8 : 00 a.m.

9 : 00 a.m. - 9 : 30 a.m.

REDEFINING THE RULES OF FINANCE IN A WORLD OF LIMITS

9 : 30 a.m. - 10 : 00 a.m.

As climate, nature, and social constraints increasingly shape economic outcomes, the financial system is being challenged to operate within limits it was not designed to recognize or price. This keynote explores how financial rules, mandates, and incentives must evolve to better align capital allocation with real-world constraints, and what it will take to move from incremental adjustment to systemic transformation. Why has the financial system struggled to integrate planetary and social limits into core decision-making? What changes to mandates, incentives, and governance are needed to better align finance with real-economy constraints? What would a financial system look like if it were designed to operate within, rather than beyond, ecological and social boundaries?

MODERATOR :

Jean-Francois Prince, Senior Vice President Regional Banking – Commercial Distribution, Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)

KEYNOTE SPEAKER :

John E. Morton, Executive Managing Director of Nature Finance and Investment, World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

WHO OWNS CAPITAL? RECONNECTING FINANCIAL DECISIONS WITH COLLECTIVE INTENT AND GIVING POWER BACK TO SAVERS

10 : 00 a.m. - 10 : 45 a.m.

Financial institutions do not allocate capital on their own behalf, but on behalf of millions of savers whose needs, preferences, and long-term aspirations are still imperfectly understood and too rarely reflected in investment decisions. In a context shaped by intensifying climate risks, social tensions, and growing questions around institutional legitimacy, this plenary examines how collective intent can be translated into concrete capital allocation decisions, raising fundamental questions of representation, alignment, and accountability. How can financial institutions better integrate the preferences and long-term interests of the people whose capital they steward? What governance, consultation, or engagement mechanisms can help reconnect allocation decisions with collective priorities? In practice, how should citizen mobilization, social pressure, and fiduciary duty interact?

MODERATOR :

Dominique Anglade, Executive Director and Professor of Practice, Executive Education HEC Montréal

PANEL : 

Stéphan Morency, Chief Executive Officer, Fondaction

Micah Bornfree, Author, Activist, Builder & Co-Creator

10 : 45 a.m. - 11 : 15 a.m.

ENERGY, WATER AND NATURAL RESOURCES : FINANCING ECONOMIC RESILIENCE

11 : 15 a.m. - 12 : 00 p.m.

In a context where energy, water, and natural resources are emerging as essential strategic pillars of economic resilience, this panel explores the financial mechanisms capable of supporting the development and transformation of these vital infrastructures. Through insights from pioneering companies and the perspective of a scientific expert, the discussion will examine how the interplay between resources, nature, and the economy shapes our collective ability to build a sustainable and resilient future. Which financing models are currently best suited to essential infrastructure in the face of climate and economic constraints? How can financial performance, risk management, and the sustainability of natural resources be reconciled? What role should businesses, communities, financial institutions, and science play in building long-term resilient infrastructure?

MODERATOR : 

Olivier Lacaille, General Manage and chief, Infrastructure and Energy Transition, Desjardins

PANEL : 

Mélanie Duquette, Vice President, Internal Control, Risk Management and ESG, Boralex

Jérôme Dupras, Professor in the Department of Natural Sciences, Université du Québec en Outaouais

Jean-François Thériault, Chief Executive Officer, Alliance de l'énergie de l'Est

ADAPTATION AND INSURABILITY : PREVENTING LOSSES RATHER THAN REPAIRING DAMAGE

1 : 00 p.m. - 1 : 45 p.m.

As climate-related losses accelerate, adaptation and resilience are becoming central to investment risk management and capital preservation strategies. This session examines how prevention and adaptation can be structured as investable assets, and how insurability is increasingly used by investors as a forward-looking indicator of asset quality, financial viability, and long-term value. How are investors integrating adaptation, resilience, and insurability into portfolio construction and risk assessment? How can insurers, investors, and public actors better align capital to reduce losses, protect asset value, and enhance long-term resilience? What investment structures, data, and policy signals are needed to make prevention and adaptation bankable at scale?

MODERATOR :

Hervé Duteil, Chief Sustainability Officer, Americas, BNP Paribas

PANEL :

Layalee Ramahi, North America Regional Lead, UNEP FI

Jennifer Coulson, Senior Managing Director and Global Head, ESG, BCI

Brigitte Roy, General Counsel, Insurance and Dispute Resolution, WSP AXA

MAKING THE TRANSITION SUSTAINABLE : ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL LEVERS FOR SYSTEMIC CHANG

2 : 00 p.m. - 2 : 45 p.m.

