This edition will feature a variety of round table discussions addressing the new retail ecosystem in the pet care sector, the growth of a pet-friendly culture in contemporary society, an analysis of the global trends that will shape the development of the international pet care market, the myths and realities surrounding new diets in pet food, the importance of corporate social responsibility policies for sector brands, the perspective of public administration on animal welfare and protection in Spain in 2025, and the impact of the medication law on the veterinary sector. The programme will culminate with a discussion on the current and future state of the veterinary profession in our country.

According to Ignasi Solana, the curator of the event, "since its inception, the FORUM has become established as the main meeting point for analysis and debate on the business and commercial activities of professionals and companies in the pet care sector in our country." A space open to identifying new trends, generating valuable content, and projecting the sector’s voice to markets, media, and public opinion."

At this edition, the FORUM AEDPAC, which is held with the support of IFEMA-Feria de Madrid, features the collaboration and participation of the associations AMVAC, ANFAAC, CEVE, and the Directorate-General of Animal Rights.

WEDNESDAY 26 FEBRUARY

From 11.30 to 12.30

“Pet shops, veterinary clinics, breeders and groomers. Training the new specialist retail pet ecosystem in Spain”.

Moderator: Mar Cañas Asanza.

Technology and Environmental Director at Interempresas Media.

Degree in Information Sciences. Highly experienced in communication and public relations, publications and online product development. In recent years, she has specialised in team management and global communication strategy definition.

Álex Artero

CEO of ARTERO.

Business Management and Administration Management School. CEO of INSPIRING STYLE, S.A,   ARTERO USA INC, ARTERO UK, LTD, SAS. AND ARTERO FRANCE. More than 35 years of experience in the sector.

Itzíar González

Co-CEO and partner of Tumascota.

Degree in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences (UPM). Teacher and researcher (UPV-EHU) until 2002 when she joined the management team of a retail chain, Tumascota, a project founded in 1973. More than 20 years of experience in the pet retail sector.

José Miguel Doval

President of the Royal Spanish Dog Society.

President and founder member of the World Dog Press Association. CEO of perros365.com . Member of the committee of Fédération Cynologique Internationale.

President of the RSCE (Spanish Kennel Club). Member of the General Committee of the FCI.

From 12.30 to 13.30

“Analysis of global trends that will mark the development of the international pet care market”. The vision of GlobalPETS & PETS International.

David Palacios Rubio 

Editor-in-Chief, GlobalPETS & PETS International 

Graduated in Journalism from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), he has a solid background in media and international organisations, including the European Parliament. He is now at the helm of the editorial strategy of one of the most influential B2B publications in the pet animal industry, which is distributed in over 130 countries

From 17:00 to 18:00

Is Spain a pet-friendly country? A look at the level of acceptance regarding the inclusion of pets in public administration, businesses, hotels, shops, leisure activities, and the workplace.

Moderator: Mercè Jimenez

Founder of Turismo Canino.

Degree in Audiovisual Communication. Master’s in Communication and Advertising Management. Expert in digital marketing. In 2017, she founded www.turismocanino.es, a website about dog-friendly tourism with specialised content and suggestions for trips with dogs. Author of the DOG TRIP collection (Anaya Touring). Pet-friendly holiday consultant. Writer of the ‘Peludos’ column in La Vanguardia.

Francisco Garrido Benavides

CEO of TravelGuau.

Founded in 2012, https://travelguau.com/ advocates for more inclusive, friendly tourism with pets, The project is committed to animal welfare and the happiness of their families, promoting a more sustainable, responsible and welcoming tourism industry for all. He invites travellers, tourism businesses and destinations to join the pet-friendly movement.

Micaela de la Maza

Director of SrPerro and President of the SrPerro Colega Foundation.

Journalist and photographer. In 2011 she created the first “tourism with dog” website in Spain, SrPerro.com. She promotes dog-friendly leisure. She educates people about the dog world. In 2023, she created the SrPerro Colega Foundation to encourage adoption and raise awareness of abandonment.

