Guwahati: Vantara has appointed John E. Scanlon AO as the inaugural Chair of its newly established five-member Governing Council.
The council will oversee Vantara’s conservation, animal care and rehabilitation, and compliance activities. It will also have final authority over decisions to acquire animals.
Scanlon said Vantara had sought external advice and was strengthening its internal due diligence, governance, expertise and processes. He said the organisation was also shifting its focus from ex situ rescue to providing in situ support to countries, including India.
He said he looked forward to helping Vantara implement these changes and expand its work in animal welfare, wildlife conservation and human-wildlife coexistence.
Scanlon, a lawyer by training, has worked in environment protection, nature conservation and sustainable development across the private sector, government, the United Nations, international institutions and not-for-profit organisations.
Vantara first approached Scanlon in April 2026 to seek an independent report and recommendations on its operations. He was engaged under terms providing for his independence from Vantara and submitted his report after several visits.
Vantara then agreed to implement his recommendations in full and asked Scanlon to take on additional independent roles to support their implementation and provide guidance.
Scanlon will serve as an independent adviser in his role as Chair of the Governing Council.
In 2019, he received the Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to wildlife conservation and protection through his work with international organisations.
His other awards include the Adelaide University Distinguished Alumni Award, Chinese Government Friendship Award, Financial Crime Fighter of the Year Award and UNEP Baobab Award for Innovation.
His previous and current roles include Secretary General of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), Principal Policy Advisor at the UN Environment Programme, Director of the Environmental Law Centre at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and Trustee of the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew.
He has also served as Chair of the Global Initiative to End Wildlife Crime, Chair of the UK Government Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund Advisory Group, Executive President of the International Council of Environmental Law and Strategic Advisor to the World Commission on Dams.
He has also served as CEO of South Australia’s Department for Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs, Chair of the Environment Protection Authority in Sydney, Commissioner of the Murray-Darling Basin Commission and a member of the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law Steering Committee.