Last updated: Jul 10, 2026

AVA International hosts spaces for animal and vegan advocates from all across the world. As hosts, we deeply care about our global movement and our approach to safety reflects not only our procedural responsibilities, but our care for protecting all who gather. 

This policy supports our role as logistical facilitators and movement stewards, creating safe and brave spaces: 

• It serves as a guiding framework for mitigating and sets out the procedures for  responding to conflict and harm

• It clarifies organizers’ roles and responsibilities (and limits thereof) 

• It is our primary reference point that all event participants, staff, board members, and volunteers are expected to read and abide by. 

Our Values

AVA International is a global organization that welcomes a wide spectrum of political, religious, and cultural worldviews. We are not affiliated with any political party, single ideology, or religious institution. 

We recognize that movements for human and animal advocacy are often interconnected, and we honor the diversity of  experience and perspectives within our community. We are committed to treating all in a fair and inclusive manner. 

We do not tolerate discrimination or oppression in any form. Our commitment is rooted in opposing harm to all sentient beings (including humans) because progress for animals thrives most where civil societies, freedom of expression, human rights, and the ability to organize are protected. 

We value and in fact, encourage, respectful disagreement and good-faith criticism at our events.

We recognize that some topics discussed at AVA events may, by their nature, be controversial or challenging. However, when discourse distracts from our events or rises to the level of harm, it will not be tolerated.

As event organizers, our decision-making is primarily content-based. This means we focus on what a speaker will present or what a sponsor or exhibitor will showcase at an event. 

However, we also take into account alignment with our five Organizing Principles, including patterns of harmful behavior or a history of dehumanizing statements, if they present a concrete concern.

Our decisions are guided by AVA International’s Organizational Principles: 

1. Transparency & Accountability

We operate with transparency and accountability in our decision-making. 

We understand that transparency builds trust across communities, which is why our decision-making processes are available publicly. We strive for clarity in our reasoning by regularly re-evaluating our processes. In order to ensure fairness and accessibility, we actively seek feedback and hold ourselves accountable to those impacted by our work.

2. Trust & Respect 

We cultivate trust and respect across differences. 

As a global organization, we honor the diversity of perspectives within our community. We approach all AVA’s collaborators, participants, and stakeholders with kindness, curiosity, and humility, assuming good intent while making space for dialogue and accountability. We acknowledge that trust is built through actions, not just words. 

3. Justice & Inclusion

We are committed to justice and inclusion. 

We understand that the movement for animals does not exist in isolation. Our commitment to animal and vegan advocacy is rooted in opposing harm to all sentient beings, including human beings. Just as we reject the exploitation and suffering of nonhuman animals, we stand against all forms of human oppression. We strive to create spaces that are safe, inclusive, and aligned with the values of justice and compassion for everyone.

4. Hospitality & Empowerment

We create welcoming and empowering spaces. 

Hospitality is a deeply rooted value across cultures, and we embrace it as part of our approach to organizing events. We design our spaces in ways that ensure all attendees—especially those who have faced exclusion—feel a sense of belonging. We commit to listening to and amplifying voices that have been historically marginalized. We recognize that meaningful conversations and transformative ideas only arise when people feel safe, heard, and valued.  

5. Courage & Care

We act with courage and care. 

Building a global movement for animals requires both boldness and humility. We challenge harmful systems and narratives while remaining mindful and realistic of the complexities of cultural, economic, and social contexts. We hold space for discomfort, learning, and growth, understanding that real change often requires both patience and urgency.

Expectations and Definition of Safety

While AVA International cannot guarantee absolute safety, we strive to create safe working and gathering environments where all individuals are free from harassment, discrimination, and violence, and where differences in identity, experience, and perspective are treated with respect. 

We do not engage in or tolerate any form of discrimination, harassment, or violence, including discrimination based on race, ethnicity, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, appearance, religion, immigration status, pregnancy, marital or familial status, military or veteran status, or similar.

We recognize we cannot name every form of harm that may arise and that safety is not experienced equally. For many, particularly those from historically oppressed communities, safety includes the ability to speak openly about injustice.

