Full Conference Schedule
Meetings and events will take place at the Hilton Atlanta. Schedule is subject to change. If you have questions about the schedule or would like to reserve meeting space, please contact Cheryl Andrews. The Mid-Year Meeting is an in-person meeting only and there will not be a virtual component offered. No sessions or meetings will be recorded or live-streamed and video-conferencing will not be available for people unable to attend.
*Meetings that are listed as Executive Session are only open to members of that particular Committee or Program. If a meeting is not listed as Executive Session, it is open to all registered attendees as an observer only.
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| 8:00 am - 8:00 pm | Pre-Conference Tour - Chattanooga Zoo and Tennessee Aquarium (additional $75 fee) |
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| Times | Meeting Name |
| 7:00 AM - 5:30 PM | Registration Open |
| 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM | SAFE Giraffe |
| 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Accreditation Hearings (Executive Session*) |
| 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Animal Population Management Committee (Executive Session*) |
| 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Avian SAG Steering Committee Strategic Planning (Executive Session*) |
| 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Canid and Hyenid TAG (Executive Session*) |
| 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Bonus Workshop (additional $150 fee): Re-imagining the Animal Wellbeing Program This workshop outlines how to create a comprehensive animal wellbeing program, through multidisciplinary partnerships. By applying risk analysis, evaluating life stage evaluation/whole life planning, and considering animals’ role in collection, attendees will learn tools to develop strategic species- or taxa-based wellness life plans. In addition, tools and methods for program communication, multidisciplinary collaboration, resource management, tracking capability, and sustainability will be covered. The workshop will be designed so participants can determine applicable components to develop or re-envision an animal wellbeing program suited to their own organization. |
| 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Safety Summit |
| 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Conservation Education Committee (Executive Session 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM*) |
| 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM | Generic and Masai Giraffe SSP Planning Meeting |
| 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM | Flocking Together for Conservation: SAFE Red Siskin, SAFE Asian Hornbill |
| 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM | SAFE Action Indonesia: Anoa, Babirusa, and Banteng |
| 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Advancement Summit (RSVP Requested) |
| 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM | SAFE North American Bison |
| 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | Lunch Provided for Attendees |
| 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM | SAFE Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake |
| 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM | Population Management Center (PMC) Help Desk |
| 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Marine Mammal TAG (Executive Session*) |
| 2:00 PM - 5:30 PM | SAFE African Penguin (Executive Session 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM*) |
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| Times | Meeting Name |
| 7:00 AM - 5:30 PM | Registration Open |
| 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM | |
| 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM | Animal Program Updates |
| 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Human Resources Committee |
| 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Accreditation Hearings (Executive Session*) |
| 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Avian SAG General Session |
| 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Marketing Committee |
| 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Safety Summit |
| 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Ungulate TAGs |
| 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM | African-Eurasian Monkey TAG |
| 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Animal Welfare Committee |
| 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Canid and Hyenid TAG |
| 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Matschie's Tree Kangaroo SSP |
| 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | SAFE Orangutan (Executive Session 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM*) |
| 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM | Advancement Summit (RSVP Requested) |
| 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Prosimian TAG |
| 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | Lunch Provided for Attendees |
| 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM | Animal Health Committee |
| 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM | SAFE Tree Kangaroo of Papua New Guinea |
| 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM | Aquatic Collection Sustainability Committee (Executive Session 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM*) |
| 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM | Herp TAG |
| 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM | Population Management Center (PMC) Help Desk |
| 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Marine Mammal TAG (Executive Session*) |
| 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Technology SAG |
| 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Biobanking SAG & Molecular Data for Population Management SAG |
| 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM | Animal Welfare Committee Help Desk Stop by the AZA Animal Welfare Committee Help Desk to get support on all things animal welfare. Whether you’re refining your welfare assessments, looking for guidance on tools and resources, or seeking to learn more about advancing animal welfare at your institution, our committee members are here to help. Come ask questions, share ideas, and connect with colleagues dedicated to advancing the highest standards of animal care across the AZA community. We’re excited to help and hope you drop by to say hello! |
| 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM | SAFE Chinchilla |
| 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Marsupial & Monotreme TAG (Executive Session 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM*) |
| 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM | New World Primate TAG |
| 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM | SAFE Snow Leopard |
| 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM | Building Thoughtful Aquatic Collections |
| 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Wildlife Trafficking Alliance |
| 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM | SAFE Mexican Wolf |
