The Zoo and Aquarium Association (ZAA) represents zoos, aquariums, wildlife parks, and sanctuaries across Australasia. Its annual conference is a flagship event, bringing together around 100 key decision-makers from across Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
The three-day event, held this year in Darwin, Northern Territory, from 29 July to 1 August, welcomes both in-person and online attendees. This year’s theme is Towards 2050, challenging presenters to explore the future of the sector’s social license to operate, Indigenous engagement, animal ethics, sustainability, welfare, and conservation.
The main conference spans two days, packed with plenaries, panels, and workshops, followed by a day of learning experiences for both in-person and online participants.
See also: For wildlife & people: inside the Zoo and Aquarium Association Australasia
The programme
The week will kick off on Tuesday 29 July with a trip to the Territory Wildlife Park, one of Darwin’s most renowned wildlife destinations. Guests will enjoy exclusive tours, shows and an Icebreaker held at the park, the perfect setting for catching up before the main conference begins.
The conference will take place at Darwin Convention Centre, starting with an inspiring session featuring two First Nations keynotes: Nicole Brown, a proud Larrakia woman and nationally recognised leader in Indigenous engagement; followed by Ora Barlow-Tukaki of Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, a distinguished Māori conservation leader committed to protecting and restoring Aotearoa New Zealand’s natural heritage.
The second day will feature Nicola Craddock, director of ZAA as a keynote, providing valuable insights on current trends and visitor expectations for the modern zoo. This day concludes with a Gala and Awards Night, where ZAA will recognise and celebrate leaders and changemakers in the sector.
The final day of the conference will be a first for ZAA, featuring a choice of three educational experiences for attendees:
- An excursion to a local native woodland, wetland or coastal habitat, engaging with experts to learn about the ecosystem and monitoring and conservation efforts
- A visit to the iconic Litchfield National Park, home to stunning waterfalls, magnetic termite mounds and sandstone pillars to hear from experts actively involved in conservation and fire management efforts
- An online session with Corporate Edge to improve leadership, management and innovation skills
The ZAA team is thrilled to welcome a diverse range of presenters from across Australasia, promising some thought-provoking discussions, exciting initiatives, and a chance to shape the future of zoos and aquariums over the next 25 years.
ZAA thanks the sponsors and exhibitors whose support made this conference possible, including Gold Sponsor Advanced Aquarium Technologies (AAT), Silver Sponsor OCTA Project Management, Bronze Sponsors Jetpets and Animal Centric, Exhibitors Maptivate and The Energy Alliance, and Communication Partner blooloop.
Recently, ZAA shared its achievements, highlights and meaningful partnerships from 2024, as it looks forward to working with its members to continue making a difference in 2025 and beyond.