We prioritize creating a reasonably safe event space over being an investigative body as we are not specialized in conducting formal investigations. 

Our Approach and Reporting Form

Most of the Conduct & Safety concerns that reach us are related to our programming or the partners and sponsors we work with. Our regional Advisory Committees (including advisors for Anti-Hate / Discrimination, Travel Award Selection, Program / Speaker Selection, Communication / Messaging, Partnerships, Logistics, and Youth)  support our decision-making: 

• Please review how we select Speakers and Topics in the policy list below (next accordian drop-down item)

• Please review how we select Partners and Collaborators in the policy list below (next accordian drop-down item)

Procedures

It is helpful to address conflict and in some circumstances harm by engaging in dialogue as soon as it arises. We recommend: 

(A) Direct Dialogue

If you feel that you or someone else is being treated inappropriately, we always encourage you to speak up: Let the person know their behavior isn’t okay and ask them to stop.

(B) Dialogue with the Community Health Lead

In some circumstances, it might not feel safe to engage in direct dialogue. In this situation we recommend that you alert our Community Health Lead to support you. 

We usually assign Community Health Leads to our events to serve as a point of contact for safety-related concerns. Depending on their availability and the region of the event, they may be a member of our Leadership Team, our Anti-Hate and Discrimination Advisory Committee member (assigned for every event), or an independent, trauma informed mediator. They are trusted individuals responsible for listening to concerns, offering support, and helping navigate next steps.

Depending on the situation, possible responses may include: checking in with the person impacted, speaking with those involved, setting boundaries or expectations for participation, or if necessary, asking someone to leave the event. We do not involve law enforcement except as a last resort or in the case of immediate emergency.

In case dialogue is not possible, we offer that an individual can report an incident to the AVA Team: 

(C) Reporting

If you’d like to submit a report, please use our incident reporting form. 

We aim to handle all reports in a way that is fair and responsive to the needs of those impacted—while recognizing the limitations of our role as an event organizer rather than a formal investigative or judicial body.

Every report will be read by two team members independently. All reports and all records of related conversations will remain confidential to the fullest extent possible. Information regarding complaints will be disclosed only as necessary for the investigation and resolution of the complaint.

In case an investigation is required, this may include interviews with the parties involved and, if necessary, with persons who may have observed the alleged conduct or may have other relevant knowledge. At the conclusion of an investigation, both the person who submitted the complaint and any individual accused of harm will be notified about any actions that will be taken.

We take all reports of misconduct seriously and we approach each situation objectively. While we deeply respect anyone who comes forward with a concern, our responsibility is to assess each report based on evidence rather than assumption. This ensures that all individuals are treated justly and that our process remains trustworthy. Submitting false or unjustified complaints may result in disciplinary action, including exclusion from AVA events.

Please note that we are unable to investigate complaints submitted anonymously, as the lack of identifying information significantly limits our ability to gather facts, verify details, or take meaningful action. We understand that anonymity can feel safer in some circumstances, but for a fair process, we need sufficient information to follow up appropriately. We appreciate your understanding.

Reporting when there are positional differences

• If your report is about an AVA Team member, please fill out the report form, download it, and email it to the Executive Director directly at Julia@AVAInternational.org

• If your report is about the AVA Executive Director, please fill out the report form and email it to one or several Board members directly:

Flavia D’Erasmo: Flavia@AVAInternational.org
Michael Webermann: Michael@AVAInternational.org

• If your report is about a Board member, please fill out the report form and email it to one or several of the other Board members directly (listed below) - In this case, the contacted person/people will engage with an external and impartial party to conduct the investigative process. 

Flavia D’Erasmo: Flavia@AVAInternational.org
Michael Webermann: Michael@AVAInternational.org

If you have any thoughts, feedback, or concerns about this approach, we invite you to reach out in person, via email or through our contact page.

Safety Measures around Animal Agriculture Industry infiltration at our events

At AVA International, we are committed to ensuring our events are safe and trusted spaces where our community can collaborate freely and effectively for animals.

