Simon Duffy, 44, was educated in Wagga, from primary school to tertiary education, before making the trek to Sydney where he is now director of Taronga Zoo.

Over the years, Simon has received many accolades.

The latest among them is being appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (general division) in recognition of his work in wildlife conservation, both in Australia and for primate species in Africa.

He is among an inspiring cohort of national heroes named on the Australia Day 2019 Honours List.

“I feel really honoured and privileged to have received this award,” Mr Duffy said.

“But also very fortunate that I’ve been able to work with the people and projects that I have over my career.

“I am also proud of Taronga and the journey it has been on in its transformation from a traditional zoo to a zoo-based conservation organisation.

“A zoo visit today is about being inspired by some of the world’s wildlife while also discovering ways each of us can live more sustainably and conserve wildlife.”

His passion for the welfare of wildlife has been at the forefront of all initiatives he is involved with.

“Growing up in Wagga, there were lots of opportunities to be out in nature and the bush,” he said.

“That really kick-started my interest, as well as having lots of pets.”

Simon, who has three brothers including a twin, said he had “every pet you could imagine”.

“My parents were really great in letting me do that,” he said.

A long-time employee of Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Simon started as a work-experience zoo keeper at Taronga Western Plains Zoo when he was just 15.

After university, he secured a role in Taronga Sydney’s education team, relocating from his hometown to Sydney in 1996.

Since that time, Simon has held various roles at Taronga, including nine years in the position of director of Wildlife Conservation and Science.

Asked about his highlights, Simon said there had been many, including leading the conservation team when they released the 50,000th animal to the wild, helping launch Taronga’s sustainable seafood campaign and being involved in developing Taronga’s Institute of Science and Learning.

“At Taronga, we talk about a 360-degree commitment to wildlife,” he said.

“Which means we don’t just focus on wildlife, but we have a holistic focus that also includes communities and habitats.

“Taronga’s skills in caring for small populations of wildlife, wildlife ecology, veterinary health, biosecurity, nutrition, community education and animal welfare is increasingly being called upon for the recovery and conservation of wildlife in Australia and around the world.”

As well as being recognised for his commitment to the conservation of local species, Simon also received an Order of Australia medal for his work with endangered primate species in Africa.

Simon’s father, Bruce Duffy, said the whole family was proud of the recognition Simon has received.

“We’ve always been very proud of all our sons and all they’ve achieved,” Bruce said.

“For Simon, this is a recognition from his peers.”

Bruce recalled Simon as a child growing up around animals, saying they were a part of him.

“He brought home many weird and wonderful animals,” Bruce said.

“A pet goat that jumped the shed and gate, it did everything but stayed on the ground.

“I can remember when he started at the zoo, they had a ‘zoomobile’ that they brought to Wagga schools to teach kids about Australian animals.”

Since his first meeting with renowned primatologist Jane Goodall in 1997, Simon has worked with the Jane Goodall Institute on primate conservation and volunteered in chimpanzee sanctuaries in Uganda, Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“In my first year at the zoo, I was really lucky to have met Dr Goodall,” Simon said.

“She’s a messenger of peace and hope around conservation.”

Simon said all his experiences have been life changing.

“I work with chimpanzees that were orphaned by the illegal pet and bushmeat trade and with people who are dedicating their lives to wildlife despite the horrific troubles and daily challenges they have to face in their homes,” he said.

“The stories of struggle, hope, and commitment to a peaceful future are mind blowing.”

Today Simon is the chair of the Jane Goodall Institute Australia Board.

The Institute contributes to programs in Africa for wildlife but also coordinates Roots and Shoots, a youth-led action program where children around the globe can make a difference.

Moving ahead, Simon said his major goals centre around educating the public about how they may contribute to conservation.

“We live in an age of rapid and unprecedented planetary change,” Simon said.

According to the 2018 Living Planet Report, wildlife populations have declined by 60 per cent in just over 40 years.

“We are fortunate that we are the generation that has a clear understanding of the value of nature and our impact on it,” Simon said.

“We may be the last generation that can take action to reverse the trend – a decisive moment in our history.

“The key to conserving wildlife is the knowledge and commitment that we can all act.

“It can be as simple as finding out and making purchasing choices that have little to no impact on wildlife, reducing our consumption overall and finding our personal magnificence and value in what we contribute not what we consume.”

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