About the
Wildlife Restoration Foundation
Wildlife Restoration Foundation is in the business of bringing healthy wildlife back to America’s land and seascapes. The work we do as a nongovernmental organization is rooted by partnerships and is growing fast. We empower partners to intervene with innovative—and very direct—conservation measures on the ground and in the water.
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Mission
Directly and measurably increase park wildlife population viability, health, and security through partnerships.
Board of Directors
The members of the WRF board represent philanthropy and experts in wildlife and habitat recovery, management and science, animal husbandry and health, technology, infrastructure and media.
Dan Ashe
President and CEO
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Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Sharon Deem DVM, PH.D., Dipl ACZM
Director, Institute for Conservation Medicine
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Saint Louis Zoo
Nik Dehejia
CEO
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Conservation Society of California/Oakland Zoo
Jesse Gilbert
President & CEO
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Texas State Aquarium
Shannon Hackley
Shannon Leigh Design- Strategic Placemaking
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Making Places for a Better World
Sally Mulvena
President and CEO
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Red River Zoo
Susan H. Lylis
Executive Vice President
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International Conservation Caucus Foundation
Tom McDonald
Tribal Council Chair, Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes
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Fish and Wildlife Division,
Department of Natural Resources Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes
Mary Wagner
Director of Communications
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Associate Chief (Retired),
U.S. Forest Service
Meet the Team
The members of the WRF board represent philanthropy and experts in wildlife and habitat recovery, management and science, animal husbandry and health, technology, infrastructure and media.
WRF staff work closely with both government and private sectors to establish productive and targeted partnerships to benefit wildlife.
WRF Project Partners implement wildlife recovery solutions in the field—both in situ and ex situ—and include government agencies, nonprofits, Tribes, and businesses that seek collaboratively-derived wildlife coexistence and support strategies.
Julie Anton Randall
Founder & President
Julie Anton Randall has over 20 years’ experience working for wildlife recovery and security across multiple sectors as human development expands. She founded the Zoo-Park Partnerships for America’s Keystone Wildlife Project with the Association of Zoos & Aquariums and National Park Service in 2017, then WRF in 2021. Prior, she served as Facilitator of the North American Intergovernmental Committee on Wilderness & Protected Areas Conservation composed of 6 federal protected area agency directors., managed the North American Save the Rhinos Campaign, and worked on Wilderness Foundation South Africa’s anti-poaching projects. Julie coordinated a 130-member coalition for the Wildlife Conservation Society, InterTribal Buffalo Council, and National Bison Association that achieved naming bison the U.S. National Mammal in 2016. She staffed the USDA National Organic Program in its upstart years, as an agricultural economist with deep appreciation for the value and challenges of farming and ranching. As a consultant and as WILD Foundation Vice President, Julie has managed many collaboratives compelling diverse stakeholders to forge common solutions. She holds a B.A. from the University of California Santa Barbara and M.A. from Stanford University.
Bridget Burns
Director of Conservation & Operations
Bridget Burns brings hands-on animal care experience to WRF and is dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and their habitats. While earning her Bachelor’s degree in Captive Wildlife Care and Education at Unity College in Maine, she volunteered and interned at several wildlife refuges, nature centers, zoos, and animal rehabilitation facilities. After working for a time as a zookeeper for Ross Park Zoo in New York, she moved to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem to join the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center (GWDC), becoming Lead Keeper and a member of the conservation and research team as well as liaison for GWDC’s Zoo-Park Partnership with Yellowstone National Park. She continues to serve as GWDC’s Conservation Coordinator part-time. She is also a key collaborator for Forest Breeze Conservation, a non profit centered around Forest Elephant conservation.
Addison Dunn
Website & Tech Manager
Addison Dunn is responsible for managing the WRF website and is committed to using technology to support the science and communications applications that benefit wildlife and parks and WRF’s partnerships. He holds Bachelor’s degrees in computer science and business from the University of Virginia. His work experience includes sales for Zello, a walkie-talkie mobile app company based in Austin, Texas, and his current role as Full Stack Engineer at Dimagi, a socially impactful technology company with operations in the United States, India and South Africa designed to build mobile apps that provide better data and new tools for solving societal problems.
Olivia Kramer
Wildlife Conservation Tech Specialist
Olivia has always been passionate about the natural world, leading to a career as an advocate for it. In May of 2023, to follow that commitment, she obtained a B.S. in Conservation Biology and Biodiversity, seamlessly blending academic excellence with hands-on experience—War Eagle! During her time at Auburn, she immersed herself in native bee research with the Auburn University Bee Lab, exploring the impacts of agriculture and environmental triggers on the Southeast native bee population. Olivia furthered her expertise through an internship at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park and Conservation Biology Institute, contributing to the renovation of a migratory birdhouse exhibit and excelling in husbandry practices. Committed to conservation messaging, Olivia is a seasoned wildlife conservationists committed to strengthening wildlife coexistence and stewardship.
Garret Parker
Wildlife Conservation Tech Specialist
Garret Parker Jr. brings an unwavering passion for wildlife ecology and is deeply committed to the advancement of conservation efforts and wildlife preservation. He holds a B.S. degree in Biology with a special concentration in Ecology, Conservation, and Evolution from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. Garret has actively sought professional experiences that extend beyond academia in wildlife research and fieldwork, making significant contributions to rat snake hibernacula and dormancy pattern research and learning effective species management at Southern Illinois University. Additionally, Garret has completed extensive fieldwork and research using DNA and PCR analysis, gleaning important insights into the role of parasites and their impact on key amphibian species in the greater Southern Illinois area. These experiences have equipped Garret with valuable skills in radio telemetry, game camera surveying, data collection and analysis, and wildlife management
WRF Advisors
WRF Advisors are esteemed colleagues with expertise in wildlife and habitat field conservation and other matters directly connected to the WRF mission. WRF calls upon them to provide keen insights and valuable advice on best practices and novel approaches to conducting the highest priority wildlife restoration measures in and around parks with help of AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums, park gateway communities, and other WRF partners.
Acknowledgements
Arnold & Porter provides expert and comprehensive legal services to WRF on a pro bono basis.
Marcum LLP is providing pro bono accounting services to WRF.
Anna Mullin designed the logo for WRF and is an illustrator currently living in Denver, CO. She works in many mediums and outlets in her spare time, and recently published her first children's book "One Tomato."
Addison Dunn
Website & Tech Manager
Addison Dunn is responsible for managing the WRF website and is committed to using technology to support the science and communications applications that benefit wildlife and parks and WRF’s partnerships. He holds Bachelor’s degrees in computer science and business from the University of Virginia. His work experience includes sales for Zello, a walkie-talkie mobile app company based in Austin, Texas, and his current role as Full Stack Engineer at Dimagi, a socially impactful technology company with operations in the United States, India and South Africa designed to build mobile apps that provide better data and new tools for solving societal problems.
WRF Advisors
WRF Advisors are esteemed colleagues with expertise in wildlife and habitat field conservation and other matters directly connected to the WRF mission. WRF calls upon them to provide keen insights and valuable advice on best practices and novel approaches to conducting the highest priority wildlife restoration measures in and around parks with help of AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums, park gateway communities, and other WRF partners.