Interview with Víctor Fernández, President of AMVAC

What role does AMVAC play as co-promoter of the competition?

AMVAC plays a strategic role as co-promoter, contributing the vision and direct knowledge of the veterinary community. Our role is to ensure that the event, and in particular the VETMADRID Congress, maintain a high scientific and professional standard, aligned with the real needs of the sector. We act as an intermediary between veterinary professionals, institutions, and industry, ensuring that the event is useful, rigorous, and relevant to daily veterinary practice.

The IBERZOO PROPET model, which combines the entire offering of the sector's value chain, has established itself as the leading professional event for the sector on the Iberian Peninsula. In your opinion, what is the key to this success?

The key to its success lies in its comprehensive approach. IBERZOO PROPET is not just a trade fair, but a meeting point where industry, distribution, healthcare professionals, innovation, and training converge. This global vision of the value chain, combined with a solid organization and collaboration among representative entities in the sector, has allowed for the creation of an event with its own identity, capable of adapting to market evolution and new professional demands.

How are topics and speakers selected for conferences? What criteria are followed to ensure that the content is relevant and up-to-date for veterinary professionals?

The responsibility rests with the scientific committee, which begins its work months in advance of the event. This committee has core members and always includes at least one specialist in the specific theme of the congress. Selection is based on an ongoing analysis of the veterinary community's training needs. Scientific advances, regulatory changes, the evolution of clinical practice, and areas of greatest interest or impact are all taken into account. Speakers are chosen for their prestige, proven experience, and communication skills, combining national and international experts. The goal is to offer applicable, rigorous content aligned with current professional practice.

What are the biggest challenges you face as the organizer of such a large and complex event as the VetMadrid Congress?

The main challenge is coordinating multiple areas—scientific, logistical, institutional, and social—while maintaining a high level of quality across the board. It is also essential to balance innovation and continuity, offering new features without losing what professionals already value about the Congress. Finally, ensuring a satisfying experience for thousands of attendees, speakers, and partner companies requires meticulous planning and a great capacity for adaptation. We want it to be more than just another congress; we want it to be “the VETMADRID experience.”

What are the main new features or changes that have been introduced in this edition of the Congress compared to previous years?

This year's edition features enhanced scientific content, incorporating new thematic areas and more dynamic formats. Efforts have also been made to improve the attendee experience, with diverse presentation formats designed to actively engage participants. All of this aims to create a more participatory, practical, and relevant Congress, aligned with the evolving landscape of the industry.

What impact do you expect this Congress to have on the veterinary community, both nationally and internationally, at a professional level and in terms of scientific or technological advances?

We hope that VETMADRID will continue to be a leading training center and a driving force for professional development. Nationally, it contributes to improving the quality of veterinary practice and strengthening the cohesion of the profession. Internationally, it facilitates the exchange of knowledge, the professional development of our members, and the incorporation of scientific and technological advances that directly impact animal health and the well-being of pets.

Beyond the academic aspect of the presentations, the Congress has traditionally been characterized by its parallel leisure activities: the dining hall, shows, nightlife.

To what extent is it important for the VetMadrid brand to enhance the "after work" factor to attract visitors?

The social component is a hallmark of VETMADRID. Promoting after-work activities is not an afterthought, but a key tool for fostering networking, the informal exchange of ideas, and a sense of belonging. These activities reinforce the VETMADRID brand as an approachable, dynamic, and people-oriented Congress, without compromising scientific rigor.

Besides pet shop retailers and professionals linked to veterinary health centers, what professional profiles of visitors will we find at the fair this year?

This year we will have a greater diversity of profiles, including distributors, manufacturers, professionals in the fields of nutrition, animal health technology, veterinary management and marketing, as well as institutional and academic representatives. This diversity enriches the event and reflects the cross-cutting nature of the sector.

How do you assess the growing international expansion of the event, both in terms of exhibiting companies and visitor profiles?

The international expansion is very positive and confirms the positioning of IBERZOO PROPET and VETMADRID as leading events beyond our borders. The presence of international companies and professionals raises the level of the event, fosters knowledge transfer, and opens new opportunities for collaboration. For AMVAC, it is a clear sign that the work being done is on the right track. And the dream I always have, and hope to see in the future, even though I will no longer be president, is that the fair will have two pavilions (or the entire IFEMA exhibition center). Time will tell. See you in March!