DR. AMAËL BORZÉE. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group Co-Chair
Amaël became co-chair in 2022, after being deputy chair between 2021 and 2022. He is also the ASG webmaster since 2018. He completed a Master in behavioural ecology in Switzerland and a PhD on amphibian conservation in the Republic of Korea. He is currently a professor at Nanjing Forestry University in Nanjing, P.R. China where he leads the Laboratory of Animal Behaviour and Conservation. His research focuses on amphibian behaviour, phylogeny, ecology, taxonomy and conservation in northeast Asia. He would also like to work on determining what makes amphibian species threatened and how to best protect their environment. He has published over 150 peer-reviewed articles on his main research focus. aborzee[at]amphibians.org.
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SALLY WREN. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group Co-Chair
The main focus of Sally’s role as ASG’s Conservation Planning Officer since 2013 is the update of the global Amphibian Conservation Action Plan (ACAP). Sally is also co-facilitator of the ASG Species Conservation Planning Working Group and is the ASG Secretariat Lead Contact on the subjects of translocations and captive management. Prior to working with the ASG Sally spent several years at the Zoological Society of London; there she worked on IUCN Red List assessments of freshwater fish and reptile species for the Red List Index, helped develop the EDGE Amphibians conservation initiative, and managed both the EDGE Fellows Programme and ZSL’s Mongolia Programme. Sally has a BSc in Zoology from Imperial College London, an MSc in Conservation from University College London, and is currently working towards a PhD at the University of Otago, which focuses on improving conservation methods for amphibians, with particular emphasis on effective conservation planning and translocations. swren[at]amphibians.org.
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DR. RUTH MARCEC-GREAVES. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group Programme Officer
Dr. Ruth Marcec-Greaves is the Executive Officer for the Honduras Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Center (HARCC). Prior to that she was Director of the Detroit Zoo’s National Amphibian Conservation Center. Ruth has a DVM (University of Illinois) and a PhD in Animal Physiology (Mississippi State University). During her PhD, Ruth’s dissertation focused on captive breeding of amphibians and developing amphibian assisted reproductive technologies for salamanders. Although her background is in reproduction, physiology, and veterinary medicine, Ruth participates in a wide variety of amphibian conservation efforts around the globe. Some of these efforts include: reintroductions and survivability monitoring, population surveys, epidemiology studies, habitat restoration, genetic studies, natural history research, and climate change issues. Ruth works with multiple organizations, including ASA, IUCN, and AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) with the goal of encouraging collaboration between amphibian conservationists across multiple venues and multiple fields of expertise. Ruth is part of the team updating the Amphibian Conservation Action Plan.
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JIGME TSHELTHRIM WANGYAL. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group Regional and Membership Program Officer
Jigme is a doctoral candidate at the School of Environment and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, Australia. A pioneer in Bhutanese herpetology, he started herpetofauna research in Bhutan in 2008. He obtained a M. Sc in Biodiversity, Wildlife and Ecosystem Health from the University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom, and advocates the use of citizen science to understand the mostly unexplored herpetofauna of the Kingdom of Bhutan. He is also a Research Fellow with the Bhutan Ecological Society since 2021 and also served the Royal Government of Bhutan for two and half decades as forester.
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FRANCIS BOAFO ASAMOAH. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group Outreach Program Officer.
Francis is a final year Masters student with the Department of Wildlife and Range Management at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. During his undergraduate studies, Francis was a team leader of Save Ghana Frogs, West Africa’s first amphibian conservation organization. He was part of the team of scientists who discovered the largest number of the West African Giant Squeaker frog in a single survey period after its rediscovery. He is a passionate environmental communicator with over 7 years of expertise working with various conservation organizations. Francis is presently one of WWF’s Top 100 Young African conservation leaders.
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VISHAL KUMAR PRASAD. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group Liaison Officer.
Vishal is pursuing his Ph.D. at the Laboratory of Animal Behaviour and Conservation, Nanjing Forestry University, P.R. China. His academic journey began with a Master of Science in Environment Science and Technology from Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Pune, India, which laid the foundation for his contributions to the field. With prior research experience at the Wildlife Institute of India, his experience extends across a spectrum of areas, encompassing amphibian bioacoustics, behaviour, ecology, systematics, and conservation in Asia. vkprasad[at]amphibians.org.
