IMPORTANT DATES:
ATD25 Proposal Submission Period: | July 8 - August 9, 2024 |
ATD25 Proposal Notification: | Mid-November 2024 |
ATD25 Conference Dates: | Washington, DC, May 18 - 21, 2025 |
Please review the important information below to ensure you meet the proposal requirements.
Proposal Types
When you start submitting a proposal, you will be asked to select a session format that best describes the proposal.
There are six (6) proposal types:
Education session: A 60-minute session that features one or two speakers and provides attendees with relevant material on a particular content or industry track.
Innogizer: A 60-minute energetic and innovative session with highly experiential activities such as dance, improv, drumming, games, etc.
Live Online: A 60-minute education session presented live online on the conference platform.
New ATD Speaker: A 60-minute education session for individuals who have not spoken at the ATD TechKnowledge Conference or ATD International Conference & Exposition and must submit a video.
On-Demand: A 60-minute education session that is prerecorded and made available on the conference platform.
Panel: A 60-minute moderated session. There will be no more than four panelists and the moderator.
The moderator should have a predefined set of questions based on an overall program design for the panel discussion and incorporate audience questions and feedback into the discussion. Like other sessions, please show how the content will immediately be appropriate to the participant’s job.
Session Development
ATD education sessions are learning experiences first and foremost, and as such must be noncommercial in content and delivery. Your primary goal should be the attendee's learning experience rather than a showcase for your ideas, products, and services. You will gain exposure to those things by providing something tangible for participants to take away. The more you can put yourself in their place in developing your session, the better your chances will be of being selected and receiving positive evaluations from participants.
When developing your proposal submission, ensure the content is informative and relevant, with clear and immediate application to the learner's work. Be sure the content corresponds with the applications to the job. Consider including interactive or hands-on methods to support learning within the conference session framework.
Proposal Submission Fields
These are the required fields that must be completed before submitting a proposal.
Submitter
Purpose of Submission
Speaker(s)
Videos (All first-time ATD speakers are required to submit a video.) Requirements can be found here.
Session Title
Session Type
Tracks and Area of Focus
Target Audience
Knowledge Level
Delivery Methods
Abstract Description
Session Description
Applications on the Job
Presentation Sample
Additional Programming
Equipment Needs/Room Set
Curated Learning Paths
Conference Policies
ATD 2025 International Conference & Exposition Proposal Template (PDF)
Session Description
We require two (2) types of session descriptions.
Abstract Description: This section is for INTERNAL REVIEW USE ONLY. Our submission process is very competitive. A Program Advisory Committee will review and score each proposal and make recommendations for final selection. This section should explain to the committee the basic background on your subject matter/topic, what you will discuss in your session, and what prerequisites would be needed to attend. Please consider this section a deeper dive into your subject matter; it should be written so the committee can understand exactly what will be delivered to attendees.
Session Description: This area is designed to be a short description of 2 to 3 sentences MAX to encourage attendees to attend the session. IF SELECTED, it will be used for the public-facing program guide, app, website, and other potential uses. Please consider this requirement's impact and do not repeat what you entered in your Abstract Description. Text is limited, so please proofread your final text after you have saved it.
*** PRO TIP: Watch the character count at the bottom. This is NOT a word count. Any extra characters will be deleted.
Please write both descriptions clearly and concisely, including all necessary information. The descriptions should focus on the content that will be delivered, not an editorial on the topic or an advertisement for the speaker or topic. Please write in the second person (you) and avoid references to the speaker and their published work by title.
Commercial presentations for products or services may be delivered as Expo Demo sessions. For information on exhibiting and these session opportunities, contact your ATD Sales representative.
Applications on the Job (Objectives)
Your applications on the job should show how the learner will be able to apply the content of your session back on the job. Session participants evaluate sessions positively or negatively according to how much they can use the information on the job.
Begin your application with action words like apply, analyze, develop, examine, assess, or evaluate to ensure your applications are action-oriented statements. You must submit at least one application on the job, and you may have up to three.
Make sure you can deliver on the objectives you choose! We expect you to deliver a deeper level of knowledge or skill to ATD learners.
Writing Learner-Focused Application on the Job (Objectives) (PDF)
Tracks and Areas of Focus
To create a well-rounded conference program and respond to feedback from attendees, ATD has done a significant amount of pre-planning for the 2025 conference education program. The topics listed within the tracks result from this planning and cover core and current topics and trends.
ATD 2025 International Conference & Exposition Tracks and Subtracks (PDF)
Target Audience and Knowledge Level
Most conference participants are training and talent development professionals from around the world. The conference audience ranges from novice part-time practitioners to highly experienced full-time professionals. Please carefully consider the knowledge level at which your content is appropriate. Ensure your content is suitable for a diverse audience. For your proposal, please specify no more than two (2) target audience groups and one knowledge level from the list of options.
Delivery Methods
How you plan to deliver your session is as important as the content. The ATD International Conference & Exposition is the largest event for talent development professionals worldwide. Your session should provide attendees with the knowledge, strategies, and solutions they need to train and develop talent effectively.
All speakers are asked to continue our shared quest for the quality of both content and session delivery. Remember that this is a learning experience. Even if you are a seasoned trainer or facilitator, spend time researching and practicing some key strategies for facilitating learning. Limit your use of PowerPoint as a delivery method. Please note that slides and supplemental materials will be provided electronically via the conference app and online. Your cooperation in providing these in a timely manner will be essential. Attendee experience is enhanced when speakers provide electronic access to their presentations and materials.
Design interactive ways for the participants to interact with each other within the conference session framework.
Deliver content that supports the Application-Focused Learning Objectives.
Model as many of the concepts you are delivering in the session as possible and practical.
Honoraria, Travel Expenses & Complimentary Registration
ATD is a nonprofit educational association with a responsibility to its members to carefully manage its resources.
Delivering an education session is voluntary and unpaid. The speaker pays for their own travel and living expenses.
ATD provides one complimentary full conference registration per speaker.