Conference Attendance Policy

Terms & Conditions

Thank you for participating in the PSHRA26 International Conference & Exhibition (the “Conference” or “PSHRA26”). The following Conference Terms and Conditions (“Terms and Conditions” or “Terms”) apply to you and your participation in the Conference. Your Conference registration may include in-person programming (including general admission keynotes, general education sessions, opening reception and exhibition), digital access to programming (including exclusive content), and/or any optional pre-conference programs, special events or special in-person or digital programs you choose to add onto your Conference registration. “Attendee” for purposes of these Terms will include all participants at the Conference, including exhibitors, sponsors, speakers, press, partners and individual attendees. By participating in this Conference, you agree to these Terms so please read them carefully. These Terms include and incorporate by reference our Privacy Policy.

This Conference is organized by the International Public Management Association for Human Resources d/b/a Public Sector HR Association (“PSHRA”), which reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to limit or deny access to any entity or individual for a violation of any provision of these Terms.

  • Accessibility
  • Payment Terms & Cancellation Policy
  • Communications and Contact Information
  • Digital Content Access
  • Health and Safety
  • Code of Conduct
  • Other Conference Policies
  • Assumption of Risk, Release, and Waiver of Liability
  • Consequences of Violating these Terms and Conditions

Accessibility

PSHRA events are accessible to all participants. If you require special accommodations, dietary considerations, or auxiliary aid related to a disability to enjoy the full conference experience, please let us know during registration by completing the PSHRA Conference Accessibility question. PSHRA staff will follow up to discuss your needs and identify the best plan to provide your accommodations moving forward. If you require additional accommodation on-site, please stop by the PSHRA Full-Service Registration Desk on-site. We may be limited in our ability to accommodate your request based on available resources.

Payment Terms & Cancellation Policy

Submission of a registration online, by phone or email, constitutes an official registration and intent to attend the Conference. Invoices are payable upon receipt, and full payment must be received to gain entry to the Conference. Please note that payments must be charged to Visa, MasterCard or American Express, or paid by check or wire transfer. Cash is not accepted, except where required by law.

You agree that in the unlikely event that PSHRA cannot resolve a payment issue, and you dispute the credit card charge, your electronic statement may be used as evidence that said charge is valid and just. If there are any issues with your credit card charge, please contact PSHRA at [email protected] or +1.703.549.7100 Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET.

Please remember that Conference fees do not include PSHRA membership fees unless otherwise stated. Any PSHRA membership fees paid as part of the Conference registration are subject to the PSHRA Membership Policies.

Registration Confirmation

Registration confirmations are auto generated and sent to the email address provided during the registration check out process. If you did not receive your confirmation, please contact PSHRA at [email protected] or +1.703.549.7100 Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET.

Cancellation Policy

If circumstances change and you can no longer attend this Conference, you may cancel your registration by providing written notice to PSHRA at [email protected] or +1.703.549.7100 Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET.  Our Attendee cancellation policy is outlined below.

Confirmed registrants for the PSHRA26 Conference may transfer their registration or cancel and receive a full refund minus a $250 cancellation fee through August 14, 2026. Cancellations received from August 15, 2026, through September 14, 2026, may transfer their registration or receive a full refund minus a $500 cancellation fee. Cancellations made in writing to PSHRA after September 15, 2026, are nonrefundable, though transfers are permitted.

Registrants who do not attend the PSHRA26 and/or do not contact PSHRA via written correspondence by the dates above will be responsible for the full registration fee at the time of purchase and are not eligible for a refund or transfer. If the conference is cancelled, PSHRA is not responsible for any penalty incurred by purchasing a nonrefundable airline ticket or related costs.

Exhibitor cancellations and sponsorship fees are subject to different terms, as outlined in the Exhibitor /Sponsor Contract.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT CANCELLING YOUR CONFERENCE REGISTRATION DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY CANCEL YOUR HOTEL AND TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS. ATTENDEES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CANCELLING THEIR OWN HOTEL AND TRAVEL RESERVATIONS.

Transfer Policy

Transfers to another attendee are offered as a one-time courtesy and are eligible for use exclusively for the PSHRA26 conference. The selection of a replacement attendee for the PSHRA26 conference must be made as of the date the transfer is issued. The selected conference transfer to another attendee is final; no further transfers will be permitted.

