CCUA 2027 National Conference - Request for Speakers Survey

CCUA’s 2027 National Conference will take place May 2-5, 2027, in St. John's, NL, delivering engaging, high-value learning experiences for all attendees.

Please note that a full session proposal is not required; you can describe your expertise below. However, full proposals are welcome. We also encourage new topic suggestions beyond those listed.

Space is limited, the process is competitive, and preference will be given to Canadian credit unions. Full session proposals may be adapted during curation, and sales-focused submissions will not be considered. We can offer a special conference discount for our speakers, with more details to be shared once final confirmations are sent.

All submissions will be reviewed with care, and selections will be confirmed by the end of January 2027.

Proposals will be accepted until November 30, 2026.

Breakout Streams 2027

Conference Theme: Onward - Charting the Future.

1. Competing and Growing in a Changing Market

· Growth strategies for small and mid-sized credit unions
· Mergers, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships
· The economics of scale
· Differentiating from banks and fintechs
· Member acquisition and retention
· Expanding into new markets without losing the local advantage
· Revenue diversification beyond traditional lending
· Building a national/provincial presence while maintaining community connection
· What does a high-performing credit union look like in 2030?
· Board oversight of growth and strategic transformation
· Board/management alignment

2. Innovation, Modernization & Digital Strategy

· Practical applications of generative AI
· AI and personalization
· Open/consumer-driven banking: what does it mean for credit unions?
· Data as a competitive advantage
· Fintech partnerships and embedded finance
· Modernizing legacy technology
· Real-time payments and the future of payments
· Digital identity and authentication
· Building digital experiences without losing the human relationship
· What members will expect from their financial institution in 2030

3. Resilience, Risk & Trust

· Mortgage renewals and changing credit risk
· Consumer affordability and financial stress
· Commercial real estate and commercial credit
· Fraud prevention and scam recovery
· Cybersecurity and operational resilience
· Third-party/vendor risk
· AI-related risk
· Liquidity and funding strategies
· Stress testing and scenario planning
· Climate and transition risk
· Regulatory change and proportionality
· Protecting member trust during disruption

4. The Member, Workforce & Cooperative Advantage

· The future of the member relationship
· Building loyalty in a digital-first environment
· Personalization without losing trust
· Reaching younger members
· Financial well-being as a member strategy
· Attracting and retaining specialized talent
· The workforce implications of AI
· Leading multigenerational teams
· Building an innovation culture
· Indigenous economic reconciliation
· Serving diverse communities
· Measuring community impact
· Purpose as a competitive differentiator
· Maintaining cooperative identity through growth and consolidation

Speaker Information:

1.Please provide your contact information below:(Required.)

Full name:

Email:

Organization name:

Job Title:

2.Please select your preferred stream(s). (Choose ‘Other’ if your idea does not fit into the listed options):(Required.)

Competing and Growing in a Changing Market

Innovation, Modernization & Digital Strategy

Resilience, Risk & Trust

The Member, Workforce & Cooperative Advantage

Other (please specify)

3.Please select your preferred session format (up to three):(Required.)

Lightning Sessions: This is a fast-paced, focused breakout where speakers share key insights, ideas, or updates in a brief, engaging format. Each presentation is short, allowing attendees to hear multiple perspectives and spark new discussions in a condensed timeframe.

Workshop: A session workshop is a structured, interactive training session where participants engage in discussions, hands-on exercises, and collaborative problem-solving.

Ask Me Anything (AMA): This is a session where attendees can ask questions directly to experts, speakers, or leaders in an open and informal setting, fostering candid insights and interactive discussion.

Tabletop Crisis Simulations / Scenario Planning: This is a hands-on session where participants work through realistic crisis scenarios or strategic challenges, discussing responses and decision-making in a collaborative, low-risk environment to build preparedness and problem-solving skills.

Solution Sprints: This is a fast-paced, collaborative session where participants work in teams to develop innovative solutions to specific challenges, quickly testing ideas and refining approaches in a focused, time-bound format.

Formal Debates: This is a structured session where participants present and defend opposing viewpoints on a specific topic, encouraging critical thinking, persuasive communication, and active engagement from both speakers and the audience.

Roundtable Conversation: This is an interactive session where participants engage in open discussion around a specific topic, sharing perspectives, experiences, and ideas in a collaborative and inclusive setting

Panel Presentation: This is a session where multiple experts or speakers discuss a topic together, offering diverse perspectives and insights while engaging with questions from the audience.

4.In 200–300 words, please explain how your professional experience uniquely positions you to speak on this topic. Your response should demonstrate:

• Depth of expertise: Describe relevant roles, accomplishments, or research/presentations.

• Practical application: Include examples, case studies, or measurable outcomes that highlight how you’ve applied this knowledge in real-world settings.

• Value to attendees: Explain what actionable insights, strategies, or perspectives participants will gain from your expertise.(Required.)

If you plan to submit a session proposal, please provide the following information. This section is optional, and you may submit your proposal by completing questions 1 to 4 only.

5.Proposed submission title:

6.Submission description (max. 100 words):

7.What are three insights you wish to share with attendees, or what do you want attendees to take away from your submission?

8.Who would be the best audience for your submission?