Lorraine Audsley

SVP and Chief Sustainability Officer, Export and Development Canada (EDC)

Lorraine Audsley was appointed Chief Sustainability Officer in January 2023. In this capacity, Ms. Audsley oversees the integration of environmental, social and governance into EDC’s strategy and culture, as well as in EDC’s support for Canadian companies. 

Prior to her current role, Ms. Audsley was the Chief Risk Officer, Global Risk Management, where she oversaw the financial, operational and strategic risks of the Corporation, including the Compliance & Ethics, Risk Quantification, Enterprise Risk Management, Credit Adjudication and Portfolio Oversight functions. Ms. Audsley also provided oversight of EDC’s climate scenario analysis. Beginning in April 2015, she served as Vice-President and Chief Credit Officer where she was responsible for Credit Adjudication, Special Loans, Risk Transfer, and Risk Quantification.  

Previously, Ms. Audsley was Vice-President, International Financing, where she led a group which underwrote financing solutions for small and mid-market Canadian exporters and investors, and Vice-President, Business Intelligence & Innovation, where she led the corporate centres of expertise on Operational Excellence, Business Architecture and Enterprise Information Management. Ms. Audsley has held other roles throughout her career at EDC, primarily in the financing underwriting and risk management fields. 

Ms. Audsley has a Master of Finance from the Henley Business School of the University of Reading in England. In 2022, she completed the Advanced Management Programme at INSEAD Business School in France. 

Gwénaelle Avice-Huet

Chief Strategy & Sustainability Officer and member of the Executive Committee, Schneider Electric

Gwenaelle is Chief Strategy & Sustainability Officer of Schneider Electric and a member of the Executive Committee since April 1, 2022. Gwenaelle leads the development of Corporate Strategy, Mergers & Acquisitions and Divestment activities, Sustainability, and Customer Satisfaction & Quality.

Prior to her current position, Gwenaelle led Schneider’s Corporate Strategy as SVP, Corporate Strategy and Energy Management Strategy between March 2021 to March 2022.

Before joining Schneider Electric, Gwenaelle worked at ENGIE (formerly GDF SUEZ) from 2010 to 2021, first as Senior Vice-President for European and Regulatory Affairs, then as Chief Executive Officer of ENGIE France Renewable Energy, and in her last role as part of the Executive Committee of Engie, serving as the Chief Executive Officer of ENGIE North America and in charge of the Global Business Line on Renewable Energies.

She started her career in scientific research at the French National Research Institute and the French Atomic Energy Commission on nuclear energy, before joining the World Bank as a consultant in Washington D.C. She also worked for the Service of the Prime Minister in France within the General Secretary for European affairs overseeing energy and competitiveness matters, and as the advisor for various ministers.

Gwenaelle is an Independent Director at the Board of Air France-KLM since May 2021. She has been nominated as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. In 2019, she received a Knight of the National Order of Merit in France.

Gwenaelle holds a degree in Physics and Chemistry from the Ecole Normale Supérieure in Cachan, a post-graduate diploma in Molecular Chemistry from France’s Ecole Polytechnique, and an engineering degree from the Corps des Ponts et Chaussées.   

She is currently located in Boston MA, United States.

Bertrand Badré

Founder and Managing Partner, Blue like an Orange Sustainable Capital

Bertrand Badré is Managing Partner and Founder of Blue like an Orange Sustainable Capital. Previously, Bertrand was Managing Director of the World Bank and World Bank Group Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining the World Bank Group, Bertrand was the group chief financial officer at Société Générale and Crédit Agricole. He represented these institutions at the FSB, G7 and G20.

Bertrand also served as a member of President Jacques Chirac's diplomatic team where he was the President's deputy personal representative for Africa and as spokesman for the working group on new international financial contributions to fight poverty and fund development. Bertrand spent a total of seven years at Lazard, half as a partner in New York, and London, and then in Paris as managing director where he co-led the restructuring of Eurotunnel and focused on financial initiatives.

He started his career in Paris as an inspector, then deputy head, of the auditing service of the French Ministry of Finance. Bertrand has served as director on a number of boards, including the Haulotte Group, a leading global manufacturer of aerial work platforms, and on the supervisory board of the leading European PE firm Eurazéo. He currently serves on the board of Wealth Simple, a Canadian Fintech in asset management and on the advisory board of the International Water Bank. He is the co-chair of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on International Governance, Public-Private Cooperation and Sustainable Development.