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| Times | Meeting Name |
| 7:00 AM - 5:30 PM | Registration Open |
| 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM | SAFE Gibbon |
| 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM | Marine Fishes TAG |
| 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Avian SAG General Session |
| 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Building the Next Generation of Animal Care Professionals (RSVP Requested) Join leaders from across the country for a dynamic summit dedicated to building the next generation of zoo and aquarium professionals. Through expert-led discussions and real-world case studies, participants will explore how cross-institutional partnerships, equitable internship models, and data-driven recruitment practices can strengthen our workforce and expand access to careers in animal care. Sessions will highlight how to design meaningful learning experiences, deliver effective feedback, and foster growth-minded mentorship—all essential to cultivating skilled, confident emerging professionals. The summit wraps with an action-planning workshop to help attendees turn insights into tangible improvements at their own institutions. Empower your team, elevate your internship program, and help shape a more inclusive, future-ready animal care field. Join us in advancing the workforce our mission depends on. |
| 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM | CPSG Trainees Workshop/Meeting (RSVP Requested) |
| 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Honors and Awards Committee (Executive Session*) |
| 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Public Relations Committee (Executive Session 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM*) |
| 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Your Role in Sustainable Populations - Curators and Collection Planners (RSVP required) This interactive session invites zoo and aquarium collection planners/managers to step back from day-to-day decisions and look more holistically at how perspectives, context, policy choices, and trade-offs shape AZA’s collective ability to sustain animal populations. Through shared reflection, policy review and interpretation, and cross-sector examples, participants will examine how current challenges are being interpreted, what are current available tools and resources to aid in collection planning, and offer informed input to support future process development and implementation. Pre-registration is required and limited to 60 individuals with priority given to AZA members who are active Collection Planners for their facility. To register, please fill out this form. |
| 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Accreditation Hearings (Executive Session*) |
| 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Bear TAG (Executive Session*) |
| 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Safety Summit |
| 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Ungulate TAGs |
| 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM | SAFE Andean Highland Flamingo |
| 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Gorilla SSP (Executive Session 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM*) |
| 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Population Management Center (PMC) Help Desk |
| 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Advancement Summit (RSVP Requested) |
| 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM | Professional Development Committee (Executive Session*) |
| 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Animal Welfare Committee Help Desk Stop by the AZA Animal Welfare Committee Help Desk to get support on all things animal welfare. Whether you’re refining your welfare assessments, looking for guidance on tools and resources, or seeking to learn more about advancing animal welfare at your institution, our committee members are here to help. Come ask questions, share ideas, and connect with colleagues dedicated to advancing the highest standards of animal care across the AZA community. We’re excited to help and hope you drop by to say hello! |
| 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | Lunch Provided for Attendees |
| 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM | Committee Chairs Meeting |
| 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM | Ethics Board (Executive Session*) |
| 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM | Rodent, Insectivore, Lagomorph (RIL) TAG (Executive Session 3:30 PM - 4:00 PM*) |
| 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Avian SAG Workshop - Waterbirds |
| 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Green SAG (Executive Session 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM*) |
| 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Joint PR/Marketing Committees (Executive Session*) |
| 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Volunteer Management Committee (Executive Session*) |
| 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM | Research and Technology Committee |
| 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM | Business Operations Committee |
| 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM | Aquarium Affairs Committee (Executive Session*) |
| 2:30 PM - 5:30 PM | Diversity Committee: Regional Communities of Practice |
| 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM | SAFE Gorilla (Executive Session 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM*) |
| 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM | SAFE Red Panda |
| 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM | Speed Networking - Beyond the Handshake: from Surface to Substance Join the Professional Development Committee in a guided networking experience that sparks meaningful connections through thoughtful prompts and shared values, creating space for authentic dialogue and lasting professional relationships across all levels and expertise. We will also present an update on Professional Development Committee initiatives and provide an opportunity to share your ideas on which professional development experiences would be beneficial. |
| 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM | Icebreaker at Georgia Aquarium |
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| Times | Meeting Name |
| 7:00 AM - 1:30 PM | Registration Open |
| 7:30 AM - 8:00 AM | Breakfast with Exhibitors |
| 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM | General Session |
| 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM | Break with Exhibitors |
| 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM | Galliformes TAG |
| 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM | SAFE Red Siskin |
| 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM | Safety Committee (Executive Session 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM*) |
| 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Advancement Committee |
| 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM | AI Use and Technology Use in Zoos and Aquariums led by Tech SAG |
