The Environments for Aging Conference + Expo heads to Charlotte, N.C., April 12-14, 2027, bringing together the senior living design community dedicated to creating functional, attractive, and innovative living environments that meet the evolving needs of seniors.
The call for presentations is officially open.
Because the event draws a highly engaged multidisciplinary audience, the selection process is competitive. Hundreds of high-quality proposals are submitted by industry experts, meaning submitters need a strategic approach to stand out.
Here’s a guide on how to craft a compelling, stage-ready speaker proposal that captures the attention of the EFA content team.
Understand Your Audience and Their Needs
The first step to crafting a winning proposal is understanding exactly who will be sitting in the audience. The EFA Conference + Expo draws professionals from many disciplines and varying levels of experience.
Your session could be attended by architects, interior designers, senior living owners and operators, developers, builders, academics, consultants, researchers, and students.
To best serve this diverse group, your proposal should bridge the gap between different knowledge levels, offering everything from foundational concepts to master-class learnings.
Align with Key Industry Topics
The 2027 program is looking for presentations that respond directly to the current needs, challenges, and innovations within senior living design. Proposals should align with one or more of the core educational focuses identified by the conference organizers.
Topics of high interest include:
- Affordability and middle-market considerations
- Sustainability and resiliency
- Modular design and prefabrication
- Dining and social spaces
- Health and wellness
- Technology integration
- Post-occupancy evaluations
- Flexibility for community-based aging in place
Proposals that tackle industry-wide challenges and offer practical, scalable solutions tend to resonate most strongly with the selection committee.
Choose the Right Presentation Format
The EFA Conference + Expo offers educational content delivery through three distinct formats. Selecting the format that best suits your topic and teaching style is crucial for a successful proposal.
- Educational sessions are traditional, classroom-style presentations lasting one hour. They require at least 50 minutes of speaking time, leaving room for audience Q&A. These sessions typically accommodate 50 to 150 people and are ideal for deep dives into case studies, research findings, or project delivery best practices.
- Roundtable discussions provide attendees with focused, yet informal interactive programming. As a speaker, you will open with a brief presentation and then facilitate a group conversation around a specific area of interest. These one-hour sessions host 40 to 80 people and are perfect for exploring nuanced topics like international elder care examples or evolving consumer expectations.
- Deep Dive sessions are immersive, two-hour blocks that support both a classroom and workshop environment. These sessions are highly focused and designed to help 40 to 80 attendees unpack complex topics, ensuring they walk away with a solid understanding of how to implement specific solutions.
Craft a Stage-Ready Submission
The strongest proposals are educational, not promotional. Focus on identifying sector challenges and offering real-world strategies.
Clearly outline five to seven learning objectives using action verbs, demonstrating the value attendees receive. Credibility is elevated with supporting research, post-occupancy studies, and proven project outcomes.
Additionally, all sessions must meet the qualifications for continuing education credits (CEU) from both AIA and IDCEC.
Submit Your Proposal for Charlotte 2027
The submission deadline is Friday, June 12, at midnight EST.
For more information and details on the 2027 EFA Conference + Expo, visit environmentsforaging.com.