Future students

Winners of the 2025 Alumni Awards: Adnan Khan and Troy Maxwell

Each year, the University of Waterloo recognizes exceptional alumni from each faculty and school with Alumni Awards. Recipients from 2025, Troy Maxwell (BA ’89, MAcc ’89) and Adnan Khan (BAFM ’17, MAcc ’17), are highlighted for their professional achievements, leadership and community impact.

Visit the 2025 Alumni Awards page for a full list of recipients.

Third-year Accounting and Financial Management (AFM) student Emma shares how a coffee chat through the SAF Fellowship Program led her to a research assistant role with Professor Tim Bauer — and changed how she thinks about her future.

Working in audit experimental research, she found that the RA experience offered more than just skills: it gave her a new understanding of how knowledge is created and made academia feel like a real, personal option.

Student team: Alicia Wen, Quynh-Anh Le, Michael Huang and Jei Raman Gnaneswaran, with industry mentor Jeannine LiChong.

University of Waterloo students have won the global CFA Institute Research Challenge, outperforming teams from 1,200 universities worldwide and securing the university’s third global title in a decade.

Tisha King presents to high school students at the Black Brilliance campus visit.

In partnership with the Waterloo Region District School Board’s Black Brilliance initiative, the University of Waterloo’s School of Accounting and Finance welcomed secondary school students and teachers to campus for an immersive day exploring business education.

Through mentorship, hands-on activities and conversations with faculty, students and entrepreneurs, the visit aimed to make pathways in business, finance and entrepreneurship feel visible, accessible and welcoming.

Business Valuation Challenge team: Jackson, Reda, Shrisha, and Luke.

Shrisha, Jackson, Reda and Luke recently participated in the Business Valuation Challenge, where they gained hands-on experience with valuation and explored the Chartered Business Valuator career path.

Read their blog to learn more about the experience from their perspective.

National Strategy Consulting Competition 2026

What does it take to compete on a national consulting stage? This student blog follows a University of Waterloo team at the National Strategy Consulting Competition in Vancouver, where they placed among the top 12 teams nationwide.

Discover the lessons they share on teamwork, strategy, and personal growth through an intense real‑world case competition experience.

Aarya, a Sustainability and Financial Management student, with a friend

When SFM student Aarya started university, she was excited to get involved but unsure where to begin. Joining the School of Accounting and Finance Fellowship Program changed that.

Through mentorship with an alumni mentor, professional events like meeting KPMG's CEO, and meaningful social connections with other Fellows, she discovered how much the program has to offer—and how much it can open doors.

Our team of accounting and financial management (AFM) students had an outstanding performance at the Association of Canadian Intercollegiate Investment Clubs (ACIIC) Fall 2025 stock pitch competition. They expertly made calls, analyzed data and made financial models to formulate a "buy" pitch to UpWork, resulting in a successful third place finish.

Patricia O’Malley (LLD ’16) was appointed to the Order of Canada, one of the country’s highest civilian honours.

She is a globally respected leader in financial reporting, having played a pivotal role in the development and international adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards.

Group photo at the Disney Store in New York

The Fall 2025 AFM 334 International Study Course class explored New York City through iconic landmarks, cultural experiences, and meetings with leading firms across finance, media, and law. From Times Square and Broadway to Wall Street and the NYSE, the trip blended sightseeing with real-world business insights.

Read their blog for a behind-the-scenes look at how students navigated and learned in the Concrete Jungle.

Future students

SAF announces 2025 Alumni Award recipients

How I became a research assistant in the AFM program

University of Waterloo students take the top spot at CFA Institute Research Challenge global finals in Hong Kong

Black Brilliance and the business of belonging

Inside the BV Challenge: A student perspective on real-word business valuation

Growth on the west coast: insights and lessons from Vancouver

Discovering opportunity and community through the SAF Fellowship Program

SAF in the Spotlight: Outstanding Performance at the Association of Canadian Intercollegiate Investment Clubs competition

Patricia O’Malley (LLD ’16) appointed to the Order of Canada

New York, New York: A reflection of our week in the concrete jungle

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