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The Zoo and Aquarium Association's annual conference has commenced this morning, running as an entirely online event.

Running from today until Thursday (5th August), the event had been planned to be staged as a hybrid event, with access online coupled with a live event at Sydney's Taronga Zoo.

However, as the Zoo and Aquarium Association (ZAA) advised last week, COVID-19 restrictions in place in NSW meant that it had "no choice but to hold the 2021 ZAA Conference entirely online".

Networking events scheduled for yesterday evening were cancelled.

Today conference sessions are exploring regional conservation initiatives, with keynote speaker, acting Threatened Species Commissioner Fiona Fraser, leading off in a series of presentations showcasing zoo and aquarium conservation work, provide project updates, share research and discuss learnings.

The afternoon sessions include member-only workshops will provide a more interactive space to discuss climate change, regional species planning and zoo/aquarium access for people with assistance animals.

Day two of the conference will consider the ethics of animal welfare, the visitor experience and supply chains while on the final day, keynote speaker, Ainsley Simpson, Chief Executive of Infrastructure Sustainability Council, will present on global sustainability initiatives before the conference hears talks covering communications, engagement and education, diversity and inclusion, staff development and conservation.

Conference sponsors include Pico Play, Advance Aquarium Technologies, Ceva Logisitics and Creative Products Enterprises.

Click here for more information in the Australasian Leisure Management industry Calendar.

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