The Animal & Vegan Advocacy (AVA) Summit, the premier gathering for animal rights and vegan
advocacy, will take place this May in Washington, DC. AVA will bring together over 800 passionate advocates and activists from around the world, along with 80+ expert speakers and 35+ industry-leading
exhibitors, for a series of impactful sessions and activities.
The AVA Summit DC features a dynamic program with over 60 sessions covering various topics critical to advancing animal rights and vegan advocacy. Attendees can expect to engage with thought leaders, nonprofit experts, and fellow advocates to explore innovative strategies and solutions to create systemic change in food systems and beyond. For the world’s largest international animal rights conference.
Washington, DC
May 16-19, 2024
Renowned keynote speakers at the AVA Summit epitomize diversity of thought and action, enriching the event with their exceptional contributions. Chris Eubanks, President of APEX Advocacy, is a trailblazer in total liberation, adept at weaving together intersecting movements and seamlessly integrating veganism into his activism. Leah Garces, President of Mercy For Animals, is lauded for her unwavering commitment to building a more compassionate world, infusing the Summit with her passion and visionary leadership.
Additionally, pattrice jones (intentionally lowercase), a distinguished Feminist Scholar, Educator, and Co-founder of VINE Sanctuary, offers profound insights into the intersectionality of feminism and animal advocacy, inspiring attendees with her depth of knowledge and unwavering passion for social justice. Together, these outstanding speakers bring a kaleidoscope of perspectives to the AVA Summit, fostering dialogue, collaboration, and transformative change, alongside 80+ other leading experts and pioneers in their fields.
But the AVA Summit is more than just a conference; it’s a celebration of activism and creativity. The AVA Summit extends beyond its main program with captivating off-program highlights. These include Grantees’ Day, uniting recipients with visionary funders to advance transformative projects; dedicated meet-ups, curating sessions for meaningful connections and collective action in animal advocacy; a poetry reading, celebrating compassion and advocacy through storytelling; a live podcast with special guests, featuring “How I Learned to Love Shrimp” and esteemed figures exploring innovative perspectives on animal rights. Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to engage with thought-provoking films, including “Forever Home” by Allison Argo, founder of The Argo Films, and “Meat Me
Halfway” by Brian Kateman, co-founder of the Reducetarian Foundation, followed by Q&A sessions with the respective producers.
In an interconnected world, global challenges change in food systems and beyond.” demand global solutions, and the AVA Summit is where we gather to solve them. Our shared mission is clear: to remove animals from our food systems and other human use.
With every session, workshop, and conversation, the AVA Summit is a platform for the movement, empowering attendees to become agents of change in their communities and beyond.
“At the AVA Summit, we’re not just talking about change; we’re providing the platform, minds, and tools to make it happen”, says Julia Reinelt, Executive Director of The AVA Summit. Julia continues, “This event is a catalyst for global collaboration and action, driving systemic In an interconnected world, global challenges change in food systems and beyond.”
The Animal & Vegan Advocacy (AVA) Summit is a platform for the global vegan movement working towards systemic change. Our international conference series unites advocates from diverse backgrounds, working towards a shared vision of removing animals from the food system and other human uses. As an anchor and platform for the animal advocacy and vegan movement, AVA Summit events are organized by AVA International, a nonprofit organization. Fiscal sponsorship for AVA International is provided by the Humane America Animal Foundation. For more information about how we operate, please visit our Transparency Page or get in touch with us.
Conceived in 2021, the AVA Summit emerged from a need for a modern, professional, and impact-oriented conference. We believe in uniting the movement, reducing infighting, and strengthening cross-organizational connections to create lasting change. Initiated by Sebastian Joy of ProVeg International, Dawn Moncrief of A Well-Fed World, and Meghan O’Brien Lowery of the Greenbaum Foundation, the AVA Summit quickly became the go- to event for advocates working professionally in the movement.
Under the guidance of dedicated leaders like Michael Webermann and Julia Reinelt, the AVA Summit has grown exponentially. Our inaugural event in 2022 was the largest movement gathering since the pandemic, emphasizing international collaboration and a focus on neglected animals. In 2023, our event expanded even further, with over 750 attendees from 47 countries.
In partnership with Asia for Animals, we launched the first in-person conference for farmed animal advocates in Southeast Asia: Asia Farm Animal Day in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in October 2023. As AVA continues to grow, we’ve transitioned to an independent organization led by a dedicated team committed to advancing our mission. With Advisory Committees providing diverse perspectives and critical analysis, we’re driving toward a future where animals are respected and protected.
Join us at the AVA Summit and be part of the movement for change.
I can’t help but wonder what would happen if even just half of those attending this conference seized on the opportunity of the bird flu crisis and organized actions to demand USDA Secretary Vilsack change his policy to support plant based initiatives instead of bailing out the meat and egg industries for this unprecedented disease outbreak spreading to other species. Instead of sitting back and listening to lectures about reducetarianism and cage free campaigns, we would actually be out there speaking truth to power and changing the narrative on a major public health threat that is rooted in the use… Read more »