Board of Directors
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Dr. Kerry M. Kriger -- Executive Director
Santa Cruz, California, USA
Dr. Kriger is the Founder & Executive Director of SAVE THE FROGS!, America's first and only public charity dedicated to protecting amphibians. He conceived and coordinates Save The Frogs Day, the world's largest day of amphibian education and conservation action. Dr. Kriger holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Science from Griffith University in Gold Coast, Australia, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA. He is a recognized expert on the amphibian disease chytridiomycosis, a topic on which he has published 15 articles in peer-reviewed international scientific journals. Dr. Kriger's research into amphibian declines has been supported by the National Geographic Society and various philanthropic organizations throughout the world, and he has presented the results of his research at scientific conferences in several countries. He has previously done research on endangered Hawaiian birds, and on the biophysical properties of amino acids involved in cystic fibrosis. He has taught university courses in Ecology, Vertebrate Biology, Applied Mathematics and Chemistry, has written and edited chapters for encyclopedias, and is fluent in Spanish. He has climbed mountains in the Himalayas, Alps, Alaska Range, Southern Alps and the Andes, and is an avid photographer whose photographs have been featured on CNN and in airports and magazines worldwide. You can learn more about Dr. Kriger here or view his CV here.
Dr. Jean-Marc Hero
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Dr. Hero is an ecologist and associate professor at Griffith University in Gold Coast, Australia. He serves as Secretary General Elect of the World Congress of Herpetology, former President and current Committee Member of the Australian Society of Herpetologists, Project Leader of PPBio - Australasia, and Deputy Director of the Centre for Innovative Conservation Strategies. His expertise in ecology stems from his extensive experience with amphibians, spanning over twenty years and across several continents. Dr. Hero has conducted fieldwork in Australia, Brazil, Fiji and Nepal. He has been on the forefront of global amphibian declines since they were first detected and has published three books, six book chapters, one monograph, forty-eight refereed journal articles, twenty-two non-refereed reports/articles, two posters, and one audiocassette. His current research focuses on detecting the impacts of climate change on Australian frog species. During his 14 years as an academic, he has supervised numerous graduate and undergraduate students who have successful completed their degrees; he currently supervises five PhD students, and two Masters students. You can view his CV here.
David Speiser
New York, NY, USA
Mr. Speiser has an expertise in organizational and strategic planning, having spent over 15 years as a management and operations consultant and project manager for global financial institutions. Mr. Speiser is also a wildlife photographer and nature enthusiast who is committed to conservation. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the New York City Audubon Society.
He has “birded” in nearly every state in the U.S. and on six continents, where he has seen (and in many cases photographed) over 4,000 birds. Mr. Speiser has led bird walks for environmental educators, ornithological researchers, and NYC public elementary school groups. A series of his photographs of North American birds was recently used for an educational talk and poster on bird migration for the Central Park Zoo, where he has served as a volunteer guide in the education department since 2003. He received his bachelor of science from Cornell University in 1991, and currently lives in Manhattan with his wife and daughter. You can see his bird photos (and photos of his beautiful daughter Liliana) here.
Jason Ayres
Portland, Oregon, USA
Mr. Ayres received a degree in Environmental and Natural Resources Law from the Lewis and Clark School of Law in Portland, Oregon, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Virginia. He has been practicing law since 2000 and is currently an attorney with Farleigh Wada Witt in Portland, Oregon. Mr. Ayres is a strong advocate of wildlife conservation, and is also an avid hiker and flyfisher. He spends his spare time in the Cascades wilderness of the Pacific Northwest.
Jonathan Tourzan
San Francisco, CA, USA
Jonathan has extensive training with non-profits and community action. He is the Founder & Executive Director of the Askari Scholarship for Women in Math and Science, and also works with the Africa Book Drive and the Spanish Harlem Community Center. He holds a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Imperial College, London, and received a B.A in Economics, a B.A in South Asian Languages, and a minor in Mathematics from the University of California, Berkeley. Jonathan spent several years as a telecommunications consultant to Sony and other companies in Silicon Valley, and served on the Board of Directors of Creating Our Future. Jonathan won the Yoshiyama Award for Service and was one of President George Bush's 1000 Points of Light. In high school he helped pass the nation’s first mandatory cardboard recycling program in his hometown of Los Altos, a program that was later replicated throughout the state. He also worked with World Neighbors in Kenya, helping to build a school in a Maasai Village, and a medical dispensary in a Kikuyu Village.
Ashish Bagal
Dr. Bagal is a physician and neurophysiologist. He received his MD/Ph.D. from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and his bachelor’s degree with high honors in Biology from Cornell University. Dr. Bagal completed a postdoctoral fellowship in neurophysiology, and currently continues his training in clinical medicine. He received his environment al training from Legacy International and helped establish a cardboard recycling program at The Mall in Columbia. He has also travelled to the former Soviet Union as an American Ambassador for The U.S. Information Agency to support green initiatives abroad. Dr. Bagal recognizes how critical survival of amphibian species is for biodiversity and maintaining the balance in nature.
Rochelle Owen - Secretary
Bio coming soon!
Interested in serving on the Board?
SAVE THE FROGS! is currently seeking board members to assist with our worldwide amphibian conservation efforts. If you feel you have expertise that would contribute to our Board, please let us know.
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Board of Directors