The past several months have set forth unprecedented uncertainty and change for tax professionals. Whether you reside in Canada, EMEA, Asia, Latin America, or the United States, TEI provides you access to a local and global community, offering knowledge sharing and mentorship that keeps our community connected and aligned.
Recent and upcoming regional conferences and events have enabled members to hear from experts on best practices for responding to the global trade war and tariff implications. Region 1 held its 75th Annual Canadian Tax Conference in Ottawa, and the EMEA Chapter met in Amsterdam in May. TEI Executive Director Pilar Mata attended both meetings and provided opening remarks addressing the political climate in Washington, D.C., and how TEI intends to navigate recent changes at the Internal Revenue Service and US Department of Treasury. She also spoke with members about the impacts of recent policies on their businesses and how they are affecting the tax department. Region 10 focused on similar topics at its Annual Conference in California. Initiatives like these highlight how much our local communities can offer and how partnerships build on our already strong connections.
During my travels to the Middle East and Asia this past fall, I heard that automation and technology are critical for in-house tax professionals. This year’s Tax Technology Seminar sold out, a testament to TEI’s recognized leadership in this field. With more than thirty sponsors and the continuation of a three-day format launched last year, the event offered more than just panels and presentations. Attendees rolled up their sleeves for hands-on learning, including a dynamic hackathon that challenged members to create solutions to a real-world tax problem using Microsoft’s Power Platform. The presentation of competition results showed all those in attendance how to implement solutions at their companies. We look forward to doing it again in the future!
At the heart of that excitement is something deeper: mentorship in action. The Tax Technology Committee leads the way, with TEI members helping each other bridge the skills gap through concrete, peer-driven learning and sharing. In a field where technology and automation are evolving faster than ever, our greatest asset remains our people. That collaborative spirit—members mentoring members—is part of what makes TEI thrive.
I encourage everyone to think about how they can get more involved with TEI’s standing committees (www.tei.org/chapters-committees/committees) or at the chapter level. There is no shortage of opportunities! And keep an eye out for events at the region, chapter, and Institute levels at www.tei.org/events-education.
Speaking of mentorship, our third annual International Tax Student Case Competition is just around the corner. We’re excited to welcome fifteen student teams and thirty TEI mentors this year. It’s another reminder that preparing the next generation of tax professionals means more than teaching—it means supporting, listening, and modeling what it means to be part of a professional community.
With gratitude and anticipation,
Josephine Scalia
TEI International President