The transition is not just a decarbonization challenge – it's a capital reallocation event with real distributional impacts; its long-term success will depend not only on technological feasibility and capital flows, but on economic durability and social acceptance. This session explores how financial tools, risk-sharing mechanisms, and policy design can reduce risks, strengthen economic resilience, and mobilize capital toward pathways that are both viable and broadly supported. What financial mechanisms can mitigate social disruption and prevent backlash against the transition? How can capital allocation better account for employment impacts, regional disparities, and distributional effects? What role should investors, financial institutions, and public authorities play in ensuring the transition remains economically credible and socially durable?

MODERATOR :

Mitchell McEwen, Director of Sustainability, Climate Resilience & Community Impact, Wawanesa

PANEL :

Marieke Cloutier, Senior Director, Programs, Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM)

Rik Logtenberg, Director, CanAdapt, City Councillor, City of Nelson

Sarah Thompson, Managing Director, Global Head of Sustainable Finance, RBC

Kathryn Wortsman, Managing Director, Amplify Capital

2 : 45 p.m. - 3 : 15 p.m.

DATA, AI AND GOVERNANCE : WHO IS REALLY STEERING CAPITAL?

3 : 15 p.m. - 4 : 00 p.m.

As data and artificial intelligence become increasingly embedded in financial decision-making, they are reshaping how risks are assessed, how capital is allocated, and how sustainability considerations are integrated into markets. This session explores how governance frameworks can evolve to ensure that data- and AI-driven tools support credible risk management, long-term value creation, and alignment with real-world sustainability outcomes. How are data and AI currently influencing capital allocation and risk assessment in sustainable finance? What governance challenges emerge as financial decisions rely more heavily on complex models and data infrastructures? How can institutions, regulators, and market participants ensure that these tools reinforce transparency, accountability, and long-term resilience?

MODERATOR :

Harlan Tufford, Vice President, MSCI Research & Development, MSCI

PANEL :

Rheia Khalaf, Director, Partnerships, Mila

Walter Viguiliouk, Chief of Staff and Managing Director, Sustainable Investing, Manulife Investment Management

Bruno Vilone, Director, Asset Management Policy and Technological Innovation, AMF

THE TIME FOR STRATEGIC TRADE-OFFS

4 : 00 p.m. - 4 : 45 p.m.

This two-part session explores one central question: if climate risk is systemic, why do our economic and financial systems still struggle to price and manage it accordingly? The first conversation examines the growing disconnect between climate science and the economic models used by governments, investors, and financial institutions — and what that means for markets, pensions, and long-term financial stability. The second turns toward implementation, exploring how sustainable finance has evolved in Canada since 2020 and what it will take to build the financial infrastructure needed for the transition economy. Bringing together perspectives from climate economics, pension investing, and sustainable finance leadership, the session will explore both the theory and the practice of integrating systemic climate risk into financial decision-making.

MODERATOR :

Karel Mayrand, CEO, Trottier Family Foundation

Flavie Desgagné-Éthier, Program Director - Climate, Trottier Family Foundation

PANEL :

Mark Campanale, Founder and Acting CEO, Carbon Tracker Initiative

Barbara Zvan, President and CEO, University Pension Plan (UPP)

5 : 00 p.m. - 7 : 00 p.m.

SPEECH

Virginie Laplante, Sustainability Analyst and Chair of the ESG Committee, Global Alpha Capital

Sabrina Lacroix, Chief Compliance Officer, Global Alpha Capital

TESTING SOLUTIONS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING: CAPITAL MATCHMAKING AND TOOLS FOR INVESTORS

9 : 30 a.m. - 10 : 15 a.m.

This 45-minute participatory roundtable brings together investors, fund managers, and community finance organizations to provide hands-on feedback on two prototypes designed to strengthen Canada's affordable housing capital pipeline. Participants will explore an investment readiness program for affordable housing intermediaries and SVX's Impact Index platform, testing whether these tools meaningfully reduce capital friction and improve deal flow. Come ready to share your perspective on what it takes to move more capital into affordable housing — your input will directly shape the next stage of development.

PRESENTATION :

Helen Zhou, Senior Manager, SVX

Jessica Vu, Associate, SVX

Aleeya Velji, Founder and CEO, Enfin Impact

REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE: NEW MODELS, COMMITTED CAPITAL

10 : 30 a.m. - 12 : 15 p.m.

     
Regenerative agriculture is reshaping how we think about food production — and how we finance it. This master class brings together industry leaders, financial institutions, and producers to explore concrete models, real case studies, and financing tools that are already working in Canada. Leave with actionable insights on how to accelerate the regenerative transition in Quebec.