Bertrand recently authored the book “Money Honnie, si la finance sauvait le monde?” published in English in 2017 under the title “Can Finance Save the World?” and translated into multiple languages. He has led the publication of several articles; namely “From Billions to Trillons: MDBs contributions to financing for development” and in 2004, wrote “Water” with Michel Camdessus, on finance and access to water, translated into Spanish and Portuguese.

Bertrand is a graduate of ENA (Ecole Nationale d'Administration), SciencesPo (Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris), La Sorbonne and HEC business school (Hautes Etudes Commerciales in Paris.  He is a regular speaker and teacher at these institutions as well as at the universities of Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, Princeton and Oxford.

Saloua Benkhouya

Vice-president, Private equity & impact investing services, Fonds de solidarité FTQ

TBD

Caroline Bergeron

Global head of ESG and Impact Solutions, Innocap

As Global head of ESG and Impact Solutions, Caroline is responsible for Innocap’s ESG and impact business offering. She leads and develops strategic initiatives targeted to assist Innocap’s clients to invest constructive capital in order to generate growth while contributing to a more sustainable world. Caroline strives to have a meaningful impact on asset owners and asset managers as well as on all stakeholders of the ecosystem.

Caroline was previously Managing Director, Investor Relations and Business Development at Innocap. In that role, she developed powerful partnerships with Innocap’s institutional clients, lead for two years Innocap’s business development efforts in Europe and in the US and was the instigator for our ESG and Impact Solutions product offering. Caroline has over 13 years of experience working in the finance industry. Caroline began her career at Innocap as legal counsel where she helped design and build dedicated managed account platforms for sophisticated investors around the world. She received her Bachelor of Laws from the Sherbrooke University, she holds a Master’s degree in International Trade Law (LL.M.) from Cape Town University (South Africa) as well as the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) and Sustainable Investment Professional Certification from Concordia University.

Cécile Cabanis

Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Tikehau Capital

Cécile Cabanis joined Tikehau Capital in 2021 and serves as Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Group. Cécile oversees the Human Capital, ESG/CSR, Communications and Brand Marketing functions of the Group. Previously, Cécile Cabanis was at Danone Group where she was Executive Vice-President in charge of Finance, Strategy, Information Systems, Purchasing, Cycles and Sustainable Resource Development, a member of the Executive Committee and sponsor of inclusive diversity. She began her career in 1995 at L'Oréal in South Africa before joining the mergers and acquisitions department of Orange in 2000. She joined Danone in 2004, where she held various key positions such as Corporate Finance Director, Development Director and then Finance Director of the Fresh Products entity within the Finance department. Graduate from the Institut National Agronomique Paris-Grignon.

Andrew Campbell-Black

Vice-president, Climate product specialist, MSCI

New York based British sustainability professional. Currently with MSCI; with the firm's NY Climate Risk Centre, that has created a new framework and tool that performs scenario based climate risk stress tests for investors. Previous experience includes asset management; including screening of portfolio companies by sustainability criteria, ESG investing, pension funds and large asset owners, and launch of the 2014 cycle of the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices. Extensive start up experience through founding of architectural photography company in Australia. Imperial College London post-graduate from the Centre for Environmental Policy in Environmental Technology focusing on business sustainability. Graduate from the University of Oxford with a degree in Human Sciences.

Mark Carney

Chair of Brookfield Asset Management and UN Special Envoy for Climate Action and Finance

Mark Carney is the Chair of Brookfield Asset Management. He is also the Head of Transition Investing and in this role, he is focused on the development of products for investors that will combine positive social and environmental outcomes with strong risk-adjusted returns. 

Mr. Carney is an economist and banker who served as the Governor of the Bank of England from 2013 to 2020, and prior to that as Governor of the Bank of Canada from 2008 until 2013. He was Chairman of the Financial Stability Board from 2011 to 2018. Prior to his governorships, Mr. Carney worked at Goldman Sachs as well as the Canadian Department of Finance. 

He is a long-time and well-known advocate for sustainability, specifically with regard to the management and reduction of climate risks, and is currently the United Nations Special Envoy for Climate Action and Finance and Co-Chair for the Glasgow Finance Alliance for Net Zero.  