Unfortunately, infiltration by individuals connected to or sympathetic with the animal agriculture industry poses real risks: From compromising sensitive discussions to misusing information in ways that could harm animals and undermine our advocacy efforts.

We have decided to implement enhanced safety measures, prioritizing the integrity of our events, and ultimately, the impact of our collective work for animals.

Starting in 2026, we will introduce a number of changes to minimize (and ideally eliminate) the risks of Animal Agriculture Industry infiltration at our events.

These include:

• Background screenings for all individuals registering for an event

• ID checks at our registration desks

• Requiring attendees to wear their name badges at all times in event areas. Requiring attendees to wear their name badges at all times in event areas. Note that name badges are not transferable to friends,colleagues, or family members.

• Ending the recording of sessions for our YouTube channel (and removing public accessibility of previously uploaded sessions)

• Briefing our speakers on potential remaining risks

We recognize that some of these decisions come with trade-offs, such as a reduction in knowledge-sharing through our free online session recordings. However, we have been advised that the potential negative impact on animals outweighs the possible benefits these recordings offer.

Together, we will continue advancing the most promising outcomes for animals.

Together, #WeAreAVA

Last updated: Nov 13, 2025

Updated on: Nov 5, 2025

How does the travel award payment work?

You have two options if you are selected:

Option 1: Reimbursement only

You will not receive a prepayment before the event. You will be asked to submit an expense report after the event and we will reimburse your expenses, up to the amount of your travel award.  If you have organisational support and are not in a difficult financial situation, please select this option to reduce the administrative burden on our team.

Option 2: Prepayment and reimbursement

You will receive half of your travel award amount before the event. You will be asked to submit an expense report after the event. Your second instalment will either be the remaining amount of your total expenses or half of your travel award amount, whichever is lower.  

Example: 

If your total award was $1,000, you will receive $500 before the event. After the summit, we calculate your reimbursement based on the actual expenses you submit:

• If expenses are less than the first installment, we request a refund.

• If expenses are more than the first installment but less than the full award, we pay the difference (e.g., $850 total expenses – $500 first half = $350 second payment).

• If expenses are above the full award, we reimburse only up to the award amount.  (e.g., $1200 total expenses – $500 first half = $500 second payment)

How and when do I receive the travel award?

You will receive payments to the bank account you submit. We process a high volume of transactions each month and you can expect to receive payments within 30 days of your award notification or expense report submission. We request you to not follow up about the payment status unless it has been 30 days since your submission or you have exceptional circumstances.

I need the funds urgently. I cannot complete my travel or pay my bills without the travel award.

We understand that financial constraints can be challenging. That said, the travel award is intended as a contribution toward travel costs, and AVA cannot take responsibility if a recipient has no other funds available to complete their travel. All attendees are expected to plan for contingencies on their own. 

What if I receive the award but could not attend the conference?
You will need to return the funds to us. Please reach out to us for payment instructions. We will make exceptions for serious catastrophic events like floods, earthquakes, fires, wars, etc. Please reach out to us if this is your situation.

If I am unable to attend the event, can my award be rolled over to the next event or given to my colleague or friend?
No. We maintain a waitlist and to be equitable, we will grant the award to the next person on the list.

What if I do not use the full amount that AVA sent me?
You will need to return the unused funds to us. Please reach out to us for payment instructions. 

What does the travel award cover for both domestic and international awardees?
The award covers travel (airplane, train, bus, Uber, Lyft, public transportation) and hotel accommodation for the dates of the AVA Summit/AFAD event. Transport to and from the airport or train station is covered.

What additional expenses are covered for international awardees?
For international awardees, the award also covers visa fees, travel insurance, and vaccination fees if required.

What expenses are not covered by the Travel Award?
We do not cover food or travel expenses to off-program events like afterparties.

Are meals covered by the Travel Award?
No, meals and snacks are not covered, though most meals are included with your event ticket.

It is a requirement in my country to get a vaccination/COVID test before travelling to the country where the conference is hosted. Can AVA reimburse me?
Yes. Please include the receipt and add a detailed note in your expense report.

