Gordon McGregor Reid
Encyclopedia
Gordon McGregor Reid is the Director General and Chief Executive of the North of England Zoological Society, popularly known as Chester Zoo
.
The North of England Zoological Society is an independent charity for conservation, education and science. It is also one of the leading wildlife attractions in the UK, receiving well over one million paying guests each year.
Under Gordon McGregor Reid’s leadership, this major wildlife attraction has gained more than 100 international, national and regional awards for success in conservation, environment management education, science, and business excellence, including the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the category of Sustainable Development–the highest business accolade in the UK.
and Nigeria
. He completed his PhD at the University of London
with a thesis on the morphology of tropical fish.
In recent years, he has taken Chester Zoo from strength to strength to its current position as the sixth largest visitor attraction in the UK, with 6,000 animals of 600 species, half of them on the World Conservation Union’s
endangered list.
In 2008 Gordon was made an Honorary Doctor in Science for his contribution to knowledge of the natural world from the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Manchester Metropolitan University
(MMU). The conservation work of the zoo spans more than 50 countries, including Kenya, where it works with MMU
’s Behaviour and Ecology Group on the Chyulu Project for Rhino Conservation. MMU is soon to embark on a new Masters programme in Zoo Conservation Biology, jointly run with Chester Zoo
.
Chester Zoo
Chester Zoo is a zoological garden at Upton-by-Chester, in Cheshire, England. It was opened in 1931 by George Mottershead and his family, who used as a basis some animals reported to have come from an earlier zoo in Shavington. It is one of the UK's largest zoos at...
.
The North of England Zoological Society is an independent charity for conservation, education and science. It is also one of the leading wildlife attractions in the UK, receiving well over one million paying guests each year.
Under Gordon McGregor Reid’s leadership, this major wildlife attraction has gained more than 100 international, national and regional awards for success in conservation, environment management education, science, and business excellence, including the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the category of Sustainable Development–the highest business accolade in the UK.
Africa research
From humble beginnings as a 16-year-old technician in the zoology department at Glasgow University, Gordon rose to conduct leading research into marine life in BotswanaBotswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
and Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. He completed his PhD at the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
with a thesis on the morphology of tropical fish.
In recent years, he has taken Chester Zoo from strength to strength to its current position as the sixth largest visitor attraction in the UK, with 6,000 animals of 600 species, half of them on the World Conservation Union’s
World Conservation Union
The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources is an international organization dedicated to finding "pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges." The organization publishes the IUCN Red List, compiling information from a network of...
endangered list.
In 2008 Gordon was made an Honorary Doctor in Science for his contribution to knowledge of the natural world from the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Manchester Metropolitan University
Manchester Metropolitan University
Manchester Metropolitan University is a university in North West England. Its headquarters and central campus is in the city of Manchester, but there are outlying facilities in the county of Cheshire. It is the third largest university in the United Kingdom in terms of student numbers, behind the...
(MMU). The conservation work of the zoo spans more than 50 countries, including Kenya, where it works with MMU
Manchester Metropolitan University
Manchester Metropolitan University is a university in North West England. Its headquarters and central campus is in the city of Manchester, but there are outlying facilities in the county of Cheshire. It is the third largest university in the United Kingdom in terms of student numbers, behind the...
’s Behaviour and Ecology Group on the Chyulu Project for Rhino Conservation. MMU is soon to embark on a new Masters programme in Zoo Conservation Biology, jointly run with Chester Zoo
Chester Zoo
Chester Zoo is a zoological garden at Upton-by-Chester, in Cheshire, England. It was opened in 1931 by George Mottershead and his family, who used as a basis some animals reported to have come from an earlier zoo in Shavington. It is one of the UK's largest zoos at...
.
Recognition
President: rECOrd (Local Biological Records Centre for Cheshire)RECOrd (Local Biological Records Centre)
rECOrd is a Local Biological Records Centre serving Cheshire, Halton, Warrington and Wirral - 'The Cheshire region'. It provides a local facility for the storage, validation and usage of Cheshire-based biological data under the National Biodiversity Network project...