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DR. IZABELA BARATA. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group Program Officer
Dr Izabela Barata works at Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust coordinating Durrell’s global programme Saving Amphibians from Extinction (S.A.F.E) and at Instituto Biotrópicos where she leads the Amphibian Programme in Brazil. With a PhD in Biodiversity Management from the University of Kent, she is interested in the ecology and conservation of species and their habitats, with a special focus on rare and threatened montane tropical species. She joins the team to strengthen the ASG as a network, facilitating collaborations and encouraging engagement and interaction with a special focus on the Americas. izabarata[at]amphibians.org
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DASI ONG. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group Webinar Officer
Dasi Ong, a devoted amphibian conservation researcher with a Master’s in Physiology and pursuing a Ph.D. in Analytical Biochemistry at Universiti Sains Malaysia, conducts multidisciplinary research on bioacoustics, proteomics, and ecology. Her focus is on the ecological proteomics of amphibians in Northern Peninsular Malaysia. As a Nature Educator at NatureClassroom (NGO), Penang, Dasi actively promotes environmental education through initiatives like “Into the World of Frogs.” She is also engaged in co-mentoring for bioacoustics equipment and training programs in Indonesia and Malaysia (Bleeding Toad Indonesia Bioacoustics group), Lisa Yang Centre for Conservation, Cornell University. Dasi’s academic journey and outreach efforts demonstrate her profound dedication to advancing amphibian conservation and environmental awareness. ong.dasi3[at]amphibians.org
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MARIA JOSE CHANG. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group Webinar Officer
María José is a biologist from Guatemala currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Biology at the University of San Carlos of Guatemala. She was an EDGE fellow during the 2021-2023 Latin America program. Her academic focus has been on the research and conservation of amphibians, with a specific emphasis on the cloud forests of Guatemala. She is passionate about promoting amphibian conservation by preserving their habitats and advocating for environmental education to foster community-driven conservation initiatives. mchang[at]amphibians.org
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DR. STEVEN ALLAIN. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group Webinar Officer
Dr. Steven Allain is an amphibian conservationist and researcher based at Anglia Ruskin University in the United Kingdom, where his research covers aspects of ecology, emerging infectious diseases, bioacoustics and population genetics. Steven has a BSc in Zoology from Anglia Ruskin University, an MSc in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation from Imperial College College London, and a PhD in Biodiversity Management from the University of Kent. Steven works with a number of different organisations within Europe to help encourage local people and governments to help protect their amphibian populations, while also collecting citizen science data to provide an understanding of species distribution and health. sallain[at]amphibians.org
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DR. FRANCO ANDREONE. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group Webmaster
After graduating in Biological Sciences at the University of Turin Franco obtained a PhD at the Alma Mater Studiorum in Bologna. A Zoology Curator and editor of publications at the Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali in Turin, he has been Deputy Editor of Acta Herpetologica, ZooKeys and Alytes, and President of the International Society for the Study and Conservation of the Amphibians. Currently he is Editor-In-Chief of Natural History Collections and Museomics and of Animals (herpetology section), and Associate Editor of Phyllomedusa – Journal of Herpetology. Franco also acted as Co-Editor for the Atlas of Amphibians and Reptiles of Piedmont and Aosta Valley and for the Fauna of Italy volume on amphibians. He carries out research on the herpetofauna of Madagascar, where he coordinated the ASG Madagascar for 15 years and organised the scientific meetings “A Conservation Strategy for the Amphibians of Madagascar” (ACSAM) and the following “Sahonagasy Action Plan” dedicated to the conservation of the endemic amphibian fauna.
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JANICE CHANSON. Red List Authority Global Co-Coordinator
Janice currently coordinates regional partnerships and implementation of the GAA3. She was part of the original team that completed the first GAA in 2004 and joined the ARLA team in 2020 to complete the GAA2. Based in Brisbane, Australia she also oversees Re:wild’s conservation work in Australia. jchanson[at]amphibians.org.
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KELSEY NEAM. Red List Authority Global Programme Officer
Kelsey joined the ARLA in November 2015 and managed all New World amphibian assessments for the GAA2. She is currently the Species Priorities and Metrics Coordinator at Re:wild and is based in Washington, D.C., USA. kneam[at]amphibians.org.
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LOUISE HOBIN. Amphibian Red List Authority Coordinator for Africa, Europe and Asia (2015-2024)
Louise joined the ARLA in March 2015, and managed all Old World amphibian assessments for the GAA2 until its completion in July 2022. She rejoined in July 2024 and is currently the ARLA coordinator for Africa, Europe and Asia. She is based in Cornwall, UK.