Can I stay at a hotel or AirBnb of my choosing?
You may book a different hotel with the travel award, but we recommend staying at the event venue for the best conference and networking experience. 

Can I split hotel costs with others?
Yes, but you are responsible for managing reimbursements among yourselves if you share expenses with others. Please add a detailed note explaining your situation in your expense report.

Will AVA reimburse me for bank fees while receiving the award?
For international transfers, there may be bank fees on both ends, which can be unpredictable until the transfer is complete. We cover the fees on our end, however, we cannot cover transaction fees incurred on the receiver's end or losses due to currency exchange fluctuations.

What if I need to arrive early or leave a few days after the conference?
You are free to plan your itinerary as you see fit keeping in mind that we will only cover expenses up to the maximum travel award amount. Hotel costs will be covered only for the days of the event but international awardees may arrive 1-2 days early if needed.

Can I take a stopover on my flight route? Can I arrive at or leave from a different city than the conference?
We do not have any restrictions for flight dates, cities, or routes. You are free to plan your itinerary as you see fit keeping in mind that we will only cover expenses up to the maximum travel award amount.

Will AVA book my flights and hotels?
No,  you must book your own flights and hotels with the support of the travel award.

Can AVA apply for my visa?
We can provide invitation letters to travel awardees, but we’re unable to help with visa applications or advise on which visa to apply for.

What receipts are required for reimbursement?
Receipts for flight, hotel, and travel expenses that equal or surpass the award amount must be provided. The award will cover only the amount you were granted.

How do I register for the event as an awardee?

A free event ticket comp code to the Summit will be emailed to you. Do not purchase your own conference ticket if you are a travel awardee. If you have purchased a ticket prior to receiving an award, please contact Travel@AVAInternational.org for a refund.

What are the requirements for receipts?
A valid receipt must include:
Your name
Date of payment
Vendor name
Proof of payment, including the last 4 digits of the card used.

What if I paid by bank transfer, cash, or phone transfer?
If you paid with a bank transfer, cash, or phone transfer, please add a detailed note to your expense report.

Where do I go for questions?
If your question is not already answered above, email Travel@AVAInternational.org. Please be patient, we are processing a high volume of emails.

At AVA International, our events are built to move the animal and vegan advocacy movement forward in tangible, practical ways. The way we select speakers and topics is a core part of that work.

Every Summit and Academy is designed to be:

• Rooted in the region where it takes place

• Focused on impact for animals and long-term movement health

• Useful for advocates’ day-to-day work and professional growth

• Safe, welcoming, and honest spaces for learning and disagreement

This page explains how we move from hundreds of ideas to the final program you see on stage.

Our Program Goals

For AVA 2026 and beyond, we are intentionally shifting toward:

• Fewer overall, but higher-impact sessions so speakers can go deeper and participants can engage more meaningfully

• Firm regional grounding, with the majority of speakers living or primarily working in the region of each event

• Blending established leaders and emerging voices, including youth, grassroots organizers, and underrepresented perspectives

• A balance of content types, including strategy, skills, movement wellbeing, and “disruptive” or experimental ideas

We set specific goals for each Summit. Examples include:

• Regional representation targets, such as over 75 percent of speakers residing or primarily working in Asia, Africa, or Latin America, and at least 50 percent for North America and Europe  based events

• Representation goals for gender and racial equity, including strong participation of women, gender diverse speakers, and BIPOC leaders

• Minimum number of sessions on key topics, such as fundraising fundamentals and practice, DEI and social justice, climate and food systems, movement wellbeing, youth and student organizing, and regionally specific sectors

• A higher share of interactive workshops, usually around 40 to 45 percent of the program

• Introduction of new formats, such as debate dialogues, reverse panels, solution labs, regional labs, and community collaboration forums

We publish these goals so that our process is transparent and the movement can hold us accountable. Academy programs follow the same logic. They are structured in three tracks across three days, with:

• 75+ percent of facilitators from the region of impact

• Around 90 percent of participants based in that region

• A focus on collaborative design, micro learning, mentorship, and movement experiment labs

Where Our Topics Come From

We build every program through a combination of open submissions, targeted outreach, and regional research.