Pablo Muñoz Gabilondo

Creator of Pipper on tour.

Journalist. Since 2018, she has been travelling with her pet Pipper, "the first tourist dog to have toured Spain, in order to raise awareness in society and ensure that well-behaved dogs are allowed to use public transport, and enter accommodation, and restaurants." She is the author of the guide ‘Spain with Dog’ (geoPlaneta) and the creator of ‘Pipper on the Road’ (TVE). She has more than a million followers at www.pipperontour.com

THURSDAY, 27 FEBRUARY

From 11.30 to 12.30

“Pet food: Myths and realities of new pet diets”.

Collaborator: ANFAAC.

Moderator: Pablo Hervás.  

Technical Director at ANFAAC

Veterinarian. MBA in Management and Business Administration in the Animal Health Industry from ESIC. Head of technical and regulatory affairs at ANFAAC. Collaborator with FEDIAF. Technical director and public affairs director at Veterindustria. Vice president of the Vet+i Foundation.

Marta Hervera Abad.

Veterinarian, PhD, Acre GENCV AVEPA.

PhD in animal nutrition from the UAB. Diploma from the European College of Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition (ECVCN). Founder and specialist adviser in Expert Pet Nutrition. Trainer and article writer on dog and cat nutrition. Member of the scientific Committee of the FEDIAF.

Víctor Romano.

R&D Affinity Petcare S.A.

Degree in Veterinary Science from UAB. More than 20 years of experience in dog and cat food. Coordinator of the Technical Committee of ANFAAC. President of the FEDIAF “Product Communication” work group.

Víctor Algra.

Clinical veterinarian and educator.

Degree in Veterinary Science from UCM and in Interpretation from RESDAD. Postgraduate degree in Small Animal Clinic from the UAB. Certified in Pedagogical Aptitude from UCM. Director at Centro Veterinario Pacífico. Founder and director of www.unveterinario.es. Contributor to TV show Zapeando (La Sexta).

María Ángeles Toscano.

Corporate Affairs Director at Royal Canin Ibérica.

Degree in Veterinary Science. Master’s in Business Administration (MBA at the Instituto de Empresa).

From 12:30 to 13:30

“The importance of CSR policies to connect with pet parents. Cases and public-private initiatives to encourage responsible pet guardianship.

Moderator: Ruth Manzanares

Directorate-General for Animal Protection.

Civil servant at the Directorate General of Animal Rights since 2020. INCUAL expert in the development of various professional qualifications related to dog training, pet breeding and sales, and the management of animal shelters. Specialist in training and education on pet-related matters in various public administrations and private entities.

Alejandra González

Head Digital Marketing & Communication Spain & Portugal at Elanco Animal Health.

With 40 years’ of experience in the veterinary health sector. She started his career at Bayer. She is head of the “Dejemos Huella Elanco” Programme that celebrated its 25th anniversary last year. An initiative dedicated to working against abandonment, and for responsible adoption, drawing attention to and recognising therapy and care entities and promoting responsible coexistence of people and animals.

Lola Barceló Ochoa

Chief People Officer & Co-Sponsor E.S.G at Grupo IskayPet.

Graduated in English Philology. Master's in Human Resources. Executive programme in Leadership at IE. Lecturer and collaborator at EAE and IE. Over 25 years of experience devoted to people and the pet sector. Specialist in adding value to organisations by enhancing the commitment and motivation of teams in line with strategic objectives and outcomes.

Ana Chinarro

President of the Dingonatura Foundation.

Veterinarian and CEO of Dingonatura, with over 30 years of experience in the dog and cat nutrition industry. President of the Dingonatura Foundation and a member of the Board of Directors of Huellas Compartidas.

From 17:30 to 18:30

“Animal protection and welfare: Spain in 2025”.

José Ramón Becerra,

Director-General for Animal Rights.

