Reflections from our Chief Assessor and Data Officer on COVA 2026
The 2026 meeting of the Conference of Valuation Agencies (COVA) brought together valuation and assessment leaders from around the world at an important moment for our profession. Across two days of discussion, one message came through clearly: while our jurisdictions may differ in size, structure and legislative context, many of the challenges we face are shared.
The conference is organized by the International Property Tax Institute, a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to provide impartial expert advice in the areas of property tax systems. As Ontario’s assessment authority, I was proud to represent MPAC alongside several colleagues at the conference.
The agenda reflected the breadth of work underway in assessment jurisdictions across the world. Conversations explored rapidly changing property markets, effective property tax policy, the development of future-ready professionals, business process modernization, renewable energy valuation, data collection, stakeholder communication and the role of artificial intelligence (AI).
One of the recurring themes of the conference was the integration of AI as a more prominent tool in valuation and assessment. A key balance to this change is a requirement for strong professional standards that are more important than ever.
AI can help us analyze information, identify patterns and improve processes, but it must be applied responsibly and with appropriate human oversight. The professional judgment of the assessor—grounded in expertise, ethics and an understanding of local contexts and methodologies—remains essential to interpreting results, challenging assumptions and ensuring that decisions are fair, transparent and reliable.
The closing discussion on the valuation agencies of the future challenged us to think carefully about evolving skill sets, recruitment, leadership, service standards and ethics.
What stood out to me was not simply the range of topics, but the openness with which participants shared their experiences. No jurisdiction has every answer. By discussing what has worked, where challenges remain and what we have learned along the way, we create an accelerated path to practical solutions. That spirit of collaboration turns individual experience into collective progress.
The International Collaboration Project is a strong example of this approach. Research into future-proofing the valuation workforce, modernizing business processes and valuing renewable energy properties give participating agencies practical insights they can adapt to their own circumstances. The value is not in adopting a single model; it is in giving each jurisdiction stronger evidence, broader perspectives and greater confidence to shape solutions that meet its own needs. I have had the opportunity to sit on the steering committee for this work with colleagues from Nova Scotia’s Property Valuation Services Corporation and the UK's Valuation Office Agency since the first research project and have learned so much that I have been able to bring back to Ontario.
These exchanges reinforce that modernization, data and technology should strengthen—not replace—the expertise and professional judgment of our people. They also remind us that innovation must remain grounded in transparency, responsible governance and a clear commitment to service.
I left this year’s conference encouraged by the willingness of agencies to learn from one another and empowered by the solutions we can build together. When we take those ideas back to our own organizations, adapt them thoughtfully and continue the conversation across borders, we strengthen our profession and create greater public value for the communities we serve.
Greg Martino, Chief Assessor & Data Officer