Transfer of registrations may be made in advance by September 25, 2026, by notifying PSHRA. In certain cases, we will allow on-site transfers. If the transfer takes place on-site, the substitute attendee must bring a letter on company letterhead authorizing the substitution.

To request a substitution, please contact PSHRA at [email protected] or +1.703.549.7100 Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET.

Conference Cancellation or Modification

PSHRA reserves the right to cancel, alter, modify or reschedule the Conference for any reason, including because PSHRA determines at its sole discretion that the Conference cannot be held as planned.  Should PSHRA alter, modify, or reschedule some or all the in-person portion of the Conference for any reason and still host the in-person Conference, your Conference fees will not be refunded.

PSHRA also reserves the right to close registration when tickets are sold out.

For these reasons, registrants are advised against making non-refundable travel arrangements. Should you purchase non-refundable airline tickets or make non-refundable hotel reservations, you do so at your own risk.

Communications and Contact Information

For the purposes of these Terms, the term “Contact Information” means Attendees’ names, company names, job titles, address, email address, and phone. Except as described herein, PSHRA does not share your Contact Information with exhibitors and/or sponsors prior to, during or after the Conference if you have opted out of communications from third parties. The sections below outline when and how PSHRA may share the information described; if you want to adjust your consent and or opt-out preferences, you may do so at any time (subject to the limitations around digital content access described below) through your PSHRA profile. Additionally, if you receive an unauthorized email from an exhibitor, sponsor, or Attendee, please contact the exhibitor, sponsor or Attendee directly to remove your name from its distribution list. You may also notify PSHRA at [email protected].

Attendee Roster

Unless you have specifically opted out, by completing the registration process and acknowledging these Terms and Conditions, you are providing your consent for PSHRA to share your limited registration information (meaning name, company name, job title, city, state, and/or country) on the PSHRA attendee roster in the conference platforms.

You agree not to copy or permit to be copied, in any form or format, without the express written permission of PSHRA, any of the contents of the Conference attendee roster. You also agree not to use the roster contents for any commercial, marketing, promotional, or political purposes.

Communications from PSHRA

By completing the registration process, you acknowledge that you will receive emails and other communications from PSHRA related to the Conference to facilitate your participation. Specifically, you are providing your consent to allow PSHRA to use your Contact Information to facilitate access to Conference programming, exhibitor sessions and sponsored activities, PSHRA digital platforms, and related events, including Conference content, optional pre- and post-conference activities, special events, or special digital programming.

Badge & Admission Policies

A conference badge allows an attendee entry to the Conference and to certain areas and sessions based on your attendee registration type. It does not guarantee admission to every session, lounge, or meeting area. Admission is also subject to venue capacity and other requirements.

For security and privacy reasons, badge swapping or sharing of access credentials is not permitted. Anyone found wearing a badge that does not match that person’s identification or using another person’s access credentials for the in-person conference will be asked to leave the Conference premises without a refund, and that person’s registration will be canceled. Additionally, anyone sharing their access information or login credentials in connection with any component of the PSHRA digital content will be restricted from future access to the event, that person’s registration will be cancelled, and the individual may be restricted from access to future PSHRA events.

Badge Scanning

Your name badge is printed with a barcode that contains the contact and demographic information you provided when you registered for the Conference. PSHRA may use badge scanning for in-person attendance. PSHRA does so to share your registration Contact Information as described below, as well as to determine session attendance, deliver session surveys, manage session capacity, and enforce session restrictions.  Exhibitors and sponsors (“Company”) may request permission to scan your badge to add your information to their contact database. By agreeing to have your badge scanned by the Company, you are consenting to allow it to communicate with you directly. All such communication is governed by the privacy policies of the Company performing the scan. Once your badge is scanned, it is your responsibility to manage your communication preferences directly with that Company.

Please be aware that exhibitor and sponsor scanning of attendee badges is optional, and you may refuse to have your badge scanned at booths as well as at the entrance to exhibitor sessions and functions without penalty by verbally declining to allow the Company to scan your badge; you acknowledge that if you do not permit sharing of your Contact Information in this context, you may not be able to attend certain sessions or functions.

