Sharon Dewar

Senior Vice President, Wildlife Care & Conservation

Sharon Dewar leads PCI’s conservation and animal care communications team. With more than two decades of experience specializing in cultural attractions, wildlife conservation, animal welfare issues, destination marketing and media strategy Sharon leads diverse client communications programs to increase visitation, funding support, public awareness and organizational reputation.

Sharon’s clients have included The Nature Conservancy – Illinois Chapter, Georgia Aquarium, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, Chimp Haven, The Marine Mammal Center, International Crane Foundation, Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum, San Diego Zoo Global among others.

Prior to joining PCI in 2016, Sharon managed media relations for San Diego Zoo Global and served as director of public relations for Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo. She served as PR advisor for several years to the Animal Welfare Committee for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Chimp Haven, the nationally designated sanctuary for government-owned chimpanzees retired from biomedical research.

Sharon is passionate about storytelling and has taken news crews and film production teams across the globe to share stories that matter, from the plains of Serengeti to the deep forests of Congo to the glaciers of Svalbard she has secured major media features that spotlight the important work of field biologists who devote their life to saving endangered species.

Sharon is also adept at crisis communications having refined these skills early in her career as a journalist and public affairs specialist in the United States Navy. During her seven years of service, Sharon assisted news agencies during major international events, including the Korean Airlines crash in Guam, the evacuation of Kurdish refugees from Iraq, tsunami aid and recovery efforts in Papua New Guinea and super-typhoon aftermath and recovery in Guam.

Sharon received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of La Verne in southern California and a master’s degree in communications management from Webster University, St. Louis.