Christine White
Senior Vice President, External Affairs and Marketing
Christine White leads unified brand strategy across Marketing, Public Relations and Communications, and Government Affairs and Policy focused on audience engagement and growth for Shedd Aquarium. With rich experience in integrated and content marketing, Christine stewards Shedd’s experiential brand reputation, positioning Shedd as a global leader in conservation, aquatic science education, and animal care and welfare.
Education
B.S., advertising and marketing communications, Fashion Institute of Technology
“Shedd Aquarium provides the opportunity to build lifelong connections to the diversity of life underwater. Whether you’re visiting the aquarium, out on the water and in nature, or learning through digital spheres, Shedd brings each and every person closer to wildlife in profound and inspiring ways. I am eager to keep creativity sparking curiosity here, there and everywhere to support a bold, beautiful, blue futures for all.”
Christine White is responsible for delivering Shedd Aquarium’s integrated and comprehensive strategy to leverage the combined strengths of the Marketing, Public Relations and Communications, Government Affairs and Policy departments. Christine plays a central role in championing the aquarium’s continued brand evolution and shaping multi-year plans designed to expand and activate several of Shedd’s key audiences and partners.
In her role as the Senior Vice President, External Affairs and Marketing, Christine oversees internal and external strategies designed to position the aquarium as both a must-see cultural attraction, an important contributor to the community of Chicago and a powerful national conservation leader. Through constant assessment of brand health and perception, Christine helps the aquarium translate trust into action – magnifying the impact of Shedd’s mission-driven work with guests and social media followers to elected officials and members of the media.
Christine also works with her teams to ensure Shedd is developing communications that are accessible, welcoming and reach broad and diverse audiences in Chicago and beyond with important messages regarding Shedd’s leadership in global conservation, research & science, informal learning, and animal care & wellbeing. Leading with the aquarium’s mission of curiosity, compassion and conservation, she plays a prominent role in bolstering cohesion, innovation, and creativity across teams to connect millions of visitors with nature.
Prior to Shedd, Christine worked for 20 years in the beauty industry, where she successfully bridged strategy, creative, media, data and performance to deliver memorable experiences for a wealth of leading beauty brands. She holds a Bachelor of Science in advertising and marketing communications from the Fashion Institute of Technology.