Dr Sue Mainka was a veterinarian with more than twenty years’ experience in wildlife conservation and a keen interest in ensuring policy was informed by sound, relevant, and timely science. Over the years she has worked for WWF on Giant Panda conservation based in the Wolong Nature Reserve in China, on captive management of wildlife in several countries, and as a clinical veterinarian both in a zoo environment and in private practice in Canada. Sue joined IUCN in 1997 and was Head of the IUCN Species Programme from 2001-2004, a Senior Coordinator in the Global Programme Team from 2004-2009 and, in 2009, was appointed Head of Science and Knowledge Management. In this new post her responsibilities included building a higher profile for the science generated by IUCN, supporting the integration of science into what IUCN does, and developing and promoting knowledge management standards and practices. Sadly, Sue passed away in 2012.