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AUSTRALASIAN ANIMAL TRAINING CONFERENCE
2018
MELBOURNE ZOO
Monday 12TH Nov – Thursday 15th Nov (Optional days on Sunday 11th and Friday 16th)
‘Learning Together, Shaping the Future’
AUSTRALASIAN ANIMAL TRAINING CONFERENCE 2018
The ASZK Animal Training Community (ATC) proudly presents the Australasian Animal Training Conference 2018 hosted by Melbourne Zoo. We are excited to be offering an exclusive opportunity to the region. Never before have we had the calibre of international zoo-based animal training professionals together, at the one conference in Australia, until now. This is one event not to miss. The keynote speakers include:
Steve Martin - President/CEO of Natural Encounters Inc.
Peter Giljam - Animal Training Coordinator at Kolmarden Zoo and Owner of Zoospensefull
Emily Insalaco - Curator of Behavioural Husbandry and Animal Ambassadors at Denver Zoo
Michelle Skurski - Zoological Manager of Behavioural Husbandry at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Lodge
This conference will fuse a combination of workshops from keynote speakers and the ATC, paper presentations and behind the scene experiences. Melbourne Zoo will be the main setting for the conference and is one of the three Zoos Victoria Properties’, which also includes Healesville Sanctuary and Werribee Open Range Zoo. Melbourne Zoo is the oldest zoo in Australia (156 years old) and it is nestled on the outskirts of Melbourne CBD in Victoria, Australia. Zoos Victoria is a not-profit conservation organisation dedicated to fighting extinction. Visit https://www.zoo.org.au for further information. A ‘Call for Papers’ and a detailed itinerary will be released later in the year. Follow the ATC Facebook page for further updates – ASZK Animal Training Community For more information, contact Bianca Papadopoulos – [email protected] The ATC and Melbourne Zoo look forward to seeing you all in November.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY
STEVE MARTIN
President/CEO of Natural Encounters Inc.
Steve Martin began his professional animal training career when he set up the first of its kind,
free-flight bird show at the San Diego Wild Animal Park in 1976. The show gained world acclaim
for its unique ability to combine the entertainment of birds performing natural behaviours with
inspiring conservation messages. Since then he has produced free-flight bird programs at over
50 facilities around the world.
Steve Martin is President of Natural Encounters, Inc. (NEI), a company of over 40 professional
trainers who produce and present educational animal programs at zoological facilities in the US
and internationally. He spends over 250 days each year on the road producing educational
programs or serving as an animal behaviour and visitor experience consultant for over 120
zoological facilities worldwide. As well as teaching animal care professionals the science of
behaviour change principals and strategies to promote husbandry, medical, and species-
appropriate behaviours in exhibits for educational purposes.
Steve is an instructor at the AZA Animal Training School, an instructor at the Recon - Elephant
training workshop, a Trustee with the World Parrot Trust, a member of the AZA Animal Welfare
Committee. He is also President of Natural Encounters, Inc. and Natural Encounters
Conservation Fund, Inc. a company that has raised and donated over $1.3 million to insitu
conservation programs.
PETER GILJAM Animal Training Coordinator – Kolmarden Zoo
Owner – Zoospensefull When Peter was a child he always knew that he wanted to work with animals, it just wasn’t clear what
species. His first internship was at an edutainment park in the Netherlands, where he worked with harbor seals. He did the internship twice, making his choice that marine mammals were going to be a part of his life and career path. At the end of his internships in 2005 he began working at Ouwehands
Zoo in the Netherlands where he worked for five years with California Sea Lions. This great zoo gave him the opportunity to start his career in this field. Ouwehands Zoo supports their trainers learning the most current care practices for marine mammals and sent Peter to his first IMATA conference in 2008.
At the conference Peter met trainers from all over the world, and from the expertise shared he knew
that this is where he began to set higher standards for himself and his career development. In 2010 he was given the opportunity to move to Canada where he had the privilege to work in a multiple species animal show. The show’s participants included Walruses, Californian Sea Lions, and Bottlenose
Dolphins.
