The Association Blog

Jim Tedford invites you and your best and brightest to The Annual Conference, November 4-6, 2025

Dear Colleagues,

I was fortunate to have many great leaders who took a gamble on me and helped me navigate my career in animal welfare. I’ll bet you were fortunate as well. Now it’s our turn to mentor and inspire the next generation.

I’m writing today not just to invite you to The Annual Conference—but to ask you to help shape the future of animal welfare. This year’s event is designed with bold thinking, tough questions, and transformational leadership in mind. We’ll tackle the challenges that keep us up at night and explore the innovations that will define our field moving forward. It’s a space for changemakers—and that includes you.

But we know the future doesn’t rest on our shoulders alone. There are rising stars amongst us—and you know best who they are. I’m inviting you to bring your best and brightest, your most promising along with you. Who on your team is ready to grow and will eventually be ready to carry the torch?

Nominate that person, and we’ll extend a 50% discount on their registration. It’s our way of investing in the future of our profession, and in the leaders who will one day sit in our seats. All you need to do is fill out this short form – name, title, email – and my team will take it from there. If you’re an emerging leader, consider asking your supervisor or senior staff member who is attending the conference to nominate you.

I look forward to seeing you this November—alongside someone who’s ready to rise.

With appreciation,

Jim