Women in HVACR Opens Call for Speakers for 2026 Conference in Indianapolis

Women in HVACR has opened its call for speakers for the 2026 annual conference, Built for Speed, scheduled for Sept. 26–30 in Indianapolis. The deadline to submit a proposal is April 20.

The 1,200-member nonprofit, founded in 2002 and based in Englewood, Colo., is looking for presentations that support career advancement, leadership development, and technical innovation across the HVACR trades. Applicants should submit a proposed topic and outline through the organization's speaker submission form. If selected, final presentation materials and A/V requirements are due Aug. 14.

Session Topics

The conference is targeting sessions in eight areas:

• Career Acceleration — strategies for advancement in HVACR
• Tech Trends — AI, sustainability, and smart systems
• Negotiation Skills — securing opportunities and fair compensation
• Personal Branding — building influence and visibility
• Work-Life Integration — balancing ambition with well-being
• Fearless Leadership — cultivating courage and confidence in decision-making
• Focused Communication — mastering clarity and influence in conversations
• Innovation Under Pressure — thriving in change and uncertainty

"Our annual conference is an opportunity for professionals across the industry to learn from one another and grow together," said WHVACR President Jane Sidebottom. "We are looking for speakers who can share practical knowledge, fresh ideas and real-world experience that help attendees strengthen their careers and contribute to the future of HVACR."

The organization is primarily seeking individual presentations but may convert selected submissions into panel discussions depending on the topic and speaker expertise.

About Women in HVACR

Women in HVACR has spent more than two decades working to increase female representation in the trades. The organization runs a Navigator Mentor program — which added comprehensive mentor training in early 2026 — along with an Ambassador Program that helps members guide young women into HVACR careers. It doubled its scholarship awards in 2025 and is building toward a $1 million endowment to fund six scholarships annually in perpetuity.

The conference draws a mostly female audience of trades professionals, manufacturer reps, service company owners, partner associations, students, educators, and senior management. Under Sidebottom's leadership, the organization is also expanding its regional footprint with two substantial events complementing the national conference this year.

More information is available at womeninhvacr.org.