Global CSS - United States: Indianapolis Zoo
Established in 2019, the Global Center for Species Survival team consists of seven conservation experts with a taxonomic or thematic focus, a behaviour change specialist, a public relations specialist and a director. Current team members include Monika Böhm (freshwater), Cátia Canteiro (plants & fungi), Sérgio Henriques (invertebrates), Samuel Ivande (birds), Julia Geschke (amphibians & reptiles), Kelly Griese (PR) and Bill Street (director). The Global Center’s goal is to provide effective support to the SSC network to accelerate the progress from conservation risk assessment and action planning to concrete interventions that will save species. The Global Center also dramatically expanded the capacity to establish and foster partnerships, in particular between SSC Specialist Groups, taxon advisory groups, individual zoos and aquariums and with Association level programs such as AZA’s SAFE.
Supporting the Species Conservation
Support IUCN SSC Specialist Groups in achieving their targets and goals to save species
The Global Center team supports IUCN SSC Specialist Groups in a variety of ways. From contributing to species assessments and hosting webinars and workshops, to supporting the development of new specialist groups and recruiting new members. We also contribute content to the IUCN SSC’s “one-stop-shop” resource site for SSC members, Specialist Groups and Centers for Species Survival.
Communicate the work of the IUCN SSC to a wide audience
Through the Global Center website, social media, traditional media and direct communication with Specialist Group members, the Global Center team spreads the word about the incredible conservation work of the IUCN SSC to a global audience, utilizing the expertise of our Conservation Coordinators.
Connect Specialist Groups with the IUCN SSC and across the wider conservation world
The Global Center team connects Specialist Groups through workshops, webinars, assessments and publications.
Meet our team

Bill Street
Director. Bill is a passionate environmental educator, zoologist and conservationist. He has been a leader in zoos and aquariums for over 30 years. He assists and consults with zoological facilities.
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Monika Böhm
Freshwater Coordinator. With more than a decade’s experience supporting freshwater IUCN assessments, Dr Monika Böhm brings vast knowledge on the diverse conservation issues affecting freshwater ...
Cátia Canteiro
Plants and Fungi Coordinator. Cátia has been working with both plants and fungi across the different components of the conservation cycle, including on Red List assessments, environmental impact ...
Sérgio Henriques
Invertebrates Coordinator. Dr Sérgio Henriques uses his more than 20 years of experience mobilising resources to promote arachnid conservation. He also chairs the IUCN SSC Spider and Scorpion ...
Samuel Ivande
Birds Coordinator. Sam is a conservation biologist. With birds as focal species, his work (mostly in West Africa) has included a combination of fieldwork, citizen science, capacity building, and ...
Julia Geschke
Reptile and Amphibian Coordinator. Julia has worked with a variety of wildlife species and conservation organisations. She brings her experience with herpetofauna along with expertise in conservation ...
Justin Birkhoff
Mammal Conservation Coordinator. Justin has been working in the zoo and conservation space for over ten years, where he has focused on the intersection of in situ and ex situ conservation efforts. His ...
Laura Perry
Behaviour Change Coordinator. Laura has worked on the themes of human-wildlife conflict and coexistence around the world, particularly as they relate to human behaviour change. She has worked across a ...
Kelly Griese
Communications Coordinator. Kelly is an energetic advocate for the natural world. As the public relations specialist for the Global Center for Species Survival, she is tasked with helping the public ...