Digital Content Access

By completing the registration process and acknowledging these Terms and Conditions, you acknowledge and agree that PSHRA will be offering certain digital content via one or more digital platforms. Depending on the platform(s) PSHRA deploys, access to the digital content may be through a website or through an app that you need to download on your mobile device(s). PSHRA will provide login credentials to you (usually by email to the email address on file) prior to the first Conference session.

Additionally, our mobile app will support features equivalent to scanning your badge at an in-person event. Like badge-scanning, PSHRA will interpret certain actions you take in the event as a positive opt-in to sharing your Contact Information, including a specific sponsor or exhibitor receiving information about you. You can opt out of us sharing your information by not taking the actions in question. The information shared with the sponsor or exhibitor will include Contact Information and may include details about what you viewed, asked, or accessed. Relevant actions include: 1) visiting a sponsor or exhibitor page; 2) attending a sponsored session; 3) accessing sponsored content or exhibitor content; and/or 4) communicating directly with an exhibitor or sponsor within the platform.

Our mobile app will also support networking between attendees. For the Conference to function effectively, your participation may be visible on the platform(s), and other attendees may be able to contact you via the platform(s). If you choose to interact with another attendee, you agree to permit PSHRA and the platform to share your event networking profile with that attendee. You can opt out of this sharing by not interacting with other attendees, and you can also control what information is available in your event networking profile, including any contact details.

Health and Safety

PSHRA will implement health and safety protocols appropriate to public health circumstances existing at the time of the Conference. PSHRA will exercise reasonable efforts to utilize protocols that will comply with applicable public health requirements and be consistent with then-prevailing public health standards as issued by relevant public health entities.

Compliance with the protocols adopted by PSHRA will be mandatory for in-person attendance and participation at the Conference. Additional information regarding the specific health and safety protocols and any necessary consents by you will be communicated to Attendees prior to the first day of the Conference. You may opt not to participate in the Conference if you decide not to abide by the Conference protocols.

Reporting Dangerous Situations or Emergencies

If there is a situation that looks concerning or could be dangerous, notify Conference organizers on-site in a prompt manner. In the event of an emergency situation, please contact building security and/or local authorities immediately. Please refer to the on-site program or mobile app for additional details.

Code of Conduct

PSHRA is committed to providing a professional, friendly, inclusive, and welcoming learning environment for all participants at its education courses, meetings, conferences, and events, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, or other protected classes.

We expect all PSHRA education courses, meetings, and event participants and speakers (virtual or in person) to help ensure a positive learning experience for everyone. Unacceptable behavior will not be tolerated during any portion of PSHRA education courses, meetings, or events.

All participants in PSHRA education courses, meetings, conferences, and events must abide by the following policy.

Expected behavior:

  • Be considerate of those with whom you may interact.
  • Be collaborative with others.
  • Be respectful of others’ viewpoints that may be different from your own.
  • Be mindful of your words and actions.
  • Adhere to PSHRA, venue, and other relevant health protocols.
  • Unacceptable behavior includes, but is not limited to:
  • Offensive or unwanted behavior or language including, but not limited to, race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, transgender status, age, disability, veteran or marital status, or any other similar categories.
  • Visual harassment, such as displaying sexual or offensive images OR inappropriate language during the course, meeting, or event, including in presentations, in slide decks, as backgrounds, or on clothing visible to attendees.
  • Intimidation or bullying, either online or in person.
  • Possession of a weapon or something that could be construed as a weapon during the course, meeting, event, or on video.
  • Photographing, video recording, or audio recording slides, oral presentations, or poster presentations without the presenter’s or author’s permission.
  • Possession or mention of illegal substances during a course, meeting, event, or on video
  • Sharing your event registration with another person(s).
  • Inappropriate disruption of courses, meetings, or events or solicitation of others.
  • Any other illegal activity not already covered above.
  • Intimidating, harassing, abusive, discriminatory, derogatory, or demeaning speech or actions.
  • Inappropriate use of nudity and/or sexual images.
  • Real or implied threat of professional or financial damage or harm.
  • Violating the rules and regulations of the online platform on which a course, meeting, conference, or event is held.

Report harassment or disruptive behaviors to PSHRA at [email protected] or to a PSHRA staff person identified by their staff badge or ribbon.

