Events

Kick off your conference week with a special full-day visit to Project Chimps, a sanctuary in the Blue Ridge Mountains that provides lifelong care for [...]

Looking for a meaningful way to give back while you're in town for the conference? Volunteer at a Community Wellness Day hosted by Love for [...]

Whether you’re new to The Association or attending The Annual Conference for the first time, this one-hour welcome session is for you. Join us for [...]

NOT USING THIS EVENT PAGE the READ MORE link actually leads to this page: https://theaawaconference.org/the-network-live/

What happens in the space between emerging and established leadership? That’s where transformation begins. In this opening keynote, Lily Yap draws on her experience as both [...]

In today’s multigenerational workforce, great leadership communication isn’t about applying labels—it’s about practicing empathy, curiosity, and adaptability. While generational context matters, the deeper drivers of [...]

Before you can lead bigger teams or deliver bigger results, you have to evolve how you think, communicate, and show up. In this transformative session, [...]

Advocacy isn’t a job title—it’s a leadership responsibility. In this energizing session, Katie Jarl, Vice President of Government Relations at Animal Policy Group, will explore [...]

Start the day with yoga-based stretching and strengthening, along with some simple mindfulness exercises that will leave you feeling inspired and grounded for day one [...]

Whether you’re new to The Association or attending The Annual Conference for the first time, this one-hour welcome session is for you. Join us for [...]

President and CEO, Jim Tedford, CAWA, welcomes you to Atlanta and to The Annual Conference. Jim will set the stage for three days of learning [...]

Blending practical strategies with visionary leadership, Simon Bailey empowers companies to cultivate a culture where well-being becomes a sustainable driver of performance, innovation, and engagement. [...]

Cultivating lasting relationships with donors is essential to sustainable fundraising, but creating a stewardship plan can feel overwhelming. This session will discuss practical strategies to [...]

Building on Dr. Jane Goodall’s ethos that “every individual can make a difference”, you’re invited to engage in a TACARE (“Take Care”) workshop session to [...]

Who are your stakeholders? Staff? Volunteers? Board members? Donors? Community members? In today’s oversaturated market, average customer service is extinct. Based on his seven years [...]

In today’s increasingly multicultural world, cultural intelligence (CQ) is a critical skill for animal welfare and veterinary leaders who aim to serve diverse communities with [...]

Midday Highlights: Annual Business Meeting & The Wagsies Take a break and tune in—this lunch-hour session is packed with activity. Catch the latest updates from [...]

This interactive workshop gives leaders practical, neuroscience-backed tools to calm the nervous system, rewire unhelpful patterns, and communicate with confidence under pressure. Attendees will learn [...]

Ever wished your board members could provide more powerful fundraising assistance?   Embrace the idea that inspired board members are the ones who will help propel [...]

The days of animal sheltering organizations operating in silos are behind us. This session will discuss not only the importance of partnering with human service [...]

Leaders today face unprecedented challenges that demand more than operational expertise—they require transformation. This session will examine an approach to leadership that helps us navigate [...]

After a full day of keynotes and workshops, your mind is likely buzzing with ideas. This 45-minute session is your chance to process, reflect, and [...]

It’s time to play the game where shelter minds think alike! Based on real survey responses from animal welfare professionals across the country, Furmily Feud [...]

Kick off the evening with energy, connections, and a little friendly competition. The Exhibit Hall is where the action begins—our sponsors go all-out for this [...]

Start the day with yoga-based stretching and strengthening, along with some simple mindfulness exercises that will leave you feeling inspired and grounded for day one [...]

           Photos courtesy of Mark Campbell Productions

Grab a bite to eat, check out our sponsors’ products and services, and connect with your colleagues and friends.

Are you ready to take your career to the next level? Just like fire, career growth can go through distinct stages—ignition, growth, fully developed, and [...]

Is your organization trapped in a maze of disconnected systems, manual workarounds, and unclear ownership? You're not alone. Animal welfare organizations across the country are [...]

Creating a thriving major gifts program isn’t rocket science, but it does require dedication, commitment, and the right strategy.   After over a decade of partnering [...]

Animal welfare often focuses on programs and services, but it can overlook the stories and cultural nuances that drive true community engagement and systemic change. [...]

Leadership must go beyond the C-Suite. Leadership isn’t confined to titles or office locations—it should be embedded at every level of an organization. In this [...]

It’s your last chance to visit the Exhibit Hall—don’t miss it! Enjoy a relaxed lunch with colleagues while exploring the innovative products, services, and solutions [...]

Internships are few and far between at animal shelters despite the immense value they provide. Interns assist with critical day-to-day operations and projects, and at [...]

We will focus on sharing strategies for engaging with underserved communities and incorporating cultural and linguistic inclusivity. Specifically, participants will hear more about successful strategies [...]

Today, there are five generations of employees in most workplaces. In addition, many cultures and personalities must all come together, get along, and accomplish goals [...]

This session will explore the evolution of Humane Society of Missouri’s Day of Giving campaign, a 24-hour digital fundraising and media blitz that replaced our [...]

After a full day of keynotes and workshops, your mind is likely buzzing with ideas. This 45-minute session is your chance to process, reflect, and [...]

Off-Site Event: Explore the World of Coca-Cola We’re excited to host this year’s party at The World of Coca-Cola, just a short 10-minute walk from [...]

Last chance to have breakfast with your colleagues.

Compassion Rounds is a unique forum designed to help veterinary and animal welfare organizations grapple with morally challenging situations that arise at work. In compassion [...]

Numbers tell a story, but without the right context, even savvy leaders can be led astray.   This session is designed specifically for C-Suite executives, philanthropical [...]

Navigating the complexities of government relations is crucial for animal control leaders aiming to drive impactful change and secure essential resources. This session will provide [...]

Let's get real about the practical things your nonprofit needs to do to create strategic plans that will amplify your mission and elevate your performance. [...]

Empathy is the key to awareness. Without it, there can be no growth because the assumption is there is nothing to improve. True leaders know [...]

Animal welfare organizations work tirelessly every day to care for animals in their community. For many of these animals, adoption is the goal. But what [...]

Atlanta Humane Society is offering three 45-minute tours on Thursday, November 6 – choose either 2 pm, 3 pm or 4 pm. Atlanta Humane Society's [...]

Fulton County Animal Services is offering two 45-minute tours on Thursday, November 6 – choose either 3 pm or 4 pm. Managed by LifeLine Animal [...]