Brenda Melton, Executive Director

With over 25 years of experience in animal care and organizational leadership, Brenda has dedicated her career to the wellbeing of animals and, through them, enriching the lives of people. Starting as a zookeeper in the zoo and aquarium field, she worked with a wide variety of species — including barnyard animals — and advanced into senior leadership, most recently directing a team of 50 animal care professionals and overseeing a multi-million dollar budget and essential animal wellbeing programs at the Steinhart Aquarium, California Academy of Sciences. Brenda has previously worked in animal care at the San Francisco Zoo and the Oakland Zoo.