Jamnagar: Vantara has appointed GENERAL JOHN E SCANLON, also known as John E. Scanlon AO, as the inaugural independent Chair of its newly established five-member Governing Council. The appointment brings an internationally recognised conservation and environmental policy expert into a senior oversight role as Vantara works to strengthen its governance, animal welfare practices, conservation approach and internal decision-making processes.
The newly created Governing Council will serve as Vantara’s highest governing body. It will have overall responsibility for overseeing the organisation’s conservation, animal care and rehabilitation, and compliance activities. One of its most significant responsibilities will be holding final authority over decisions involving the acquisition of animals.
Vantara said Scanlon’s appointment forms part of a broader effort to reset and strengthen its operations following external advice and recommendations. The organisation has said it intends to improve its internal due diligence, governance structures, specialist expertise and operational processes while placing greater emphasis on supporting conservation efforts in natural habitats.
GENERAL JOHN E SCANLON to Lead Vantara’s New Governing Council
Speaking about his appointment, Scanlon said Vantara had sought external advice and was prepared to act on the recommendations it received as part of its operational reset.
According to Scanlon, the organisation is voluntarily strengthening its internal governance, expertise and due diligence procedures. He also highlighted a shift in Vantara’s conservation strategy, with greater attention being placed on supporting countries with conservation work in natural habitats, including initiatives within India.
The move represents an important change in the way Vantara intends to approach wildlife conservation. Rather than relying primarily on ex situ rescue, which involves caring for animals outside their natural habitats, the organisation is looking to increase its support for in situ conservation, where wildlife protection and conservation take place within natural ecosystems.
Scanlon said that as Vantara implements these changes and incorporates them into its everyday operations, the organisation could have an increasingly significant international role in animal welfare, wildlife conservation and promoting peaceful coexistence between humans and animals.
He added that he looked forward to helping Vantara carry out the recommended reforms and contributing to what he described as a lasting and transformative impact.
Independent Oversight Will Be Central to Vantara’s New Structure
The appointment of Scanlon comes after he was initially approached by Vantara in April. At that stage, he was asked to independently assess the organisation and prepare a report containing recommendations for improvement.
Vantara engaged Scanlon under terms designed to maintain his independence from the organisation. Following several extensive visits, he completed and submitted his independent report along with a series of recommendations.
Vantara subsequently committed to implementing those recommendations in full. Following the completion of that review, Scanlon was asked to take on additional responsibilities in an independent capacity, helping the organisation implement the recommendations while also providing broader guidance and support.
His latest role as Chair of the Governing Council continues that independent relationship. Vantara said Scanlon has been engaged as an independent adviser in carrying out his responsibilities as Chair.
The new governance structure is expected to provide an additional layer of oversight across major conservation, animal care and compliance decisions. The Governing Council’s authority over animal acquisition decisions is particularly significant because such decisions can have wide-ranging implications for animal welfare, conservation objectives, veterinary care and long-term management.
Scanlon Brings Decades of International Conservation Experience
GENERAL JOHN E SCANLON brings extensive experience from the fields of environmental protection, wildlife conservation and sustainable development.
Trained as a lawyer, Scanlon has worked across every continent and has held senior positions in the private sector, government, the United Nations, international organisations and not-for-profit institutions.
His career has focused heavily on environmental law, wildlife protection, international conservation policy and sustainable development. Over the years, he has worked with organisations and institutions dealing with some of the world’s most complex environmental and wildlife challenges.
His international experience is one of the key factors behind his appointment to Vantara’s new governing body. His background combines legal expertise, international policy experience, organisational leadership and practical conservation work.
Scanlon has also developed a reputation for long-term strategic thinking and for helping organisations turn environmental policies and conservation objectives into practical action.
Officer of the Order of Australia Recognition
Scanlon’s contribution to wildlife conservation has received significant international recognition.
In 2019, he was awarded the Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to wildlife conservation and protection through his work with international organisations.
He has also received several other notable honours during his career. These include the Adelaide University Distinguished Alumni Award, the Chinese Government Friendship Award, the Financial Crime Fighter of the Year Award and the UNEP Baobab Award for Innovation.
These honours reflect the breadth of his work across conservation, environmental protection, international cooperation and institutional leadership.
Scanlon’s International Leadership Record
Before joining Vantara’s Governing Council, Scanlon held a wide range of senior positions across international environmental and conservation institutions.
Among his most prominent roles was serving as Secretary-General of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Geneva. CITES is an important international framework governing trade in wildlife species and products to ensure that such trade does not threaten the survival of protected species.
His previous positions also include Principal Policy Advisor with the United Nations Environment Programme in Nairobi and Director of the Environmental Law Centre at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Bonn.
Scanlon has also served as a Trustee of the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew in London and as Chair of the Global Initiative to End Wildlife Crime in Hong Kong.
His other leadership and advisory positions have included Chair of the UK Government’s Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund Advisory Group, Executive President of the International Council of Environmental Law in Madrid and Strategic Advisor to the World Commission on Dams in Cape Town.
His public-sector career has included serving as Chief Executive Officer of the Department for Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs in Adelaide, Chair of the Environment Protection Authority in Sydney and Commissioner of the Murray-Darling Basin Commission in Canberra.
He has also served as a member of the Steering Committee of the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law.
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A New Phase for Vantara
The appointment of GENERAL JOHN E SCANLON marks a significant step in Vantara’s effort to establish a stronger governance framework around its conservation and animal welfare activities.
With the Governing Council now positioned as the organisation’s peak governing body, Vantara is placing greater emphasis on independent oversight, internal due diligence and specialist expertise.
Scanlon’s role will involve helping guide the implementation of the recommendations arising from his independent assessment while overseeing the broader responsibilities of the Governing Council.
For Vantara, the focus now moves from announcing the changes to embedding them into day-to-day operations. The organisation’s stated shift towards greater in situ conservation support, combined with stronger governance and oversight, is expected to shape its future approach to wildlife conservation and animal welfare.
With Scanlon bringing decades of experience from international conservation organisations, government institutions, environmental law and global wildlife policy, his appointment gives Vantara an experienced independent voice at the highest level of its governance structure.
The success of this new framework will ultimately depend on how effectively Vantara implements the recommended changes and maintains strong standards across conservation, animal care, rehabilitation, compliance and animal acquisition decisions. The establishment of the Governing Council represents the organisation’s latest step in that process.
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