Our History

The below timeline provides an overview of the SSG history from when it was founded in 1991 by Dr Samuel Gruber (also known as 'Doc' or 'Sonny') with the support from Deputy Chair Sarah Fowler, to the present day.
 
IUCN SSC Specialist Groups disband and reform every three to four years, following the World Conservation Congress. IUCN's current quadrennium runs from 2021-2024.

1991 – 1993 (triennium)

Chair & Founder
  • Samuel H. Gruber | Bimini Biological Field Station | University of Miami | USA

Deputy Chair
  • Sarah Fowler | The Nature Conservation Bureau | United Kingdom

1994 – 1996 (triennium)

Chair (1994 – 1995)
  • Samuel H. Gruber | Bimini Biological Field Station | University of Miami | USA
Acting Chair (1995 – 1996)
  • Sarah Fowler | The Nature Conservation Bureau | United Kingdom​​

Deputy Chair | Eurasia & Africa
  • Sarah Fowler | The Nature Conservation Bureau | United Kingdom
Deputy Chairs | Americas & Oceania
  • Carl Safina | National Audubon Society | USA
  • Merry Camhi | National Audubon Society | USA

1997 – 2000 (quadrennium)

Chair
  • Sarah Fowler | The Nature Conservation Bureau | United Kingdom​​
  • Jack Musick | Virgina Institute of Marine Sciences | USA​​

Deputy Chair
  • Merry Camhi | National Audubon Society | USA

2001 – 2004 (quadrennium)

Chair
  • Sarah Fowler | The Nature Conservation Bureau | United Kingdom​​
  • Jack Musick | Virgina Institute of Marine Sciences | USA​​​

Deputy Chair
  • Merry Camhi | National Audubon Society | USA

​Program Officer
  • Rachel Cavanagh | The Nature Conservation Bureau | United Kingdom​

2005 – 2008 (quadrennium)

Chair
  • Sarah Fowler | The Nature Conservation Bureau | United Kingdom​
  • Jack Musick | Virgina Institute of Marine Sciences | USA​​​ (2005)
  • Andres Domingo Balestra | Dirección Nacional de Recursos Acuáticos | Uruguay (2006–2008)​

Deputy Chair
  • Merry Camhi | National Audubon Society | USA

​​Program Officer
  • Rachel Cavanagh | The Nature Conservation Bureau | United Kingdom​

2009 – 2012 (quadrennium)

Chair
  • ​​Nick Dulvy | Simon Fraser University | Canada
  • Andres Domingo Balestra | Dirección Nacional de Recursos Acuáticos | Uruguay​​

Deputy Chair
  • Sonja Fordham | Shark Advocates International | USA
​
​Program Officer
  • Lucy Harrison | Canada

2013 – 2016 (quadrennium)

Chair
  • ​​Nick Dulvy | Simon Fraser University | Canada
  • Colin Simpfendorfer | James Cook University | Australia​

Deputy Chair
  • Sonja Fordham | Shark Advocates International | USA

Program Officer
  • Rachel Walls | Simon Fraser University | Canada (2013 – 2015)
  • Julia M. Lawson | Canada (2015 – 2016)​​

Red List Authority Coordinator
  • ​Peter Kyne | Charles Darwin University | Australia​
  • Rachel Walls | Simon Fraser University | Canada (2013 – 2015)​

2017 – 2020 (quadrennium)

Chair
  • Nick Dulvy | Simon Fraser University | Canada
  • Colin Simpfendorfer | James Cook University | Australia

Deputy Chair
  • Sonja Fordham | Shark Advocates International | USA

Red List Authority Coordinator
  • Peter Kyne | Charles Darwin University | Australia
  • Cassandra Rigby | James Cook University | Australia
  • Riley Pollom | Simon Fraser University | Canada

Working Groups Chair
  • Trade: Shelley Clarke | Sasama Consulting | Japan
  • Traffic: Glenn Sant | TRAFFIC | Australia Vice-Chair
  • Taxonomy: David Ebert | Pacific Shark Research Center | USA
  • Strategy: Michelle Heupel | Australian Institute of Marine Research | Australia

Regional Groups and Regional Vice-Chairs
  • Northeast Atlantic: Edward Farrell (Ireland) & Heike Zidowitz (Germany)
  • Northwest Atlantic: Dave Kulka (Canada) & John Carlson (USA)
  • Northeast Pacific: David Ebert (USA) & Chris Lowe (USA)
  • Northwest Pacific: Alexei Orlov (Russia) & Atsuko Yamaguchi (Japan)
  • Southeast Asia: Fahmi (Indonesia) & Ahmad Bin Ali (Malaysia)
  • Indian Ocean: Rima Jabado (UAE) & Alec Moore (UK)
  • Sub-equatorial Africa: Simon Pierce (Mozambique) & Melita Samoilys (Kenya)
  • West Africa: Mika Diop (Senegal)
  • Central America and the Caribbean: Mario Espinoza (Costa Rica) & Oscar Sosa-Nishizaki (Mexico)
  • Western South America: Carlos Bustamante (Chile)
  • Eastern South America: Patricia Charvet (Brazil) & Vicente Faria (Brazil)
​
Program Officer
  • ​Wade VanderWright | Simon Fraser University | Canada​
  • Riley Pollom | Simon Fraser University | Canada
  • Helen F. Yan | Simon Fraser University | Canada (2019)

2021 – 2024 (quadrennium)

Chair
  • ​​Rima Jabado (United Arab Emirates​​​)

Red List Authority Coordinator
  • ​Cassandra Rigby (Australia)

Working Groups Chairs
  • Deep Sea: Brittany Finucci (New Zealand)
  • Bycatch: Dave W. Kulka (Canada) & Carlos Pérez-Jiménez (Mexico)
  • Integrative Taxonomy: Simon Weigmann (Germany)
  • Human Dimensions: Divya Karnad (India) & Hollie Booth (United Kingdom)
  • Aquarium: Lisa A. Hoopes (USA) & Paula Carlson (USA)
  • Future Leaders: Rachel Graham (Panama)
  • Assess: Cassandra Rigby (Australia)
  • Communication: Michael Scholl (Switzerland)

Regional Groups and Regional Vice-Chairs
  • North America: John Carlson (USA) & Chelsey Young (USA)
  • Central America and the Caribbean: Mario Espinoza (Costa Rica) & Oscar Sosa-Nishizaki (Mexico)
  • South America: Patricia Charvet-Almeida (Brazil), Vicente Faria (Brazil) & Carlos Bustamante (Chile)
  • Northern Europe: Heike Zidowitz (Germany) & Sophy R. McCully Phillips (United Kingdom)
  • Mediterranean: Fabrizio Serena (Italy) & Alen Soldo (Croatia)
  • Africa: Melita Samoilys (Kenya) & Mika S. Diop (Senegal)
  • Indian Ocean: Alec Moore (UK) & Daniel Fernando (Sri Lanka)
  • Asia: Fahmi (Indonesia) & Jie Zhang (China)
  • Oceania:​ Christine Dudgeon (Australia) & Alastair Harry (Australia)