Powering Tomorrow: Smart Cities, Clean Energy, and Resilient Systems

The Sustainable Engineers Association (SEA) at the University of Toronto proudly presents its Annual Sustainability Conference, one of the largest student-led sustainability events at UofT. Each year, the conference brings together students, academics, professionals, and industry leaders to explore pressing issues at the intersection of technology, policy, and sustainability.

This year’s theme, “Powering Tomorrow: Smart Cities, Clean Energy, and Resilient Systems,” will spark dialogue on how we design and scale resilient urban systems that can thrive in a rapidly changing world. Expect a day of thought-provoking keynotes, dynamic panel discussions, and our Spotlight Initiative networking lunch — designed to connect future leaders with the innovators and changemakers driving sustainable transformation today.

Join us for a day of discovery on Saturday, October 25, 2025! Fully catered breakfast, lunch, and refreshments are available with each purchased ticket.

Info: Bring your purchased conference ticket to Bahen Atrium to pick up your lanyard and register for the day. Start the day with our included breakfast!

Info: Hear from our SEA conference team, organization president, and generous sponsors who helped organize your conference day.

Info: Dr. Deborah de Lange is a University of Toronto 9T1 electrical engineering graduate who has
worked in industry in a variety of roles. She also completed an MBA for Science and
Technology at Queen’s University and a PhD in strategic management at the University of
Toronto. She first became a professor in Boston and was happy to return to a similar role in
Toronto, where she was born and grew up. She published three books early on, one that is her
PhD dissertation commemorating her dear deceased father, Jan H. de Lange. Later named a
Massey visiting scholar, she is happy to keep returning to her alma mater. Driven by a deep
appreciation for our natural environment and a concern for its conservation, she publishes
research on a variety of sustainable development topics, particularly related to climate change,
with the hope of facilitating a clean transition that benefits both Canada and the world.

Info: Panellists will examine how electrification is reshaping building, energy systems, and mobility. They will share perspectives on integrating clean technologies into everyday infrastructure, advancing electric transport, and creating resilient systems that can support a sustainable future. Together, their expertise will shed light on both the challenges and opportunities of a fully electrified world.

Info: Azzam Abu-Rayash is an Assistant Professor at the College of Science and Engineering at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Governor at Ontario Tech University, and the founding CEO of Polaris Energy Sustainability Solutions. Dr. Abu-Rayash is licensed as a Certified Energy Manager (CEM) and Certified Measurement and Verification Professional (CMVP) by the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE). He is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) with the Project Management Institute.Dr. Abu-Rayash authored the energy plan for the City of Oshawa, which was recognized by the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) by receiving the Institutional Energy Management Award for 2020. He played a pivotal role in shaping Canada’s Green Building Strategy through establishing the Government Greening Fund and the Green Building Directive, leading the public sector towards Net Zero. Currently, he leads a research group working on several projects related to smart cities and sustainability.

Info: New this year is the Sustainability Spotlight Initiative, a structured networking lunch where entrepreneurs and professionals connect directly with students. It is designed to create real opportunities for dialogue, knowledge-sharing and showcasing innovative projects.

Info: Panellists will discuss a wide range of perspectives on how to translate sustainability goals into tangible outcomes. They will explore the tension between personal responsibility and collective action, highlighting the role of circular economies and large-scale institutional change, and examine how emerging technologies like AI are reshaping urban resilience. Together, they will address the people, policies, and innovations needed to move sustainable cities from vision to reality.

Info: Global Energy and Climate Change Advisor with UNDP

Info: A big thank you from SEA for attending our conference!

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Bahen Centre for Information Technology, 40 Saint George Street, Toronto, Canada