The AZEVN experience was nothing short of inspiring. I went away with a mindset to strive to improve care for all exotics I see due to the variety and depth of information gained from various speakers over the course of the weekend. There was a perfect mix of humour and thought provoking talks that gave a poignant reminder at how far we have to go in the industry to reach peak standards required for each species to thrive in our care but also with husbandry and welfare as a whole. I have since implemented many changes in the way I nurse off the back of the weekend and can’t wait to attend next year to continue to learn from the very best in the industry. I was able to go thanks to my golden ticket sponsor ‘DMS veterinary’ who I am very grateful to for being my sponsor. My golden ticket experience was fantastic! From the support from the committee, to the friendly welcome. It felt inclusive, insightful and I feel that if it was a week long conference it still wouldn’t have been long enough!
Thank you AZEVN for an amazing weekend!

Although I’ve been working in the veterinary field for 18 years, it’s only been a year since I discovered this amazing association dedicated specifically to zoo and exotic veterinary nurses—and made by vet nurses themselves! I was thrilled to find a professional community that truly represents our unique area of practice. I applied to join the association and was overjoyed to be accepted.

When I learned there was an opportunity to win a Golden Ticket to attend the conference, I didn’t hesitate to apply. As someone coming from Portugal, attending would have been a significant cost—so it was with great joy that I found out I had won! I decided to take the opportunity even further by presenting a poster about my work as a zoo vet nurse.

I embraced this adventure on my own and traveled to Birmingham with high expectations—and the experience did not disappoint. Although the conference only lasted two days, it was packed with practical tips, inspiring presentations, and fantastic professional exchanges. I came home full of fresh ideas and had the chance to share some of my own experiences with fellow colleagues.

One of my favorite moments was the round table on reptile anaesthesia—a true moment of sharing, learning, and connecting. It made me feel seen and understood. I realized I’m not alone in the challenges I face—many of us across different countries are dealing with similar issues, and we can learn so much from each other.

If I could suggest one improvement, it would be to extend the conference by an extra day. More time would allow for additional round tables and deeper discussions around practical knowledge and real-world experience.

I returned home inspired, connected, and proud to be part of this amazing profession. I can’t wait to attend again next year!

Attending the conference is always great fun as well as an opportunity to learn from like-minded vet nurses who share a similar passion. The team are always so welcoming and everything that is provided is always such excellent quality.

Winning the Golden ticket ensured I could go this year, and it was nice to meet the company that sponsored my ticket.

The speakers are chosen well, and their talks are interesting, and I learned a lot.

The only downside is that it is quite a distance to travel so it would be nice if it could sometimes be held in other places to make travelling easier. I live it Kent, so maybe having it at Port Lympne Safari Park one year would be nice, if it can be arranged.

It is exceptionally clear that the event is run by an association with the ethos of “run by veterinary nurses for veterinary nurses”. Speakers and the topics they deliver are carefully curated by the AZEVN committee to ensure that the weekend had a variety of speakers and from different specialisms and modalities of exotic and zoo nursing.

I found it refreshing that speaker covered the ideals and theory of exotics and zoo nursing but also the reality of working with challenges of working in different settings making it relatable, insightful and enjoyable, allowing self-reflection. I feel this can benefit novice and experts alike, through self-reflection and identification of areas of development and strength personally and within the organisations they work.

The AZEVN congress is designed around the delegate’s experience considering comfort through excellent facility choice, where there is luxury not regularly experienced by vet nurses with excellent food choices and social opportunities.

There is a clear transparency in speaker and sponsor associations, focussing on knowledge transfer rather than sales pitches. I did not at any point receive the generic and non-committal and lacklustre ‘this is how it works in dogs and cats’ responses of typical sales representatives but experiential or evidence-based responses from experts.

Crucially, the event has a uniquely supportive, non-competitive and progressive culture between delegates achieved through the committee’s commitment to the improving skills and knowledge within exotic and zoo nursing through AZEVN member’s professional development, making a direct impact upon patient outcomes, welfare and professional standards.

The lead-up to the event was filled with friendly communication from the AZEVN team, who made everything clear, organized, and welcoming. Talks were relevant and practical – covering various exotic animal care, case studies, career pathways, anaesthesia techniques, and much more. Every session was packed with up-to-date, evidence-based knowledge, delivered by passionate and engaging speakers.

One aspect the event that I look forward to and enjoy is the opportunity to meet like-minded, passionate vet nurses from all over not just the UK, but the world, with lots of wonderful international vet nurses at this year’s event. The energy was uplifting, the humour was on point (as always with AZEVN!), and the atmosphere struck the perfect balance between professional and fun.

The venue was modern, spacious, and easy to navigate, with plenty of space to sit and mingle. Catering was well thought out – with options for all dietary needs and enough caffeine to keep a room full of vet nurses happy. Tea breaks and lunch are also well spaced out during the day.

The exhibitor stalls were engaging and full of useful products and freebies – and I always enjoy seeing and talking with companies genuinely interested in supporting vet nurses, not just pushing products.

Overall, for me the 2025 AZEVN Conference was more than just CPD – it was, and is always, a celebration of everything that makes our profession unique, resilient, and incredibly valuable. I was thrilled this year to be one of the Golden Ticket winners, I always feel honoured, inspired, and completely re-energised during and following these events. If you ever get the chance to attend – especially with a GT – don’t hesitate. It’s the kind of experience that reminds you exactly why you became a vet nurse in the first place. I’m already counting down to AZEVN 2026!

The AZEVN 2025 conference was a fantastic experience, one that anyone interested in zoo, exotics, and wildlife nursing should experience at least once. It is a great place to connect with likeminded people, and

the topics covered are so vast and interesting. It is so inspiring and motivating to see everyone share a common goal – to improve animal welfare and raise awareness for the exotic animals that can’t advocate for themselves. I had an amazing time! The venue, West Midlands Safari Park, is a beautiful setting and it was so clean and tidy. The opportunities to speak to sponsors and speakers were great, enabling us to take tips and tricks back to practice and colleagues, as well as also discovering products that can help improve animal welfare and ensure we are aiming for the best standards. I usually tend not to put myself out of my comfort zone as I do get quite anxious, but the conference environment is such a friendly and welcoming place, and all my fears went away as soon as I stepped in the door. The whole committee are clearly devoted and passionate about exotic animal welfare, and it is clear that they put a lot of effort into the conference. They make you feel empowered and like we are making a difference. I was fortunate enough to win a golden ticket for the event where a sponsor paid for my ticket, and the whole application process was so easy. The committee communicated with me throughout regarding the application and how to book once I’d won the ticket, and they replied to all emails sent to them, and I imagine they receive a lot! If I hadn’t won the golden ticket, I would have been more than happy to pay for a ticket as the conference is amazing value for money, with plenty of opportunities to network, take home new skills, and they also provided a lot of free food and drinks, all of which were delicious! I will definitely return for the AZEVN conferences, and highly recommend the AZEVN and their events to anyone working in the exotics nursing industry!