Emerging Leader Award

The Emerging Leader Award celebrates the most exceptional young members of CPA Ontario under 35 as leaders in their companies, communities and industries and amplifies the impact they have made.

To be eligible for this award, nominees must:

• Be an active member of CPA Ontario in good standing.
• Be under the age of 35 on the nomination deadline.
• Have been registered with CPA Ontario for at least one full calendar year  and have made significant contributions in Ontario.
• Have demonstrated significant contributions in innovation, impact, and social responsibility.
• Not be an employee of CPA Ontario, a member of the Emerging Leaders Selection Committee or Leadership Team.

• Include one (1) recommendation letter from a CPA Ontario member who has known the nominee professionally for a minimum of two years.
• Include one (1) additional professional recommendation letter, not required to be from a member of CPA Ontario.
• Include one (1) copy of the nominee’s professional resume.
• Demonstrate, with examples, how the nominee has met the criteria.
• Not be submitted by a CPA Ontario employee, a relative of the nominee or a current member of the Emerging Leaders Selection Committee or Leadership Team.

• Include two (2) recommendation letters from CPA Ontario members who have known the nominee professionally for a minimum of two years. 
• Include one (1) additional professional recommendation letter, not required to be from a member of CPA Ontario (OPTIONAL). 
• Include one (1) copy of the nominee’s professional resume 
• Demonstrate, with examples, how the nominee has met the criteria. 
• Not be submitted by a CPA Ontario employee, active member of the Emerging Leaders Selection Committee or Leadership Team.

Build Influence: Drive impact, help shape the future of the profession and inspire the next generation of CPAs.

Elevate Your Brand: Be recognized as a leader and trailblazer and broaden your reach through exclusive invitations to industry events and speaking engagements.

Expand Your Network: Connect with a diverse community of award-winning CPAs, grow your network and collaborate with peers leading change across the profession.

Nominations are now open and close on Monday, August 31, 2026. The Emerging Leader Award Selection Committee will carefully evaluate the nominations in the fall and nominees will be notified of their result before November 30, 2026.

To streamline and improve the nomination and review process, 2026 Emerging Leader Award nominations will be submitted online via SurveyMonkey Apply, a dedicated award management platform trusted by over 500 organizations, including leading universities, provincial bodies, and national charities. All submitted information is securely stored and shared only with authorized individuals involved in the Emerging Leader Award due diligence and selection process.

You do not need to complete the Emerging Leader Award nomination package in a single session. You can save your progress at any time by clicking “Save & Continue Editing” and return later to finish your submission.

Only one nomination per nominee is required and strongly encouraged. Submitting multiple nominations does not increase the likelihood of receiving the award. You may request additional recommendations by inviting individuals through the nomination platform to complete an online recommendation as added support for the nomination. This approach ensures all supporting recommendations are consolidated into a single, comprehensive nomination package.

Nomination packages will be locked upon submission. If you notice any issues with your completed nomination package after submitting it, please contact [email protected] as soon as possible and prior to the submission deadline of August 31, 2026. 

If you have any questions about the process, please email [email protected].