Consequences of misconduct or not following PSHRA’s expectations of behavior may include immediate removal from the PSHRA education course, meeting, conference, or event (virtual or in person) without warning and restrictions from attending future PSHRA education courses, meetings, conferences, and events.

Other Conference Policies

No solicitation is permitted except by exhibitors within the confinement of their booths. PSHRA reserves the right to escort any individual from the Conference who is reported to be soliciting outside of a booth and/or who is not an PSHRA exhibitor.

The Conference is a private event, and weapons are strictly prohibited. Attendees are forbidden from carrying weapons of any kind, including concealed or displayed firearms or knives, onto the premises of the Conference. PSHRA reserves the right, in its sole discretion, without refund, to deactivate and/or revoke the credentials of Attendees who violate this policy. You agree to comply with this policy, regardless of any signage located on the premises of the Conference.

Smoking or vaping is not permitted on the premises of the Conference, except in designated outdoor areas.

Live animals are prohibited at the Conference other than animal(s) that serve a guide or service function as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The official language of Conference programming is English. Simultaneous translation is not guaranteed.

As a courtesy to conference participants, PSHRA requests that all electronic devices be silenced during sessions and other programming. If it’s necessary to use your device for something other than session participation, please step outside the meeting room to avoid disturbing other participants.

To balance the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) tools with privacy and security considerations, PSHRA has implemented a new policy regarding the use of AI notetaking tools at its meetings.

Under this policy, AI notetaking tools may only be used with the prior approval of both the meeting convenor and all attendees. Special consideration will be given to individuals with accessibility needs or other circumstances where AI can provide meaningful support.

While AI tools offer helpful capabilities for capturing and transcribing discussions, their use also raises important concerns about privacy, security, and the protection of shared information. PSHRA is committed to maintaining a respectful and secure environment for all meeting participants.

Session Availability

PSHRA works diligently to verify participation of all speakers on the agenda; however, there are times when speakers have unexpected circumstances that impact their ability to present at an PSHRA Conference or event. In such circumstances, PSHRA makes its best effort to substitute speakers and/or replace sessions. Session admission is also subject to venue capacity. Building an agenda in any Conference system does not guarantee access to any session(s). We recommend you identify one or more alternate programs in each time block in the event your first choice is unavailable.

Guest Speakers

To provide our Attendees with a platform for the exchange of ideas and insights, PSHRA invites key subject matter experts and other speakers to share their perspectives concerning the challenges and opportunities facing organizations today. Guest speakers are not employees of PSHRA and PSHRA neither pre-reviews nor comments on the content of our guest speakers’ sessions. Guest speaker views and opinions are entirely their own and in no way reflect the views and opinions of PSHRA.

Internet Access

PSHRA provides wireless internet as a free open wireless internet service provided to Attendees for use at some of our Conferences. This service is typically managed by a third-party vendor, and you will be subject to their terms of use. By using the wireless service, you understand that you will be subject to the provider's terms and conditions, and that you are solely responsible for ensuring the privacy and integrity of any transmissions you make or receive, as well as the safety and security of any systems you attach to the Conference Attendee Wireless Network.

Age and Admission Policy

All attendees must wear their conference badge at all times.

Due to the professional nature of the conference and EXPO, children under 18 years of age are not permitted to attend the conference, either as a full attendee, exhibitor, sponsor or guest of an attendee.

Guests of Attendees are required to register as a guest of the primary conference attendee and may only access pre-designated social events. Guests will be provided with a Guest pass, but are not permitted to attend the conference in full.

Use of Multimedia

By attending the Conference, you acknowledge and agree that PSHRA, or others acting on its behalf or through sponsorship or exhibitor contracts, may take photographs and video (by any means) and/or make sound recordings during the Conference (including through the digital event platform and via social media) and that you may appear in such photographs and videos and be heard in such sound recordings, and that PSHRA may edit and use the footage it captures at the in-person and digital Conference for marketing and promotional activities (including through social media) now and in the future, and for any other lawful purpose in the ordinary course of its business.

During PSHRA events, photography and videography by individuals for personal use at social events, in the EXPO, in session rooms, and in public spaces is permitted with the understanding that it may not be disruptive to other attendees, speakers, exhibitors, sponsors, or the overall event. Exception: Live streaming is not permitted.