PRESENTATION :

Sébastien Angers, Agronomist specializing in regenerative agriculture, Biosphères

Lucas Didier, Director of Advisory, Biosphères

Amr Addas, Senior Director, Sustainable Finance and Insights, FCC | FAC

CASE-STUDY :

Hanna Ellis-McKinney, Manager, Agriculture Portfolio, McCain Foods

Elizabeth Hunter, Executive Director, FoodBridge

FROM CLIMATE RISK TO INVESTMENT DECISIONS: INTEGRATING PHYSICAL RISK AND RESILIENCE INTO PORTFOLIOS

1 : 00 a.m. - 1 : 45 p.m.

Physical climate risk is increasingly recognised as financially material, but integrating this into investment processes in a consistent and decision-useful way remains a challenge for many investors.
This interactive masterclass will explore how physical risk and resilience considerations are being embedded into investment frameworks, from portfolio-level analysis through to company-level insights. Through a mix of audience discussion and practitioner perspectives, the session will highlight how investors are identifying risks, assessing resilience, and using this to uncover investment opportunities and inform portfolio positioning.

Participants will leave with a clearer view of the practical implications of physical climate risk, including how it can shape investment thinking and support more informed capital allocation over time.

MODERATOR :

David Loehwing, Portfolio Specialist, Impax Asset Management

PANEL :

Harry Shea, Portfolio Specialist, Impax Asset Management

Laure Maillard, Senior Advisor, Responsible Investment, Desjardins

FACILITATORS :

Sadie Saxton, Institutional Business Development, Client Group, North America, Impax Asset Management

Rodolphe de Cande, Managing Partner, Paulownia Partners, Impax Asset Management

FROM IDEAS TO INVESTABLE ASSETS: UNLOCKING BANKABILITY IN NATURE & CARBON REMOVAL PROJECTS

14 : 00 p.m. - 14 : 45 p.m.

Nature-based and carbon removal projects often struggle to translate strong climate impact into financial viability. This workshop explores the key drivers of bankability—revenue visibility, risk allocation, and scalable financing structures—through both expert insights and a hands-on exercise. Participants will leave with practical frameworks to move projects from concept to investable assets and unlock capital at scale.

PRESENTATIONS :

Marie-Clara Buellingen, Managing Director, Societe Generale

Lucile Caron, Vice President, Societe Generale

SUSTAINABLE INVESTING IN ACTION: OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS MARKETS

3 : 15 p.m. - 4 : 00 p.m.

Step into a fast‑paced, TED-talk style session where portfolio managers turn sustainable investing into clear, investable ideas through 7–10‑minute talks. From climate mitigation and the energy transition to Indigenous considerations and active stewardship, explore how sustainability is shaping markets and strengthening portfolio resilience. Designed to build conviction, this session positions sustainable investing as a driver of value and performance.

PANEL :

Solène Hanquier, Head of Responsible Investment, National Bank Investments

Anne Perreault, Senior Portfolio Manager, North American Equities, Desjardins

Simon Sénécal, Manager, Responsible Investing, AlphaFixe Capital

John A. Cook, Senior Vice President, Portfolio Manager, Team Co-Lead, Mackenzie

Steve Bélisle, Senior Portfolio Manager, Fundamental Equity, Manulife Investment Management

David Ung, Director, Sustainable Investment, Manulife Investment Management

THE ADVISOR PLAYBOOK: EFFECTIVE SUSTAINABLE INVESTING CONVERSATIONS AND REAL-WORLD PORTFOLIO CONSTRUCTION

4 : 15 p.m. - 5 : 00 p.m.

This interactive advisor‑led session shares practical best practices for engaging clients on sustainable investing, including myth‑busting.Through real‑world testimonials, advisors explain how they adopt new narratives, succeed in client conversations, and address concerns with confidence.The discussion also explores how sustainable funds work from inputs to outputs how results are measured.

INTRODUCTION & CONCLUSION :

David Ung, Director, Sustainable Investment, Manulife Investment Management

MODERATOR : 

Inka-Mélissa Poulin, Vice President and Head of Strategies for Responsible Investment Solutions, Desjardins Investments Inc, Desjardins Société de placement Inc.

DISCUSSION :

Sébastien St-Hilaire, Portfolio Manager, Senior Wealth Manager, Desjardins

Noah Dueck, CFA, Wealth Advisor, Valeurs Mobilières Peak

Annie Laliberté, CFA, Wealth Advisor, De Champlain Groupe Financier

Will Fayed, Regional Vice President – Institutional Sales & National Accounts, Mackenzie Investement