For each event, we run an open call for: Talks and panels, workshops and trainings, case studies and campaign deep dives, lightning talks, and other experimental formats.

The public is invited to submit. The open call is the backbone of our program because it surfaces emerging ideas, campaigns, and research, brings in organizations and advocates who may not be in existing networks, and helps us understand what the movement is working on and struggling with right now.

Targeted Outreach

We know that access to time, networks, language skills, and visibility is not equally distributed. So, alongside the open call, we do targeted outreach to:

• Frontline and grassroots advocates

• Advocates from underrepresented communities and geographies

• Youth and early career advocates

• Researchers, legal and policy practitioners, corporate campaigners, and other specialists

Targeted outreach helps us avoid building a program that only reflects well-resourced or highly visible organizations. It is one way we try to correct for structural inequities, not reinforce them.

Regional Research and Gap Analysis

Before and during the call for submissions, our global Program Team maps key advocacy work and actors in the host region, identifies campaigns, organizations, and strategies that are driving change and looks for gaps in both advocacy and professional up-skilling

Examples of the questions we ask:

• Which species, sectors, or strategies are underrepresented in current advocacy, given their importance for animals in this region

• What skills do advocates tell us they need most, such as fundraising, leadership, digital campaigning, legal skills, or community care

• Where can our events help connect work across countries, movements, or sectors

We then use this analysis to shape outreach, prioritize submissions, and design new formats or sessions to fill those gaps.

The Role of Our Advisory Committees

Advisory Committees are a key part of our selection process. Members serve in an individual capacity, not as formal representatives of their organizations. They are invited for their skills, experience, and perspective, such as law and policy, campaigns, philanthropy, aquatic animals, corporate change, research, or alternative proteins. We also intentionally include lived experience, such as youth leaders, Indigenous or food sovereignty advocates, where regionally appropriate, disability and access advocates, and underrepresented communities within each region.

To keep committees dynamic and equitable, we use:

• 1-year renewable terms, with a maximum service period of 3 years

• A yearly gap analysis of the skills and perspectives we need

• Clear conflict of interest guidelines

Committee members help review speaker submissions and travel award applications, advise on partners and communications, provide regional context on sensitive or high impact sessions, and give feedback on how the program can better serve advocates in their region.

How We Review and Select Submissions

Our decision making is primarily content based, consistent with our Event Conduct and Safety Policy. We focus on what a speaker or facilitator will present and how it advances the movement for animals.

Initial Screening

The Program Team conducts an initial review to ensure submissions are relevant to animal and vegan advocacy, are clear about objectives, audience, and format and do not conflict with AVA’s core values or our Event Conduct and Safety Policy. 

Submissions that clearly fall outside this scope do not move forward.

Committee Review with Multiple Reviewers

For all Summits, each submission is reviewed by several Advisory Committee members who have at least several years of professional experience in animal or vegan advocacy, are based in and primarily working in the event region, and represent different strategic perspectives, for example, law and policy, corporate campaigns, grassroots organizing, research, or philanthropy

We use conflict of interest rules. Committee members do not review submissions:

• From their own organization

• From organizations they were affiliated with in the recent past

Selection Criteria

Reviewers and AVA staff use shared criteria, such as:

• Relevance to the Summit audience and goals

• Experience and expertise of the speaker or facilitator

• Potential for engagement and impact for animals and the movement

• Alignment with the event’s regional and representation targets

• Contribution to content balance, for example, fundraising, DEI, climate and food systems, youth engagement, wellbeing, or cross movement collaboration

Keynote or high-visibility plenary sessions receive additional scrutiny from the AVA Senior Leadership Team because of their special role in shaping the tone and focus of the event.

Innovating Animal Advocacy

Across all Summits and Academies, we reserve space for forward-looking work and experimentation. Recent and planned themes include:

• Ethical and strategic use of AI and data in advocacy

• Factory farming, line speeds, and current regulatory and corporate campaigns

• Interspecies justice and its links to land, water, and Indigenous sovereignty

• Cross movement collaboration with climate, labor, and human rights movements

• New event formats that prioritize co design, problem solving, and peer support

We treat the program as a living space for testing ideas, learning from mistakes, and importing insights from other movements.