Peter’s next career move was to Spain, where he was given the unique opportunity to work with killer
whales at Tenerife. He found that he had to learn a whole new training strategy, as killer whales were very different from the species he had worked with previously. He found that he needed to be conscious of the whole environment, and he learned how to use more detailed training methods.
The peak of Peter’s career came when he was working with a young deaf killer whale named Morgan.
She was the topic for his formal presentation at the 2013 IMATA conference, where he was the recipient of the People’s Choice Award. From Tenerife, Peter went to Marineland France where he continued to work with killer whales. After a year he got the opportunity to work for a park in Sweden, where he is
today.
The goal of the training team at Kolmårdens dolphinarium was to change the training system in such a
way that involves teaching both trainers and animals to get to the level where they want them to be. It has been a big challenge and a great opportunity in his career as a marine mammal trainer. Peter went
from a Senior Marine Mammal Trainer at Kolmarden Djurpark, working with Bottlenose Dolphins, South African Fur Seals, Harbor Seals and Grey Seals to his current job Coordinator Animal Training where he can share his experiences with all the animals in the zoo of the same park.
In November 2016 he got the honour to serve for the board of IMATA as 2nd Vice President.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY
KEYNOTE SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY
EMILY INSALACO Curator of Behavioural Husbandry and Animal
Ambassadors - Denver Zoo Emily Insalaco is the Curator of Behavioural Husbandry and Animal Ambassadors at Denver Zoo. She started her career in marine mammals, working with seals, sea lions and dolphins at the Aquarium of Niagara in Niagara Falls, NY. During her time in NY, she was also a wildlife rehabilitator, and worked with small and large mammals and birds of prey at wildlife centres in New York State.
She later joined Natural Encounters, Inc., where she performed in free flight birds shows on cities ranging from Orlando to Dallas to Philadelphia to Pittsburgh. She also became part of the company’s behaviour consulting team, traveling with other team members, including the company president, Steve Martin, to programs at facilities across North America. It was on one of these consulting contracts that she fell in love with Denver and Denver Zoo, and has been there ever since as their Behaviour Curator, and more recently, also managing the Ambassador Animal team.
She has been a board member, serving as both a Vice President and President, for the Animal Behaviour Management Alliance (the ABMA). She is an instructor for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Professional Development courses Principles of Program Animal Management, and Animal Training Applications in Zoo and Aquarium Settings, the latter of which she now course administrator. She sits on the Steering Committees for AZA’s Behaviour Scientific Advisory Group, and the Ambassador Animal Scientific Advisory Group. She is the also the studbook keeper and Species Survival Plan coordinator for hyacinth macaws. When she isn’t working, she is exploring beautiful Colorado and the Rocky Mountain range with her husband and 5 year old son.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY
MICHELLE SKURSKI
Zoological Manager of Behavioural Husbandry at
Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Lodge
Michelle Skurski began her career at Marine World Africa USA, Vallejo California in 1990, with a focus
on the husbandry and training of large felids. In 1998 she moved to Florida to work with a variety of
species, Asian and African hoof stock and large felids at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and in 2001, she
became a Manager of Behavioural Husbandry.
Ms. Skurski’s focus is on integrating science-based practices into the behavioural husbandry program
while supporting and training the staff in the skills of training and enrichment with all animals in the
collection. Michelle has consulted and presented around the world on the topic of animal training,
enrichment and how to create and sustain a Behavioural Husbandry program. She has a special
interest in training large felids and has authored the behavioural management chapters for the
Cheetah and Tiger AZA animal care manuals.
Michelle has also has an interest in the training and enrichment of reptiles, has been a course
instructor for the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) Crocodilian Biology course for 8 years
and has presented and authored several chapters on behavioural management of reptiles. Michelle
was the course administrator and an instructor for the animal training course for the AZA, Animal
Training Applications in Zoo and Aquarium Settings from 2008 through 2017. Michelle is currently a
course co-administrator and instructor for the new AZA course, Animal Enrichment in Zoo and
Aquarium Settings.