We ask that at all times, you respect the intellectual property, copyrights, or trademarks of exhibitors, speakers, sponsors, and PSHRA. PSHRA reserves the right to stop any activity taking place that violates these guidelines.

Due to the prevalence of mobile devices today, PSHRA disclaims all liability for the capture of your image, voice, or likeness by Attendees (who are not under sponsorship contracts with PSHRA) in any multimedia format at the Conference.

Assumption of Risk, Release, and Waiver of Liability

Please review this ASSUMPTION OF RISK, RELEASE, AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY, which describes the terms and conditions for in-person attendance at the event.

You understand that PSHRA cannot eliminate the risk of contracting any communicable disease in connection with in-person participation in the Conference.

In consideration of the opportunity to participate in the Conference provided by International Public Management Association for Human Resources d/b/a Public Sector HR Association (“PSHRA”), and its officers, directors, employees, members, volunteers, representatives, and agents (together, “PSHRA”), you hereby FOREVER RELEASE, WAIVE, AND HOLD HARMLESS PSHRA from any and all liability, injury, damage, loss, or expense that may arise, directly or indirectly, now or in the future, regardless of whether caused by fault on the part of PSHRA, in connection with your participation in PSHRA26 or any Conference-related activities.

By participating in PSHRA26, YOU VOLUNTARILY ASSUME ALL KNOWN AND UNKNOWN RISKS RELATED TO EXPOSURE TO COMMUNICABLE DISEASES. YOU PROMISE NOT TO SUE PSHRA for any of the claims that you have released, waived, and discharged. You hereby assume all risk of personal injury, damage and expense related to your participation in, and travel to and from, the Conference.

You understand this release and waiver is intended to be as broad and inclusive as is permitted by law, and that if any portion of this release and waiver is held invalid, the remainder will continue in full legal force and effect. This release and waiver shall extend to and be binding upon me and my estate, heirs, executors, administrators and personal representatives.

You understand that your participation in PSHRA26 is completely voluntary on your part and permitted at PSHRA’s discretion, and you agree to abide by all policies and procedures as established by PSHRA. If your conduct does not meet reasonable standards of behavior, including without limitation following the instructions provided by PSHRA and its Code of Conduct, my participation in PSHRA26 may be revoked.

You further agree that the maximum liability of PSHRA to you in connection with your participation in the Conference shall be the fees paid by you to PSHRA for the Conference.

By registering and attending the Conference, you signify that you have read the ASSUMPTION OF RISK, RELEASE AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY, understand it and its terms and conditions, and agree to be bound legally by it and its terms and conditions.

Governing Law, Venue, Class Action Waiver, and Jury Waiver

You agree that any disputes related to your participation in and/or fees paid for the Conference shall be governed exclusively by the substantive laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia (VA) without giving effect to any choice-of-law rules that might result in the application of a different state’s substantive law. You further agree that the mandatory, exclusive venue for any action related to your participation in and/or fees paid for the Conference shall be the federal court of the Eastern District of Virginia or the state court in the City of Alexandria, Virginia. You further agree that any action brought in these courts related in any way to the Conference, including without limitation your participation in the Conference and/or fees paid for the Conference, will be an individual claim, that you shall not bring claims against PSHRA in a representative capacity on behalf of any other individual, that you shall opt out of any class proceeding, and that you shall not assert class or collection action procedures. You further agree that both you and PSHRA waive any right to a trial by jury for any legal action related to the Conference, including without limitation your participation in and/or fees paid for the Conference.

Consequences of Violating these Terms and Conditions

PSHRA reserves the right to, at its sole discretion, revoke the credentials of Attendees whose conduct is to be in violation of these Terms and Conditions or is otherwise deemed inappropriate, disorderly or offensive, and to do so without warning or a refund. This may also result in prohibition from registering or attending future conferences.

BY REGISTERING FOR THE PSHRA 2026 CONFERENCE & EXPO, YOU AGREE TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS LISTED ABOVE. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH ANY OF THE ABOVE MAY RESULT IN REGISTRATION CANCELLATION WITHOUT REFUND. PSHRA RESERVES THE RIGHT TO EXPEL ANYONE FROM THE CONFERENCE WHO DOES NOT COMPLY WITH ANY OF THE ABOVE TERMS.