and soon  baby squarespot anthias hatched. Using a combination of protocols developed by Oceanic Institute, as well as published protocols on another anthias species, the team at OI was able to successfully raise that very first batch of eggs, and at 30 days after hatching, the larval anthias had settled into juveniles.

After growing for a few weeks, the juvenile anthias made the journey to Georgia where they arrived safely and will continue to grow with the help of the incredible care team at Georgia Aquarium before they are ready for display. This collaborative and important partnership between OI and Georgia Aquarium is to hopefully expand the Aquarium’s scope of work with tropical fish through aquaculture and to create a more sustainable future.

Georgia Aquarium has been awarded a Top Workplaces 2024 honor by Atlanta Journal-Constitution Top Workplaces. This list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage LLC. The confidential survey uniquely measures the employee experience and its component themes, including employees feeling Respected & Supported, Enabled to Grow, and Empowered to Execute, to name a few.

“Earning a Top Workplaces award is a badge of honor for companies, especially because it comes authentically from their employees,” said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. “That’s something to be proud of. In today’s market, leaders must ensure they’re allowing employees to have a voice and be heard. That’s paramount. Top Workplaces do this, and it pays dividends.”

“We are excited to be selected as an AJC Top Workplace of 2024; the honor is even more rewarding knowing the recognition is based on employee feedback,” said Dr. Jamie Wilson, Chief People Officer at Georgia Aquarium. “Not only is this a testament to the leadership of Dr. Brian Davis, but also the passion and hard work of our team members who have been committed to creating a workplace that fosters respect and innovation. The experiences we offer at the Aquarium are made extraordinary by our staff and volunteers.”

In addition to being named a Top Workplace of 2024, the Aquarium was awarded the DEI Award for its achievements in diversity, equity, and inclusion for employees.

Georgia Aquarium has established itself as a leader in not-for-profit research, education, and conservation. With nearly 500 employees and 800 volunteers, Georgia Aquarium anchors the downtown attraction district and since its inception, has revitalized the downtown business community.

It is with immense sadness we announce the passing of our leader, friend, and mentor, president and CEO, Dr. Brian Davis.

Brian was an exceptionally talented and intelligent individual who left a tremendous imprint on the education and zoological fields. Furthermore, he was a beautifully compassionate human being who lifted others up and dedicated himself to creating a caring and diverse space at the Aquarium.

He was a dynamic thinker and always pushed the boundaries of what we could achieve, making Georgia Aquarium an extraordinary place. He was one of the first employees at the Aquarium prior to opening in 2005 and led us through years of innovation and growth. Brian’s indelible imprint made all those he knew better – we are better because of Brian.

As we navigate this heartbreaking news, our priority lies with caring for staff. We may have limited operations over the coming days to allow our staff time to grieve.

“We are heartbroken by this news. Brian was a giant in leadership with his intellect, wisdom, and imagination,” said Steve Koonin, Chairman of the board of Georgia Aquarium.

Our thoughts are with Brian’s family and all those that he touched throughout his life.

While this has shaken us, Brian would have wanted us to find a path forward, and the board of directors have appointed executive vice president Travis Burke as interim CEO.

Oceanografic de Valencia, Georgia Aquarium and SeaWorld collaborate with Ukraine’s NEMO Dolphinarium on heroic evacuation from Kharkiv.

Marine mammal care specialists from Oceanogràfic de Valencia, Georgia Aquarium and SeaWorld assisted the NEMO Dolphinarium in Ukraine on June 17-18 with a heroic rescue of two beluga whales from the war-ravaged region of Kharkiv. The city is facing increasing threat from artillery fire, which has intensified in recent weeks, with bombs dropping within a few hundred meters of the aquarium.

