Create an experience with Ben Dessen

BEN DESSEN – Wildlife Advocate, Conservationist, Pet Expert, Author, Presenter, Motivational Speaker & Digital Influencer

Like many Australians – in fact, a whopping 5.9 million to be precise – Ben Dessen is a proud pet owner. But Ben’s pet portfolio is unlike most households around the country; it’s more like a marvellous menagerie packed with pets of all varieties. From amphibians through to native bugs, creepy crawlies and an assortment of insects to an array of native avian breeds, marsupials, more than 300 reptilian species (which is Ben’s bailiwick!) and of course a pack of tail-waggers along with so much more, Ben’s actually more than a proud pet owner – he’s the former resident caretaker come director and sanctuary manager of Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, a not-for-profit wildlife sanctuary in Dural. Spanning more than 40 acres of pristine conservation bushland in Sydney’s Northwest, it provides a safe-haven for the rehabilitation and protection of injured and orphaned local native animals. With his zoological background and extensive, hands-on experience working with a wide variety of wildlife species, Ben believes that by truly appreciating the beauty in other creatures, we can discover the best part of ourselves.

As a wildlife advocate and conservationist, author, media presenter, educator and public speaker, Ben’s dedicated his life to helping animals both within Australia and around the world. Extraordinarily enterprising and energetic, he also comes with some incredible credentials for someone so young.

With qualifications in animal science and conservation biology, Ben’s globe-trotted from the open plains of Kenya’s Maasai-Mara game reserve to Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park in Africa through to the ancient biodiverse rainforests of Borneo in Southeast Asia’s Malay Archipelago, hanging out with orangutans while shooting a documentary for 100 days in the jungle. Ben’s also been fortunate to benefit from some terrific tutelage too throughout his career, including both the ‘brains’ and the ‘brawn’ of the veterinary kingdom – Better Homes & Garden’s iconic vet Dr Harry Cooper and Bondi Vet’s Dr Chris Brown! Today a regular fixture across breakfast TV on every major network (not to mention guest-spots presenting on programs such as Totally Wild, Saturday Disney and The Living Room), Ben’s passionate about educating audiences of all ages about the role we can all play in improving the lives of animals.

If that’s not enough, Ben also finds the time to manage one of the most modern and diverse pet stores in the country, conduct a range of highly-popular monthly pet masterclasses, and is a resident teacher at the Future Vet Kids Camp, mentoring tots and teens to encourage their passion for pursuing a career working with wildlife and animals. His highly-anticipated debut book, The Ultimate Pet Handbook (New Holland) was released in September, 2022.

Ben has featured on ABC’s Playschool, voiced a character on ABC’s Reef School, and is a presenter at The Pet Shows, nationally recognised. He has also collaborated with many brands on his social channels. Ben is also a regular contributor to national wildlife publications as well as a sought-after keynote, covering venues of all sizes and connecting with all walks of life from rural primary schools to international corporate HQs.

When it comes to his quest to save animals and the environment, as Ben Dessen humbly explains, “Each and every person has the power to make a difference, but it’s what we do with that power that counts.”