‘Women in Petfood Leadership’ returns to the Petfood Forum 2026

Women in Petfood Leadership (WIPL) will have a strong presence at the Petfood Forum 2026, offering attendees numerous opportunities to connect with a community dedicated to advancing women’s careers across the petfood industry. WIPL brings together working women – and men who support this mission – to build a community through networking, career planning, leadership development and mentoring.

Located near the Tech Talk Stage, Stand 527 will serve as WIPL’s base throughout the conference. Visitors can find out about the WIPL mentoring programme and upcoming meetings, as well as find a place to relax and chat with colleagues.

The WIPL mentoring programme pairs mentees with established leaders in the pet food industry for online conversations on a flexible schedule. ‘Our mentoring programme is central to WIPL’s goal of supporting women in advancing their careers as leaders in the pet food industry,’ said Dr Kathy Gross, associate professor at the Kansas State University Pet Food Programme. ‘The WIPL mentoring programme is important because it is designed to build skills, confidence and networks that empower women in our industry to achieve their goals. ’

Beyond the exhibition stand, WIPL is organising two special events during the conference:

- Tuesday, 28 April, 4.15 - 6.00 pm, ‘Women in Petfood Leadership’ networking event. This event will take place during happy hour in the exhibition hall at stand 527 and will feature a fun ‘Click & Connect’ networking activity, as well as an informal opportunity to meet other WIPL members and learn more about the organisation’s initiatives.

- Wednesday, 29 April, 1.30 - 3.00 pm, Closing event: It’s an experiment! Thoughts on leadership, creativity and career – Tech Talk Stage. Trying new things, exploring curious questions and growing in a career that brings joy and fulfilment are the themes here.

The Petfood Forum 2026 will take place from 27 to 29 April 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri, bringing together professionals from the global pet food industry for training, networking and supplier contacts. Registrations are available here.