Debborah Luke, Ph.D.

Senior Vice President of Conservation

Dr. Debi Luke serves as The Florida Aquarium’s senior vice president of conservation and is an internationally recognized leader with more than 30 years of marine and environmental conservation leadership experience. Utilizing a science-based, impact-driven approach, she ensures that conservation is infused throughout the Tampa and Apollo Beach campuses of the Aquarium, including messaging, science, action, and sustainable business practices. She also manages the Aquarium’s local, regional, and international portfolio of conservation that strategically focuses on conservation initiatives that amplify staff’s expertise, leverage and promote partnerships, and maximize the ability to serve as Florida’s leading conservation-based aquarium.

Of note, Debi manages teams that lead the Aquarium’s globally recognized Coral and Sea Turtle Conservation Programs and advances conservation priorities to safeguard imperiled wildlife, generate healthy habitats, reduce single-use plastic consumption and pollution, and advance sustainable business operations.

Previously, Debi served as senior vice president of conservation and science for nearly a decade at the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA). She successfully launched the field conservation programs that supported SAFE, AZA’s premier Saving Animals From Extinction program. Debi intimately understands the workings of an aquarium, having served as the director of education and research at Sea Life Park in Hawaii, and as the director of manatee care and research (along with various roles) throughout her 13 years at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium.

Debi is no stranger to Tampa, having earned her doctorate and master’s degree in cognitive neuroscience and marine science from the University of South Florida and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from New College in Sarasota.

KEYWORDS: Conservation, Sea Turtle Conservation, Coral Conservation, Safeguarding Imperiled Wildlife, Generating Healthy Habitats, Reducing Single-Use Plastic Consumption and Pollution, Advancing Sustainable Business Operations, Aquarium Management, Manatees