ASZK ANIMAL TRAINING COMMUNITY BIOGRAPHIES
ELLY NEUMANN – Senior Keeper Marine Mammals, Taronga Zoo Elly has worked at Taronga zoo for the past 18 years and is currently a senior keeper and trainer in the marine mammals department, working with the zoos seals and penguins. She is also a trainer for the Taronga Training Institute, teaching certificate III courses in zoos across Australia. Elly has a passion for animal training and education and has presented a number of training papers and workshops in Australia and overseas. As well as being the chair of the ASZK Animal Training Community, Elly also sits on the education committee for IMATA (International Marine Animal Trainers Association). Elly is looking forward to developing animal training skills and resources in the Australasian keeping community.
NIC BISHOP – Nature Theatre Manager, Adelaide Zoo Nic is a Humanimal fascinated with nature, learning, behaviour and the art of storytelling. He has
worked in the zoo world for the past 20 years in Australia and overseas, with a keen focus on birds and
free flight presentations. These have blended with his background as an actor/singer to see him
working internationally in the field of Nature Theatre in free flight displays in Australia, the Middle East
and the USA. His local career history includes stints at Zoos South Australia, Taronga Conservation
Society and Alice Springs Desert Park, supported by academic achievements in Ornithology and Zoo
Animal Management. Nic is currently the Manager of Nature Theatre at Zoos SA.
BIANCA PAPADOPOULOS – Animal Training Coordinator, Melbourne Zoo Bianca has always had a passion for animals and it was her dream to become an animal trainer. Bianca started her career 13 years ago working with elephants/seals at Melbourne Zoo and has worked as a marine mammal trainer at Underwater World and Sea World. In 2011, she returned to Melbourne Zoo and is currently the Animal Training Coordinator. Bianca has been able to attend animal training workshops worldwide and in 2015, she was successful in acquiring an international fellowship, to further her existing training knowledge, which allowed her to disseminate the information not only to her direct colleagues but also to the broader zoo community in Australia/New Zealand.
STEPHEN DALLEYWATER – Keeper Animal Presentations Precinct, Taronga Zoo
Stephen has been a part of the Marine Mammal Department at Taronga Zoo for the last 10
years, where he has worked with a variety of pinnipeds from Antarctic Leopard Seals to
California Sea-lions, as well as penguins and pelicans. He has a strong interest in animal
training, which has lead him to work with a variety of species for Taronga’s new education
program. Stephen became a member of ASZK in 2016 when he contributed to the foundation of
the training and conditioning sub-committee, ‘The ASZK Animal Training Community’ and took
on the role of ASZK Committee Secretary in 2017.
RYAN CARTLIDGE – Animal Training Academy Ryan worked for a decade internationally as a professional animal trainer in New Zealand, Australia, the US and Canada. He now runs his own business helping keepers and teams implement best practice behaviour management techniques with their organisations, focusing heavily on positive reinforcement, enrichment and problem solving.
CONFERENCE ITINERARY OVERVIEW
SUNDAY 11TH NOVEMBER - (OPTIONAL DAY at an additional cost) Bus departs Melbourne Zoo in AM (time TBC) to spend the day at Healesville Sanctuary with keynote speakers, the ATC members and includes behind the scenes opportunities. Price will include bus and entry into Healesville and behind the scene experiences. Participants cover their own cost of food this day.
MONDAY 12TH NOVEMBER – DAY 1 – Melbourne Zoo An early ICEBREAKFAST will start the day at Melbourne Zoo. The day will include presentations, workshops from keynotes and behind the scene experiences. Breakfast, morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea will be included in the conference fee.
TUESDAY 13TH NOVEMBER – DAY 2 – Melbourne Zoo/Werribee Open Range Zoo The day will begin at Melbourne Zoo and then a bus will take everyone out to Werribee Open Range Zoo. The afternoon will include a dusk safari ride, evening presentation and dinner before heading back to Melbourne. Morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner will be included in the conference fee.