He is also an external member of the Board of Stripe, a member of the Global Advisory Board of PIMCO, the Group of Thirty, Harvard University, Rideau Hall Foundation, Bilderberg, the Foundation Board of the World Economic Forum, the boards of Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Peterson Institute for International Economics the Hoffman Institute for Global Business and Society at INSEAD, Cultivo, as well as Senior counsellor of the MacroAdvisory Partners, Advisor of the Watershed, and Chair of Chatham House. 

Mr. Carney holds doctorate and master’s degrees from Oxford University and a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Harvard University. 

Fanny Charrier

Director, Crédit Agricole CIB

Fanny Charrier is a Director in Crédit Agricole CIB’s Corporate and Leverage Finance (“CLF”) group, primarily covering the loan originations and syndication of the telecom and Chicago portfolios including U.S. automotive, healthcare, agricultural, semi-conductor, engineering & construction.

As Sustainability & Hydrogen Coordinator for CLF, she is the primary point of contact for the integration of the Net Zero and energy transition strategy, with a dedicated focus on low carbon Hydrogen (Credit Agricole CIB is a member of the Hydrogen Council). She is responsible for driving the Hydrogen expertise within the CACIB teams in the Americas and assists clients in deploying their hydrogen strategies. She also manages the origination and syndication of sustainable financings within the U.S. by liaising with the global sustainable banking team to facilitate the structuring and placement of ESG-related loans & HY instruments, including Ford’s US$15.5bn sustainability-linked revolving credit facility that was named “2021 North America Loan” by the International Financing Review (“IFR”) and “2022 Americas Loan” by the Banker.

Fanny joined CA-CIB NY in 2012 as part of the Portfolio and Balance Sheet Management team and prior to that worked for Dexia NY in the Project Finance group focused on renewables. She was previously located in Paris, France, where she held various roles in export and structured finance.

Fanny holds a Masters in finance from ESSCA (Ecole Supérieur des Sciences Commerciales d’Angers) and a Masters in project and structured finance from Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées.

Madeleine Chenette

Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada, Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD)

Madeleine Chenette has an extensive career in the private and public sectors, lending her expertise to solve the most complex issues for better government policies and growth for global and national clients across a wide range of industries, including finance, digital, retail, industrial, communication, transport and the public sector. Complexity, diversity and challenging global environment have been part of her journey. She successfully solved the toughest challenges of the clients, and now, the ones of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and she continuously works in delivering green, inclusive and sustainable economic growth with public and civil servants, executives and board members. In a world where disruption comes from unexpected sources and that industries are more than ever intertwined, expertise and knowledge of multilateral fora, diverse industries and global geopolitical environment allow her to balance commercial imperatives with public policy responsibilities. She brings innovation and leadership for our citizens’ well-being, corporation exports and growth and therefore, sustainable economy for Canada and OECD members and partners.

Ms. Chenette joined SECOR INC. in 1994 and occupied various positions until becoming partner in 2000. Between 1999-2003, Ms. Chenette was Global Head of Transformation Services. Subsequently, Ms. Chenette led the evolution of the firm becoming Global Head of SECOR Business Solutions from 2005-2009. Subsequently, she served as Chair of the Board of SECOR Group and in 2011 as a board member of Transat A.T. Inc., an integrated tour operator. In 2012, she led the transaction between KPMG Canada and SECOR and became Partner and Head National Strategy Advisory Services. She joined Accenture in 2017 as Executive of the Canadian Management Committee - Montreal Products Industry Lead and Office Managing Director – overseeing strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations services. In August 2019, she became Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to the OECD. In her role, she sits at the Council and is co-chair of three groups: Financial Sustainability Contact Group, Friends of Going Digital and Friends of Gender+ Equality, where Organisation’s ambassadors and directors are engaged.

Historically engaged in her community, she has been president of the Fundraising of Herstreet Montreal, president of the Board of the Canadian Club of Montreal, and led pro bono strategic reflection, for Quebec Artificial Intelligent Orientation Committee, the Conseil Consultatif sur l’économie et l’innovation du Québec and many other causes. She is well-known for her insightful conferences and panels on economic issues.

