The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), the global alliance of regional associations, national federations, and institutions, will hold its Mid-Year Meeting on 23 and 24 July 2025.
The WAZA Mid-Year Meeting is an annual online event that unites professionals from the worldwide zoo and aquarium community—regardless of location—to network, share ideas, and influence the future of conservation and animal welfare.
Based on WAZA’s goal to promote global conservation and animal welfare, the Mid-Year Meeting provides a distinctive forum for experts to exchange ideas, share experiences, and engage in vital discussions about the challenges and opportunities the community faces.
The timings are as follows: 23 July, 08:00–12:00 CEST (06:00–10:00 UTC) and 24 July, 20:00–00:00 CEST (18:00–22:00 UTC).
Attendees can expect panel discussions featuring thought leaders, member case studies that highlight innovation and impact, interactive workshops designed to promote shared learning and collaboration, and updates on WAZA’s strategic goals and global initiatives.
Uniting Voices. Sharing Impact. Shaping the Future.
This year’s theme is Uniting Voices. Sharing Impact. Shapting the Future. The keynote speaker is Andy Ridley, CEO of Citizens of the Reef and founding CEO of Earth Hour.
Ridley is a successful leader in global movement-building and environmental conservation. As the founding CEO of Citizens of the Reef, he has established an organisation focused on scalable reef conservation by combining leading science, AI technology, and meaningful citizen participation.
Previously, he transformed Earth Hour from an idea sketched on a beer mat into a worldwide movement that mobilised hundreds of millions of people across over 7,000 cities. His broader experience includes leading Circle Economy in Amsterdam and sharing his expertise with WWF and the Prince’s Trust, further demonstrating his dedication to sustainable practices and community empowerment.
“The challenges facing tropical reefs are extraordinary,” says Ridley. “Citizens of the Reef has developed conservation models that combine cutting-edge AI, people and science to empower anyone, anywhere to help. I look forward to sharing breakthroughs in citizen science and the vital role every citizen has in protecting and conserving these essential ecosystems.”
In this keynote, he will connect research and practical efforts, demonstrating how collaborative conservation approaches bridge the gap between assessing reef system health and carrying out effective conservation actions where they are needed most.
Regarding mobilising a global taskforce, he will detail how the Great Reef Census involves a global taskforce in the water and online to identify and prioritise key reefs for conservation.
The keynote will also showcase the tools, methods, and best practices that help local reef communities protect their reefs. Attendees will gain practical steps they can implement to protect coral reefs and support a global reef conservation platform.
For more information and to register, please click here.
WAZA also recently opened nominations for the 2025 WAZA Awards. Association and institution members of WAZA can nominate candidates who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in the worldwide zoo and aquarium community.
