Interview with Victor Fernández, President of AMVAC

Right from the start, Iberzoo Propet has set out to offer a unique formula that invites the entire value chain of the pet sector. Do you think that this mixture creates synergies and optimises and adds value to exhibitors’ and visitors’ experiences?

Iberzoo Propet is a unique fair because, as you mentioned, it brings together all sectors that work for companion animals in a transversal manner within the same space and time. It is highly attuned to the trends and innovations of a dynamic market with a bright present and future. This fair is organised with great professionalism, where attention to detail is prioritised to ensure that both exhibitors and visitors maximise their experience, making it an unmissable event for business and an annual gathering for the sector.

Moreover, it is a fair that continues to grow year by year thanks to the collaborative efforts of everyone involved. Both the promoters, AEDPAC and AMVAC, and IFEMA are eager and working hard to expand and fill two halls. 

The congress attendees, the audience of the event, which grows year by year, are divided into two main profiles: professionals linked to pet shops and professionals from veterinary health centres. Do you believe that the model of a shop with a veterinary professional or a veterinary centre with a shop is the standard model that pet parents expect? 

We are in a global world that behaves this way across all sectors, including the pet sector. Currently, the offerings available to pet owners are very diverse, both in terms of medical care services and product sales, and each pet parent seeks the model that fits their lifestyle and their relationship with their animal. It is a sector in constant evolution and appears to be adapting to the needs and demands of customers. 

Veterinary centres are increasingly tending towards specialisation. In many of them, the retail section is disappearing, or it is focusing on veterinary prescription diets and nutritional supplements.

What are the main updates or changes introduced in this edition of the Congress compared to previous years? 

At Vetmadrid, we have always been committed to quality training. After last year's edition, we wanted to take a further step and enhance our Vetmadrid offering by including parallel congresses focused on different specialities. Therefore, in 2025, we will once again hold the Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Congress, the Pre-congress for feline medicine experts, and the Management Congress. As a new feature, we are introducing more dynamic, specific, and shorter talks, alternating them with the traditional conference format, as well as round table discussions and interactive sessions. We want our congress to be the meeting point for all veterinarians in Spain.

We want our congress to be a meeting point for all the veterinarians in Spain. This year's chosen theme is Medicine and Surgery of the Locomotor Apparatus and Nervous System. However, with all the congresses, symposiums, workshops, and parallel events, we aim for the Congress—and, of course, the fair—to offer something important and interesting for all professionals in the sector, regardless of their specialization.

At the Congress for Clinical Care Assistants in Veterinary Centres, we are committed to showcasing the excellent speakers among the assistants themselves. Gradually, we will ensure that this vital part of clinic staff is highly qualified.

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

AMVAC prepares Vetmadrid each year so that veterinarians, assistants, clinic managers, etc., have access to the best speakers in their fields in Madrid. This ensures that medical advances, new clinical techniques, and therapeutic innovations related to the congress theme will be developed alongside these speakers. The key to success lies in having a team of expert and up-to-date professionals on the various committees, both scientific and organising bodies, who work to bring these special speakers to Vetmadrid to share their knowledge and experiences with the attendees. The committees work throughout the year to ensure that everything happens as expected. Of course, the Board of Directors of AMVAC is involved in ensuring the smooth operation of these committees' activities.

For any of our congresses, we start planning nearly two years in advance of the event date.

What are the biggest challenges you face as the organiser of such a large and specialised event like the AMVAC Congress?

For me, the challenge is juggling my work as a clinician. I believe the same goes for the other veterinarians who are part of the committees and the Board; the challenge is to manage both responsibilities reliably. Regarding the congress, we have the support of the technical secretariat, which consists of individuals dedicated to ensuring that everything runs smoothly and who mobilise all the resources of the Association to achieve this. Fortunately, as I mentioned in the previous question, there are many professionals involved to ensure that this goes well. We always have three fundamental pillars for the congress: the first, of course, is a scientific theme of the highest quality with world-class speakers. The second pillar is the recreational aspect, providing a meeting point for all colleagues in the sector where they can enjoy a pleasant time together among friends. The third pillar consists of the sponsors and commercial companies that are also present at the Iberzoo Propet fair.

What impact do you expect this Congress to have on the veterinary community, both professionally and in terms of scientific or technological advancements?

We expect to see significant attendance figures, both for Vetmadrid and for professional visitors at Iberzoo Propet. The Congress will likely have a significant impact on the veterinary community, both professionally and in terms of scientific and technological advancements. Once again, it will provide veterinarians an opportunity to update themselves on new techniques, treatments, and trends related to this year's theme, allowing them to improve the quality of care they offer to their patients. Events like this also promote the exchange of best practices among colleagues.

Beyond the academic aspect of the presentations, the Congress has traditionally been characterised by its parallel leisure activities, dining options, shows, and nightlife. To what extent is it important for the VetMadrid brand to enhance this "after work" factor to attract visitors?

VetMadrid has always been known for striving to make each edition a complete and special experience, so for us, focusing on leisure is also a very important part. We want our visitors to thoroughly enjoy their stay at VetMadrid and remember each edition for some special moment experienced during those days.

Finally, on a personal note:

Do you have or have you ever had a pet? If so, what kind?

I have always had pets. Right now, I have an adopted eight-year-old dog. He is a mix of a Yorkshire terrier and something else; if I showed you a photo, we could discuss what he looks like!

What does having a pet mean to your personal and family lives?

My dog is an essential part of the family. One of us. I plan a lot of leisure activities and holidays, considering whether or not I can bring my dog with me. We have been working to socialise her for years since she was very little, and the truth is that he behaves extremely well when we are in the car, on the underground, on the train, etc, as well as in restaurants when we go out to eat. What’s more, because I am a veterinarian, I sometimes take him to work with me if I am expecting a difficult day and I won’t be able to get home.

Thank you.