Inspiring Young Leaders to Transform Industries and Cities
The School of Accounting and Finance is pleased to be host the third annual Be the Future Conference, in partnership with the University of Waterloo Faculty of Environment and Ontario DECA.
The conference will be held at the CIGI Campus and the Balsillie School of International Affairs in Waterloo, Ontario.
This forward-looking conference explores sustainability-focused thinking, scientific innovation, AI integration and entrepreneurial thinking. The morning will feature industry expert panels and thought-provoking discussions, followed by a group case competition in the afternoon.
The top three teams will receive an entry to DECA Provincials. In addition, members of the first-place team will receive $100 each toward their provincial competition costs, provided by Ontario DECA. Additional details about this year's case competition will be shared closer to the event.
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of RBC, which helped make the conference possible in 2024 and 2025 and will support this year's event.
Register to secure your spot
Every participant must register individually for the conference. Chapter presidents, teammates and leaders cannot register on behalf of teams.
The cost of the conference is $20 including HST. This fee includes lunch and promotional items from Ontario DECA and the University of Waterloo.
Please ensure you complete all registration steps. Preliminary information packages regarding the competition will be sent to all registered participants.
Registration for the event is now open, and closes on November 14, 2026. A wait-list will be available and monitored in the event of cancellations.
For more information on cancellation and conference expectations, please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions page.
Be the Future Conference Photos
I have been teaching in the area of business and sustainability for over two decades, but rarely have I seen questions so insightful as the ones the students were asking at the Be the Future conference. If this is indicative of the next generation of changemakers, then sign me up! I'm excited - and hopeful - for what's to come.