WEDNESDAY 14TH NOVEMBER – DAY 3 – Melbourne Zoo Keynote workshops, presentations and behind the scenes experiences will be happening throughout the day. Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea will be included in the conference fee.
THURSDAY 15TH NOVEMBER – DAY 4 – Melbourne Zoo Keynote workshops, presentations and behind the scenes experiences will be happening throughout the day. On this evening, the formal conference dinner will be held at Melbourne Zoo’s Leopard Lodge. Morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner will be included in the conference fee.
FRIDAY 16TH NOVEMBER - (OPTIONAL DAY at an additional cost) STEVE MARTIN ONE-DAY WORKSHOP at Melbourne Zoo. Details on this event TBC. Price will include morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea.
PRICING
To register visit the ASZK website – https://aszk.org.au/
Registration for the conference closes Thursday 1st November 2018.
EARLY-BIRD (closes 14th September 2018): ASZK members: $500 AUD Non-ASZK members: $580 AUD
Price as of 15th September 2018:
ASZK members: $550 AUD Non-ASZK members: $630 AUD
NOTE: We recommend that participants attending the conference arrive into
Melbourne on Sunday 11th November to ensure they have an opportunity to attend the ICEBREAKFAST early the following morning.
Similarly, we recommend departing Melbourne on Friday 16th November to ensure you have an opportunity to attend the formal conference dinner on the Thursday night.
OPTIONAL DAYS Sunday 11th November – Visit to Healesville Sanctuary
Cost: $45
If participants are attending the optional day on Sunday, we recommend arriving into Melbourne on Saturday 10th November. Friday 16th November – Steve Martin One-Day Workshop at Melbourne Zoo
LIMITED SPACES Cost: $125 (CONFEREENCE ATTENDEES) $200 (NON-CONFERENCE ATTENDEES)
If participants are attending the optional day on Friday, we recommend leaving Melbourne from 6pm onwards that evening or Saturday morning. Melbourne Zoo is located 18km away from Melbourne Airport, depending on traffic conditions allow at least 30 – 45 minutes travel time.
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS Following are details for a range of accommodation options near Melbourne Zoo. Please contact establishment directly to make your booking, or book through a third party site such as Wotif or Agoda or Booking.com etc. The preferred hotel for the conference is the Vibe Hotel – they are offering a 20% discount to conference attendees, please refer below for the code.
Hotels and Motels (in order of proximity to the Zoo)
Vibe Hotel (PREFERRED HOTEL) Address: 441 Royal Parade, Parkville Website: https://gc.synxis.com/rez.aspx?hotel=58429&Chain=14687&locale=en-US&promo=TH10278420&arrive=11/09/2018 Comment: About 5 minutes walk from the Zoo. Contact: Telephone: (03) 9380 9222 E-mail: [email protected] Discount CODE: TH10278420 Princes Park Motor Inn and Serviced Apartments Address: 2 Sydney Road, Brunswick Website: http://www.princespark.com.au/ Comment: About 10 minutes’ walk from Zoo, close to shops and public transport. Contact: Telephone: (03) 9388 1000 E-mail: [email protected]
Parkville Motel Address: 759 Park Street, Brunswick Web-site: www.parkvillemotel.com.au Comment: About 10 minutes walk from the Zoo Contact: Telephone: (03) 9388 1500 or 1800 787 778 E-mail: [email protected]
The Larwill (Studio) Address: 48 Flemington Rd, Parkville Website: http://www.artserieshotels.com.au/larwill/ Comment: ~ 15mins walk to the Zoo. Trams along Flemington Rd to the City. Contact: Telephone: (03) 9032 9111 E-mail [email protected]
Naughtons Parkville Hotel Address: 43 Royal Parade, Parkville Website: http://parkvillehotel.com.au/ Comment: ~ 15mins walk to the Zoo. Contact: Telephone: (03) 9347 2255 E-mail: [email protected]