Technical Industrial Engineer from the University of the Basque Country and Master's in Environmental and Occupational Risk Prevention and Control from UNED. Professionally, for almost his entire career he has worked in the Basque public administration, holding technical and management positions such as the Directorate of Environmental Administration and the Directorate of

Strategic Projects and Industrial Administration for the Basque Government.

He is a national reference in the animal welfare field, thanks to the Animal Protection Bill he initiated in the Basque Country while serving as a parliamentarian in the Basque Parliament.

Presenter: Ignasi Solana Vinyoles

FORUM curator

Secretary-General of AEDPAC.

Training in ESADE and UAB. Founder of ITVET. CEO of Pets2b . Co-author of the first White Paper of the Pet Sector in Spain. Co-founder of Dr.Vet by Böthmen Pharma. Columnist and speaker in various media about the pet care sector from a social and business perspective. Founder of the AEDPAC FORUM.

FRIDAY, 28 FEBRUARY

From 11.30 to 12.30

“The medication law. Its impact on the development of the Spanish veterinary sector”

Collaborator: CEVE.

Moderator: Jaime Díaz Sacristán

Customer Healthcare and Engagement Director at UNAVETS

Veterinarian. Clinical veterinarian. Marketing Manager, KAM and Business consultant. Founding partner of Ilusiona Consultora Sanitaria. He has held several positions at Pfizer and Zoetis. Former manager of AMVAC. Since its foundation, he has been a member of the Unavets group as Customer Healthcare and Engagement Director.

Manuel Lázaro Rubio

Clinical pet veterinarian.

Degree in Veterinary Science from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of AMVAC, (Madrid Association of Pet Veterinarians) and is currently a member of GERPAC and GEMCA (Specialist Groups of AVEPA in Reproduction and Behavioural Medicine, respectively). He is currently a member of the Governing Board of the Madrid Veterinary Association.

Matilde Sotodosos

Head of the pharmaceutical legislation department of CEVE.

Degree in Chemical Sciences and Pharmacy and Master in Business Management.
More than 25 years of experience in the veterinary sector.

Ramiro Casimiro

Deputy Head of the Veterinary Medicines Department at AEMPS.

Veterinarian. He has held several positions in entities such as the National Agricultural Products Service (SENPA), the General Sub-directorate of Animal Health at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS). He is responsible for Pharmacovigilance, Quality Defects, and Foreign Trade of veterinary medicines, and is currently in the Veterinary Medicines Department of the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS).

From 12.30 to 13.30

“Present and future of the professional veterinary career. A countrywide challenge”.

Collaborator: CEVE.

Moderator: Pablo Pastor

Head of Unit at the State Foundation for Employment Training.

Degree in Psychology: Postgraduate studies in Human Resources. Teacher in vocational training and in the private business sector. More than 25 years in team coordination and grant management processes to drive research and development projects in vocational training for employment.

Natacha Suárez

President of AEMVELPA.

Veterinarian with more than 20 years of experience in the sector. Specialist in preventive medicine and training in all areas of clinical practice. She has worked as a clinical veterinarian and general surgeon. Municipal adviser. Adviser on hygiene, public health and expert opinions. Secretary of CEVE and head of training and development of veterinary assistants.

Antonio Cabrera

Manager of training company FYSA.

General Secretary of the Federation of Health and Socio-Health Sectors of CCOO from 2009 to 2021. For 12 years, he held different positions in the Federation of Andalusia. He now participates in the parity committees of FUNDAE for Private Health, Dependency, and Veterinary sectors.

Shaila Iribarne Clemente

UGT Representative.

Laboratory assistant. Surgical assistant. Head of Clínica Veterinaria de San Sebastián. with more than 12 years of experience in the sector.

José Agustín González Ferreiros

FETICO Representative.

Veterinarian. Degree from the University of Córdoba with more than 20 years of clinical practice with small and exotic animals.