Darek Figa

Born in Poland and now living in Australia, Darek brings a wealth of experience and a global perspective to the field of animal welfare and conservation. With over 30 years of dedicated work and study in the animal industry, he has developed extensive expertise across zoos, animal nutrition, research and teaching, wildlife rescue, animal behaviour and welfare. As the founder of ENRICH – an wildlife volunteer organisation, Darek leads impactful programs throughout south-east Asia aimed at assisting displaced and rescued animals. His innovative approach to behavioural environmental enrichment has resulted in the development of pioneering systems such as natural tidal flow enclosures for crocodiles, and foraging habitats for parrots and sun bears. Additionally, he has creatively utilized plastic waste to promote artificial reef systems, demonstrating a strong commitment to sustainable practises in wildlife care. A passionate advocate for animal welfare and conservation Darek was the Animal Welfare Consultant for the Masarang Foundation assisting rescued wildlife across Indonesia; and Vice President with Animal Works, an organisation focused on the conservation of key species in Africa and Asia regions. Committed to the protection of species within their natural habitat, Darek is currently a Director of Orangutan Foundation International Australia (OFIA), working to secure Bornean forests to protect existing and future populations of threatened orangutans. Darek has also been educating and inspiring Australia’s TAFE NSW Animal Science students since 1991, integrating his extensive field experiences into the classroom. His dedication to teaching was recognised in 2017 when he received the NSW Teacher of the Year award and became a finalist for the Australian Teacher of the Year. Additionally, Darek serves as an Ambassador for Australian Vocational Education and Training. Darek now enjoys sharing his wildlife experiences in lectures on various expedition voyages and by guiding eco-tours across the Indo-pacific regions.