Executive Leadership

Message from the President & CEO

In the years that I have been in public service, I have observed that where there is a meeting of the minds, collective resolve, and foresight, communities—cities grow with cultural vibrancy incorporated with progressive planning. Through the course of history, San Francisco has attracted talent that has made the world a better place and spawned movements that have been a gift to humanity, transcending demographics and engaging interdisciplinary synthesis.

It is this confluence of talent that has made the Bay Area synonymous with inventiveness defining American values and our inspired ability to dream and imagine possibilities beyond the present. Our natural assets and centers of learning are engines that propel us towards excellence and impact the quality of life that sustains play. Vital to this endeavor are the ecosystems that generate clean air and water, sustaining flora and fauna integral to a lifestyle that connects us to our environment in the greater Silicon Valley. Add to this equation, the 24 million tourists who visit San Francisco, the 15 million who visit the Embarcadero contributing billions to the economy generating an estimated 76,000 travel industry jobs adding upwards of $8 billion to the economy and tax revenues.

The Smithsonian Affiliated Aquarium embarking on a new transformative journey to engage our communities, galvanizing a movement to protect, conserve, preserve the Bay ecosystems and in doing so, creating an exemplary bold beacon to implement experiential change. This is the first time in decades that there has been a concerted re-think of our future and priorities that are vital to protecting and preserving the San Francisco Bay and its watershed. An increased level of awareness must be forged amongst those who call this region their home. This new vision of an ECOTARIUM is a bold Climate Literacy and Ocean Conservation Living Museum that will enrich and strengthen the grassroots environmental movement —a legacy that we can all work toward for future generations. It is time for us to come together to champion this ecosynthesis and BE the movement™.

George Jacob Signature
Dr. George Jacob FRCGS
President & CEO, BayEcotarium