Call for Speakers

The Association Conference Committee strives to deliver high quality education that meets animal welfare professionals' needs. Our conference audience is made up of leaders at animal shelters and government animal services agencies, including CEOs, directors, supervisors, and people who plan to be in leadership roles.

Tracks for our conferences in 2025 and 2026 are tentatively listed below and are subject to change.

  • Fundraising (intermediate and advanced level fundraising topics)
  • Internal & External Communications (ex. crisis communications, accessible digital campaigns, conflict management)
  • Strategic Workforces/Human Resources (ex. recruitment and employee retention, culture shifts, engagement through professional development, supporting mental health)
  • Strategic & Collaborative Initiatives (ex. strategic planning, board development for CEOs, project management, creating public-private partnerships, DEI programming, building leadership skills)

If you are a professional speaker or an outside expert on a current 201-level + leadership or management topic that fits into the above track topics, please submit a proposal.

Professional Speakers & Experts OUTSIDE the Animal Welfare Industry

If you work within the animal welfare industry and have experience implementing leadership and management initiatives, please use the below form to submit your proposal.

Speaker Expertise: We welcome speakers who have consulted with or work directly with animal shelters/animal care & control agencies who could jointly co-present a case study of their collaborations/projects. 


Experts WITHIN the Animal Welfare Industry

Submission Deadlines for The Annual Conference:

2025: Atlanta, GA, November 4-6: January 12, 2025

2026: Chattanooga, TN, October 27-29: January 5, 2026