John Weigel is the Director of the Australian Reptile Park, located about an hour north of Sydney. He is well known and respected nationally and internationally. His initiatives have had a huge impact not only on Central Coast tourism, but on life-saving anti-venom production, research and conservation. John focuses his energies on the diverse range of activities, including a major program to rescue the Tasmania Devil from a species-threatening epidemic and being the Australian birdwatching champion.

In 2012, he set a new national Big Year record of 745, eclipsing former record holder Sean Dooley’s total of 720 – this achievement being immortalised in his highly readable account, The Big Twitch. With just a year off, John was back on the trail, seeking to break the 750 barrier for the total number of species seen in Australia in a single year 

Under his directorship the Australian Reptile Park has received many awards, including:

• 2013 Finalist in the NSW Tourism Awards
• 2013 Winner of Heidi Hellingman Award at ASZK for Venom program
• 2010 Finalist in Tourist Attraction Category in the Tourism NSW Awards
• 2001 Winner Best Tourism Development Project
• 2001 & 2000 Award of Distinction - Significant Regional Attraction, NSW
• 1998 & 1999 Winner Best Significant Regional Tourist Attraction in Australia
• Award of the Decade for Tourism in NSW (1989-1998)
• 1999 Award of Distinction - Environmental Tourism, NSW
• 1998 & 1999 winner Best Significant Regional Tourist Attraction in NSW
• 1997 & 1998 & 1999 - Winner Best Major Tourist Attraction on the Central Coast
• 1997 & 1998 & 1999 - Winner Environmental Tourism on the Central Coast
• Voted 1998 Central Coast's Best Tourist Attraction by residents

In 2008 John received one of the nation’s highest civilian awards – Member (AM) of the Order of Australia. The award was announced by the Governor General as part of the Queen’s Birthday celebrations in recognition of John’s contributions to Australian tourism, herpetology, and snake venom production.

Several species are enamed for him, including the Pygmy Mulga Snake, Pseudechis weigeli and Weigel's Toad (Notaden weigeli).

John is the author of the book Care of Australian Reptiles in Captivity, and a field guide Snakes of South-East Austraia.