Louise Grossfeldt

As outlined below, my career has been defined by the educating and management of people and animals in a range of different platforms. My interest in education stemmed from an early age and I undertook a Diploma of Education completed in 1991. My career changed direction when I landed a job at Taronga Zoo in 1992, this was where I was able to merge my two key interests – teaching and animal care. While working as a zookeeper, I was also able to play a key role in the teaching of the Cert 3 Captive animals’ course through the Taronga Training institute. Although I have spent a lot of time working within the animal industry, I have remained connected and current within the educational sector being able to draw upon these skills and knowledge, to continue to inspire people. I was employed by the Taronga Training Institute for around five years where I also contributed to the development of new courses to create face to face and online learning opportunities in key interest areas: Primate Care and Management. This course was a great success, and I was able to support growth within the TTI learning platform. In 2015 I secured employment at TAFE NSW where I remain a current teacher in the Agribusiness sector. I have been involved in the delivery of several certified courses at the Richmond campus, including Cert 2 and 3 animal studies and Cert 3 Captive animals, now superseded by Cert 3 Wildlife and Exhibited Animal Care. Talented Manager with expert team leadership, planning, and organizational skills built during successful career. Smoothly equip employees to independently handle daily functions and meet customer needs. Diligent trainer and mentor with exceptional management abilities and results-driven approach.

• Assessor – TAFE DIGITAL, TAFE, NSW, 01/01/1999, 12/31/2015
• Skills point consultant for the Development of the new Zookeeping Qualification, TAFE, NSW, 01/01/2022
• Animal Collections Manager/Primate Curator, Sydney Zoo, 01/01/2021
• Manager, Life Sciences: Staff and animal Management, Mogo Zoo, 01/01/2019, 12/31/2020
• Curator Collections: staff and animal management, Mogo Zoo, 01/01/2016, 12/31/2018
• Teacher, Richmond, Cert 3 Captive Animal Management, TAFE, NSW, 01/01/2015, 12/31/2016
• Unit Supervisor Primates: ongoing staff, animal, and curatorial management relevant to area., TAFE, NSW, 01/01/1999, 12/31/2015
• TTI trainer and Assessor: Teaching the Cert 3 in Captive Animals, TTI/TCSA, 01/01/2010, 12/31/2015
• ASMP Primate Co-TAG Convenor: provide husbandry advice and species management support relevant to areas of expertise., ZAA/SZ, 01/01/2010, 12/31/2019
• Presenter on chimp behaviour and connection to leadership styles - group presentation and ability to engage with a variety of audiences., Hard Wired In., 01/01/2009, 12/31/2015
• BOS Australia – Husbandry and Welfare advice. Contributed to the development of the Orangutan education program., BOS Australia, 01/01/2002
• Keeper – husbandry duties, Taronga Zoo, 01/01/1992, 12/31/1999

• VELG – which offers ongoing opportunities to remain current within the industry.
• Skills IMPACT- government body to provide advice on learning and training needs.
• ASZK Membership – link to the animal care industry.
• Vice President of the Bornean Orangutan Society Australia – provide advice on enrichment and welfare management practices.

• TAFE students taken to Borneo in 2019 to participate in an enrichment volunteer program.
• Species Management Roles – Squirrel Monkeys, Ruffed Lemurs, Siamangs and Spider Monkeys. I manage the regional population for these species and liase with both the European and North American populations. Relevant to the Collection Planning units in the Animal Care qualification.
• Primate Tag Co Convenor - New World Monkeys – share this role with the Old-World tag Convenor-responsible for overseeing the regional Primate Programs.
• 2010 – 2015 - TTI trainer and assessor for Captive Animal Studies at Taronga Zoo
• Welfare reviews for Non releasable Orangutans in Indonesia 2016/17/18/19/20 – Covid prevented this to continue.
• 2008 – Current, various public speaking events on Orangutan biology and the threats facing them in the wild, on behalf of BOS Australia. Facilitated the update of the Orangufriends Education Program.
• 2009/10 – Sydney University lecture on Primate Behaviour to vet students.
• Welfare code and reviews for Bornean Orangutan Survival Indonesia as above – this is an ongoing role.
• 2016/2018 – Staff and Animal management of Carnivore, Ungulates and Primates for Mogo Zoo. Looking at the acquisition of a new primate species, enrichment and training routines for all taxa and establishment of current and relevant SOP’s, and emergency procedures.
• 2015/16 – Consultation on Primate Sanctuary Banana Cabana.
• 2015- Book release, Our Primate Family – in consultation with David Blissett – forward for the book written by Jane Goodall.
• 2013, starred as one of the presenters in ’60 minutes’ document on Orangutans and the release of three animals back to the wild.
• 2015 – assist Orana Park NZ with the development of their Great Ape facility.
• 2012 - Asian wildlife expert and guest lecturer, Orion Cruise Trip to Borneo – joint presenter with Birute Galdikas on a two-week SPEAKING tour.
• 2010- 2015 Motivational speaker, providing talks on chimp behaviour and how this helps support understanding leadership styles. Andrew O’Keeffe’s Hardwired Humans Leadership program – provide an hour presentation on chimp behaviour to company leaders and how this is related to Human behaviour.
• 2009 - Invited to Wellington Zoo to consult on primate management – report presented to Director on observations.

• Amanka Stories, Book Published 2020 – Co Author David Blissett
• Our Primate Family, Book published 2015- Co Author David Blissett
• LG 2002 Title (gorilla training) International Zookeepers Conference, Amsterdam
• Grossfeldt L 2001 Gorilla training ARAZPA conference, Singapore.
• LG 2008 Relocation of gorillas to Japan and their subsequent management, International Gorilla conference, Florida
• AJ Peel, L Vogelnest, M Finnagan, LG, JK O’Brien 2005 Non-invasive faecal hormone analysis and behavioural observations for monitoring stress responses in captive western lowland gorillas Gorilla gorilla gorilla. Zoo Biology 24(5): 431-445
• LG, 1994 Cotton top tamarin introductions and management. Internal publication.

• FLEXIBLE
• ORGANISED
• TEAM PLAYER
• DRIVEN
• APPROACHABLE