| 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Ambassador Animals and Leash Use |
| 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Aquatic Collection Sustainability Committee Office Hours |
| 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Committee Collaboration: Moving beyond DEAI Programs to Systemic Change led by Diversity Committee |
| 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Government Affairs Committee Animal Permitting and Regulatory Introduction and Workshop This workshop introduces the scope of federal wildlife permitting that accredited facilities may need, with particular emphasis on the US Fish & Wildlife Service and its application process(es). Participants will learn about the variety and purposes of USFWS permits, when they might be needed, and what the timing and process of receiving those permits are to help inform population management decisions and timelines. Participants will engage in a brief collection planning and animal acquisition exercise. Discussion will also include other factors related to acquiring regulated species to consider, such as state permitting, record-keeping, and animal transport. |
| 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Marine Fishes TAG Think Tank - Hot Topic Discussions |
| 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Marketing Committee Hot Topics |
| 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Mobilizing Zoo Teams for Field Conservation Impact through SAFE Program Designs/Action Planning led by SAFE Red Panda |
| 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM | SAFE Thick-billed Parrot |
| 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Social Science for Conservation led by SSRE SAG |
| 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Supporting and Engaging Your Committee Membership led by VMC |
| 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Ungulate TAGs |
| 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Avian TAG Chairs and Avian SAG Steering Committee (Executive Session*) |
| 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM | Lunch with Exhibitors |
| 1:30 PM - 8:00 PM | Zoo Day at Zoo Atlanta |
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| Times | Meeting Name |
| 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM | Registration Open |
| 7:30 AM - 8:00 AM | Breakfast with Exhibitors |
| 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM | General Session |
| 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM | Time with Exhibitors |
| 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM | Coraciiformes & Bucerotiformes TAG (Executive Session*) |
| 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM | Raptor TAG (Executive Session*) |
| 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM | Ape TAG (Executive Session 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM*) |
| 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM | |
| 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM | Jaguar SSP/SAFE |
| 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM | SAFE Shark and Ray (Executive Session 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM*) |
| 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Small Carnivore TAG (Executive Session 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM*) |
| 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM | AZA Board of Directors |
| 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM | Green Summit |
| 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM | Diversity Summit (RSVP Requested) |
| 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM | Rhino TAG |
| 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | CPSG/AZA IMLS Project Monitoring Team Meeting (Executive Session*) |
| 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Small Population Management Advisory Group (SPMAG) |
| 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Charadriiformes TAG (Executive Session*) |
| 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM | SAFE African Hornbill |
| 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM | SAFE Maned Wolf |
| 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | Lunch with Exhibitors |
| 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM | TAG Chairs Meeting |
| 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM | Trends Committee |
| 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM | Ambassador Animal SAG (Executive Session 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM*) |
| 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM | Chacoan Peccary SSP Planning |
| 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM | WAIT LIST Bonus Workshop (additional $75 fee): Just Culture Concepts for Zoos and Aquariums Just Culture is a concept that has gained interest in AZA in recent years. Up to this point, presentations and training have been primarily focused on safety outcomes but at several zoos, these concepts have been integrated into all aspects of workplace culture, improving outcomes for staff engagement and success across departments. At this workshop, facilitators will present an overview of the basic pillars of their approach, including psychological safety, blameless reporting, building better systems, and continuous improvement. Presentations will include tools, data, and case studies on how implementation of these concepts can improve results across your organization. |
| 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM | SAFE Program Leaders (Executive Session*) |
| 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Volunteer Management Committee (Executive Session*) |
| 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM | Social Science Research and Evaluation SAG |
| 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM | Amplifying Impact: Multi-Disciplinary Approaches to Building Stronger TAGs & SSPs |
| 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM | |
| 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM | Ciconiiformes/Phoenicopteriformes and Pelecaniformes TAG (Executive Session*) |
| 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM | Passerine TAG (Executive Session*) |
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| Times | Meeting Name |
| 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM | Registration Open |
| 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Bongo SSP Planning Meeting |
| 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM | AZA Board of Directors |
| 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Green Summit |
| 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Diversity Committee (Executive Session*) |
| 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Wildlife Conservation Committee (Executive Session*) |
| 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | Lunch Provided for Attendees |
*Meetings that are listed as Executive Session are only open to members of that particular Committee or Program. If a meeting is NOT listed as Executive Session, it is open to all registered attendees as an observer only.