Blog: Why Hosting a BIAZA Conference Matters

For this week's blog, Chris Eley (Hertfordshire Zoo) recounts the value of hosting a BIAZA event in 2025:

In November 2025, we hosted the BIAZA Conservation Education Conference at Hertfordshire Zoo and The Big Cat Sanctuary, welcoming more than 100 educators from across the UK and Ireland. People came together to share ideas, reconnect with colleagues and share the wonder of wildlife.

Hosting a conference like this is not something you drift into lightly. It takes time, commitment and a willingness to open your doors properly. But reflecting on the experience, it is clear that hosting a BIAZA conference is not just about delivering an event. It is about taking an active role in the sector and contributing to a shared direction of travel.

One of the most valuable aspects of hosting is the opportunity to show who you are, rather than simply describe it. Welcoming colleagues into your own setting creates a different kind of conversation. It encourages openness about practice, ambition and also importantly challenge in a way that feels grounded and honest.

For us, the conference provided an opportunity to share the story of conservation education at Hertfordshire Zoo. Over the past three years, our formal conservation education delivery has grown by 112 per cent. That growth has come through a clear strategy, strong partnerships and a focus on education that is meaningful for learners and relevant to real conservation outcomes. Hosting allowed us to talk about that journey openly and practically, without pretending it has been simple or finished.

Just as important was what we learned in return. Bringing educators together in one place created space for discussion that went well beyond the programme. Conversations happened in sessions, while walking the site and over coffee. Ideas were tested, shared and occasionally challenged. That exchange is one of the real strengths of BIAZA conferences.

The programme itself was carefully shaped to be focused but wide-ranging. We drew on internal expertise and external networks to bring together speakers and workshop leaders with very different experiences and skill sets. That variety reflected the reality of conservation education today and helped ensure the conference felt relevant to a wide audience.

None of this would have been possible without the ongoing support of BIAZA staff and the Conservation Education Committee. Their guidance and practical support throughout the process made a significant difference. Hosting never felt like something we were doing alone, and that sense of shared ownership mattered, particularly when juggling the realities of delivering a national conference with such a small team.

There was also, importantly, space to enjoy ourselves. The quiz provided a timely reminder that educators are competitive in ways no one warns you about, and the Gala Dinner celebrations proved that after a full day of learning, educators can still dance well into the night. Those moments matter more than we sometimes admit. They build relationships and remind us that this work is done by people, not just organisations.

Delivering the conference required commitment from across the team. Staff stepped beyond their usual roles, supported one another and took pride in sharing their work with peers. The feedback we have received since has been incredibly encouraging and has reinforced the value of that collective effort.

Reputationally, hosting the conference has been positive for both Hertfordshire Zoo and The Big Cat Sanctuary, but the real value goes deeper than profile. Hosting demonstrated a willingness to contribute, to share learning and to help move the sector forward together.

Once the conference ended, what remained were stronger connections, renewed confidence and fresh thinking that is already feeding back into our work. Hosting was demanding, but it was also deeply worthwhile. In a sector built on collaboration, opening your doors and sharing your experience is one of the most meaningful contributions you can make.

Chris Eley - Head of Conservation Education and Engagement, Hertfordshire Zoo

If you are a BIAZA member zoo/aquarium interested in hosting an event or meeting, get in touch with [email protected]