Evaluation and Continuous Improvement

We do not consider the program “finished” when it is published. After each event, we:

• Gather detailed feedback from speakers and participants, aiming for at least 85 percent satisfaction.

• Conduct qualitative follow-up on selected sessions to understand what was implemented and its impact.

• Update our rolling roster of emerging regional speakers and facilitators, including those we mentor toward future Summits and Academy tracks.

• Revisit our Advisory Committee composition, regional targets, and content priorities based on what we learned.

If you have questions about how we select speakers and topics, or suggestions for how we can do better, we invite you to reach out to Program@AVAInternational.org. Our programming belongs to the movement, and we are committed to building it with you, not just for you.

As AVA grows, more organizations, initiatives, and individuals approach us to collaborate. Whether through co-producing events, requesting promotion on our platforms, or seeking special benefits, the interest in working with AVA is a testament to the reputation and trust we’ve built together as a community.

But with this growth comes responsibility. We want to be clear about how we approach partnerships so that our decisions are rooted in fairness, integrity, and alignment with AVA’s mission—not perceived as personal judgments.

Our Partnership Approach

Our focus is AVA’s mission
Our energy and resources must first and foremost go into strengthening AVA’s work: advancing systemic change for farmed animals through global events, training, and strategic collaboration.

Partnerships must align with our values
We collaborate when there is clear alignment with AVA’s mission, a commitment to equity, and shared values of transparency, professionalism, and respect.

We protect the investment of our partners and sponsors by honoring the benefits they’ve chosen to support. We do not give away equivalent perks or privileges outside of established agreements.

What We Do Partner On

• Strategic collaborations that clearly advance AVA’s mission and movement-wide goals

• Equitable sponsorships where benefits are transparent and accessible through established tiers

• Projects that uplift the movement as a whole without conflicting with AVA’s commitments to partners, sponsors, and the community

What We Don’t Partner On

We honor and celebrate the many forms of advocacy happening across the movement. Our decision not to partner on certain types of initiatives is about organizational focus, not value judgment. These spaces are vital to building movement, societal, and cultural awareness as well as public engagement, and we celebrate the work of our colleagues who lead them. They simply fall outside of AVA’s scope.

Examples include:

• Officially co-produce events (We do invite you to organize your own event as a satellite around our Summits or Academies! If you are having your event around an AVA, let us know and we can support.)

• One-off campaigns or initiatives – We cannot provide ad-hoc promotion (digital or in-person materials) or organizing support, or advisory calls for projects that fall outside AVA’s strategic priorities.

• Requests for promotion that mirror sponsor benefits – Out of respect for our partners’ investment, we do not grant special access or visibility outside of our sponsorship structures.

  • From time to time, AVA may share or support select sponsor-related opportunities beyond standard sponsorship perk limitations when, in AVA’s judgment, the opportunity is not promotional in nature and directly benefits attendees of an upcoming AVA Summit or Academy in a specific region. Examples may include mentorship programs, career or professional development opportunities, or regionally relevant partnerships that enhance the attendee experience. These decisions are made on a case-by-case basis and are not intended to replicate or replace paid sponsorship benefits.

• Initiatives outside our core mission – Projects that, while valuable, would redirect significant AVA staff time, focus, or reputation away from our own vision and commitments.

Our Commitment

Partnership decisions at AVA are never personal. They are based on:

• Our organizational identity and mission

• Transparent criteria for fairness and equity

• Responsible stewardship of AVA’s reputation and resources

We celebrate the diversity and vibrancy of the broader animal advocacy movement, and while we cannot collaborate with every initiative, we remain committed to building a thriving, impactful, and connected community.

AVA International offers Travel Awards and Speaker Stipends to remove financial barriers and ensure advocates—regardless of location or budget—can fully participate in our events. Each AVA event is budgeted independently, meaning sponsorships and financial support are assessed separately for each region and year.