The high-risk, complex rescue operation presented numerous challenges and required multi-national collaboration. The belugas, a 15-year-old male named Plombir and a 14-year-old female named Miranda, arrived in Valencia in delicate health on the evening of June 18, following a grueling journey across the war zone. Their evacuation included a dangerous 12-hour drive from Kharkiv to Odesa. From there the Ukrainian caregivers met the international team from Oceanogràfic, Georgia Aquarium and SeaWorld who quickly conducted health checks and continued onward to Moldova border where the European Anti-Fraud Office, part of the European Commission, served a crucial role in speeding up the border crossing. A six-seater chartered plane awaited the rescue team in Chisinau to fly onward to Valencia where the General Director of Natural and Animal Environment of Valencia, Raúl Mérida, met the rescue team at the Valencia airport.

The president of the Valencia region Generalitat Valenciana, Carlos Mazón, said, “This courageous rescue constitutes a historic milestone worldwide in terms of animal protection. It is an honor that the Oceanogràfic has rescued these two belugas from the horror of the war in Ukraine. They have experienced a difficult situation in recent months, and the experts at Oceanogràfic will be working intensely to help them recover.”

Oceanogràfic Valencia is the largest aquarium in Europe and the only one on the continent that has belugas in its facilities. In addition, it is the closest marine conservation center to Ukraine and is accredited by the most rigorous international organizations in animal welfare.

“The war has caused food, energy and medicine shortages, reducing access to other basic necessities for animal care as well as technical supplies necessary for the logistics of such a sensitive rescue,” said Dr. Daniel Garcia-Párraga, director of zoological operations at Oceanografic.  “The belugas have a suboptimal body condition to undertake this type of trip, but if they had continued in Kharkiv, their chances of survival would have been very slim.”

Since the war began in 2022, the dolphinarium has been bravely evacuating animals, including seals, sea lions and dolphins, as quickly as it could, but moving belugas is an extremely complex logistical operation due to their size and specific needs. It required months of preparations and the participation of international experts.

“It is yet another example of how accredited aquariums and zoos respond when animals are in danger bringing the specialized expertise and trusted skills developed by caring for wildlife every day,” said Dan Ashe, President and CEO of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).  “It’s not just what we do. It’s who we are. I applaud AZA members Oceanografic, Georgia Aquarium and SeaWorld, for convening the world’s most elite team of marine mammal experts to work with the Ukrainian aquarium on what is likely the most complex marine mammal rescue ever undertaken.”

“The complexities of this evacuation were immense, and we have been working for weeks to prepare for it. I’m humbled to have been trusted to provide the belugas care and protection during their long journey to their new home. My heart is with the Ukrainian caregivers and the people of Kharkiv who had to say goodbye to Miranda and Plombir. It’s not an easy thing to do, but it was best for them. I’m proud to have played a role in helping them,” said Dennis Christen, senior director of animal wellbeing & behavior, Georgia Aquarium.

“The belugas’ health and safety was our top priority, and these were challenging conditions, including rough roads, rising temperatures and the inherent risks of being in an active war zone,” said Keith Yip, Animal Care Specialist, SeaWorld. “The Ukrainian caregivers were very brave, and the whole team involved did everything possible to provide the belugas comfort and safety during the evacuation to Valencia. I’m proud to have been able to share the specialized expertise needed to support the complex logistics for this collaborative rescue operation.”

The belugas are being provided with a specialized team of medical, nutritional and behavioral experts at Oceanografic to assist in recovery from the traumas they have endured. Two Ukrainian caregivers are staying with them for the first couple weeks to help with their transition and care.

“The belugas are being cared for in separate areas that are not accessible or viewable by the public while they undergo recovery and acclimation,” said Garcia. “We will be providing updates on their health and well-being as things evolve. We are extremely grateful to everyone who assisted in this rescue.”

 

VISUALS:  https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1nv9_96tHfB9Kj1FqenmOxQftrno-GFxX?usp=drive_link

 

To learn more about Oceanografic, click here.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Oceanografic: Jose Serra, jserra@oceanografic.org

Georgia Aquarium: Jessica Wood,  jwood@georgiaaquarium.org

SeaWorld: Nicole Bott, nicole.bott@unitedparks.com