Future Association Leader Program

Program Format

The program runs over nine months from February to October 2026, concluding with an in-person workshop at WSAVA Congress in Warsaw.

As a participant, you will experience a blended learning journey that combines:

• Self-led modules (up to 45 minutes each) on WSAVA Academy.
• Live online sessions (2 hours per module), led by expert facilitators.
• An in-person workshop at WSAVA Congress 2026, where participants will consolidate learning, celebrate progress, and plan for future impact.

You should expect to spend 4–6 hours per month, with much of that time directly applied to challenges in your own association.

What You Will Gain

By the end of the program, you will:

• Have practical tools to strengthen association leadership and governance.
• Gain strategies to mobilize and engage members.
• Build confidence to advocate for your profession and members and influence decision-makers.
• Develop resilience and clarity to lead authentically in high-pressure contexts.
• Expand your global perspective, learning from peers across regions and cultures.

Syllabus

Over the course of eight modules, you will explore:

Module 1: Purposeful Leadership and Personal Resilience
Clarify your personal mission, connect it to your association’s purpose, and learn strategies for maintaining motivation and integrity under pressure. Build resilience against criticism and burnout using practical frameworks for renewal and well-being.

Module 2: Strategic Influence and Advocacy
Develop the ability to persuade, influence, and negotiate with stakeholders at every level. Learn the art of strategic storytelling and discover how to reclaim the narrative in times of change. Apply models such as the Hero’s Quest and Change Curve to craft compelling stories that mobilise support.

Module 3: Communication and Conflict Navigation
Strengthen your ability to listen deeply, build trust across cultures, and resolve conflict constructively. Explore frameworks such as the Kilmann Conflict Model, Erin Meyer’s Culture Map, and advanced listening techniques to manage difficult conversations while maintaining authentic connections.

Module 4: Motivation and Mobilisation
Reignite purpose within your membership, overcome apathy, and inspire collective action. Apply frameworks such as Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, Daniel Pink’s Drive, and the Ladder of Engagement to design strategies that foster sustainable involvement.

Module 5: Succession, Renewal and Leadership Pipelines
Ensure your association’s future vitality by designing effective succession plans and mentoring emerging leaders. Use practical tools such as Rothwell’s Succession Planning Model, the Performance–Potential Grid, and the GROW coaching model to develop leadership pipelines.

Module 6: Leading Through Innovation and Change
Foster a culture of innovation while navigating uncertainty. Learn to empower teams, build psychological safety, and adopt “fail fast, learn fast” approaches. Draw on frameworks such as Amy Edmondson’s Fearless Organisation and David Marquet’s Turn the Ship Around.

Module 7: Building Inclusive and Intergenerational Teams
Leverage diversity of age, gender, region, and culture to build stronger associations. Explore strategies to reduce unconscious bias, create inclusive environments, and strengthen intergenerational collaboration.

Module 8: Strategic Foresight and Future-Ready Leadership
Anticipate emerging trends and prepare your association for the long term. Learn horizon scanning, scenario planning, and PESTLE analysis to distinguish fads from meaningful trends and guide your organisation proactively rather than reactively.

The order of modules may change. Module content will be tailored to the audience and is an iterative process.

Program Fees

Fees are tiered to reflect global diversity and accessibility:

• High-Income Countries: 1,500 USD
• Upper-Middle-Income Countries: 1,000 USD
• Lower-Middle/Low-Income Countries: 250 USD (includes eligibility for a travel grant to attend the in-person workshop in Warsaw)

Fees include:

• All online learning modules
• The one-day in-person workshop in Warsaw
• Complimentary registration for WSAVA World Congress 2026

Payments can be made in up to three instalments (February, May, August). Participants are responsible for their own travel and accommodation to WSAVA Congress 2026; however, travel grants will be available for participants from lower-middle/low-income countries.

How to Apply

Applications open on 1 October 2025 and close on 30 November 2025 (23:00 UTC).

To apply, you must:

• Be nominated or endorsed by a WSAVA Member Association.
• Be an active member of that association throughout the program.
• Show leadership potential and a record of voluntary service.
• Commit to the time, travel, and learning requirements.
• Pay all associated program fees.

Application process:

Applicants must complete the official application form and upload their Member Association’s letter of endorsement or nomination. Both documents should be submitted via the Apply Here link. Applications without an endorsement cannot be considered.