The Travel Award application is open to all advocates, regardless of organizational affiliation at the time of applying. However, if an applicant’s affiliated organization is an active sponsor of the same event, AVA generally will not provide that individual with a Travel Award or Speaker Stipend. This helps avoid unnecessary financial loops, bank fees, and administrative complexity.

Exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis, including situations where the individual does not have access to their organization’s travel budget, the organization is sponsoring a different AVA event (in another region or year), or the organization has an annual budget under $500,000 and/or is BIPOC-led. All exceptions are reviewed by AVA leadership, and Speaker Stipend exceptions also involve the Programs team.

In some cases, sponsorship commitments are confirmed after Travel Awards or Speaker Stipends have already been granted to members of the same organization. When this happens, AVA may reassess the funding to ensure fairness and operational sustainability. Depending on the circumstances—such as international banking fees or the number of individuals funded—AVA may withdraw or adjust a Travel Award or Speaker Stipend, reduce the number of funded participants, or offer a modified approach such as partial funding or financial netting.

This policy is guided by equity, transparency, and responsible stewardship of resources. Our goal is to prioritize access for those who need financial support most, while keeping our processes fair, efficient, and sustainable across all AVA events.

In summary:
AVA offers Travel Awards and Speaker Stipends to reduce financial barriers so advocates can attend our events. Each AVA event is budgeted separately. While anyone can apply for financial support, individuals generally won’t receive a Travel Award or Speaker Stipend if their organization is sponsoring the same event, to avoid unnecessary financial loops. Exceptions may be considered for individuals without access to organizational funds, smaller or BIPOC-led organizations, or sponsorships tied to different events or years. If a sponsorship is confirmed after funding has already been awarded, AVA may reassess or adjust that support on a case-by-case basis. All decisions are made with equity, transparency, and responsible use of resources in mind.

We work closely with our partners and host venues to implement safety measures so that everyone can enjoy the valuable networking that is a vital part of a live event experience.

AVA International events are in-person events. Per the CDC and WHO, we will comply with all local, regional, and national requirements for in-person events. Attendees are encouraged to get vaccinated (and boosted) and test themselves before traveling in highly populated areas.

Please;

1. Stay home if you feel unwell: Do not attend if you are displaying symptoms, test positive, or are required to self-isolate.

2. Be mindful of others: Everyone has their own personal comfort level regarding proximity and contact, so please give each other space.

3. Practice hand hygiene: Sanitizers and washrooms will be available throughout the venue.

Reduce touch points:

1. Fewer business cards and promotional materials are being shared at live events.

2. Please consider using QR codes or alternative materials.

Please check your local WHO and CDC recommendations and guidelines, as well as the travel requirements of your home location.

AVA International is not responsible for any expenses or delays incurred due to Covid-19.

This page will be updated with any new guidance to comply with the Department of Health recommendations, so please continue to check back as we approach AVA events.

Last updated January 4, 2023

We honor refund requests received up to 3 weeks prior to the event start time.

All other requests are reviewed case-by-case.

Please email Amie Albright (Head of Communications) directly at Amie@AVAInternational.org

Though AVA International loves all animals of all sizes and types, we are unable to allow companion animals on site during our sessions, workshops, meals, etc., with the exception of verified service animals. In that case, please get in touch with us beforehand.

If you need to travel with your companion animal(s), you may correspond with the hotel venue on your own behalf, and arrange for the needs of you and your companion.

Should your companion accompany you during your stay, please respect our policy and refrain from bringing your companion to our scheduled sessions, workshops, meals, etc.

In addition, please know that animals can not be left unattended in your room. Thank you for your understanding!

By registering to attend an event organized by AVA International, you agree that AVA International has the right to use any photographs and videos taken at the event. They may use these in publications or other produced media materials, including but not limited to social media, brochures, websites, promotion of future events, etc.

If you do not consent to have your image recorded for distribution, please inform event organizers at least seven business days before the event at info@AVAInternational.org.

Any person or organization using AVA International’s photographs, graphics, videography, or other similar reproductions or recordings for commercial use requires advance written permission from AVA International.

Please review our GDPR compliant Privacy Policy here.