At the Gala for Les Talentueuses, the Association of Quebec Women in Finance awarded its Inspiration price in 2011 and in 2013, the Great Mentor award. In 2018, she was Mercuriades’ finalist for Woman of Exception Award. She was nominated one of Canada's most powerful top 100 women in 2012 and 2018. Madeleine holds a Master of Science in Management from HEC Montreal and Certified Corporate Director 2011 - Institute of Corporate Directors.

David Cooper

Acting Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

Dr. David Cooper is the Acting Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Prior to his appointment, David was the Deputy Executive Secretary at the CBD Secretariat where he assisted the Executive Secretary by leading the strategic and planning activities of the Secretariat, as well as the intergovernmental processes and activities under the Convention and its two protocols -- the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing.

David has more than 30 years of experience in environmental and agricultural science and policy, and international negotiations, including more than 20 years with the CBD. He has built strong and productive working relationships with Parties in all regions and with partners in civil society, international organisations, and the scientific community. As Secretary of the fifteenth meeting of the CBD Conference of the Parties (COP 15), held in Kunming, China (in October 2021) and in Montreal, Canada (in December 2022), David was instrumental in facilitating the complex pathway that led to the successful finalisation and adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and other key decisions, including those on digital sequence information on genetic resources, and on resource mobilisation.

David was previously Director of the division for science, assessment and monitoring at the Secretariat. Prior to that, he coordinated implementation of the Convention’s strategic plans, including through the national biodiversity strategies and action plans, and led various work programmes, including on agricultural biodiversity, drylands, plant conservation, climate change and engagement with the private sector.

Before joining the CBD Secretariat, he worked at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, for the non-governmental organisation Genetic Resources Action International (GRAIN), the United Nations Association (UK) and in the Agricultural Research Council of the United Kingdom.

David was a lead author for the third, fourth and fifth editions of the Global Biodiversity Outlook, the Convention’s flagship publication. He has also contributed to various assessments of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and was a lead author for the Biodiversity Synthesis of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. He has edited four books on agricultural biodiversity and has written numerous papers on biodiversity science and policy, including papers in high-impact journals.

He holds an MA in Agricultural and Forest Sciences and a DPhil in Plant Physiology, both from the University of Oxford.

Guy Cormier

President and CEO, Mouvement Desjardins

Mr. Cormier has worked for the cooperative for 31 years. He held several positions in the caisse network before becoming a caisse general manager in 2002. He was appointed Executive Vice-President of the Caisse Network in 2012, then Executive Vice-President of the Caisse Network and Personal Services in 2013. Throughout his career, he has encouraged bold, innovative actions aimed at improving the member and client experience.

Since being elected President of Desjardins Group in 2016, Mr. Cormier has worked hard to instill a strong member- and client-focused culture that resonates with all of Desjardins's 57,000 employees and 2,500 directors. He created the $250 million GoodSpark Fund, which Desjardins uses to support community-building initiatives across Quebec and Ontario. He has also made growth a priority and helped make Desjardins a household name in Canada by highlighting the organization's cooperative nature, its community involvement, its financial stability and the scope of its operations.

As a champion of the cooperative model, shared prosperity, youth and a greener, more inclusive economy in every region, Guy Cormier makes decisions that are based on the common good.

Mr. Cormier is committed to social issues, including sustainable development, responsible finance and the fight against climate change. He supports rethinking our current economic model, in favour of a more collaborative approach focused on long-term sustainability. He's a proponent of shared prosperity, the circular economy and accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Keen to support youth and give them a forum where they can discuss the major issues facing our society, he established an advisory board made up of youth between the ages of 18 and 35. In 2020, he also became a sponsor and mentor with Academos, an organization that offers career guidance to young people.

Guy Cormier is a graduate of HEC Montréal, where he earned both an undergraduate degree in business administration and an MBA. He also taught finance there for almost 8 years. He currently sits on the board of directors of HEC Montréal, the Fondation Forces Avenir and the Conference Board of Canada. In 2016, he was named a Knight of the French Legion of Honor, and in 2022 he was awarded an honorary doctorate of law by the John Molson School of Business at Concordia University.

Laurent Da Silva

Co-founder, Nada Conseils

Laurent has more than 10 years of experience in managing risks and opportunities related to climate change. With more than 5 years of experience as a Senior Economist at Ouranos, he has developed an approach aimed at integrating economic considerations into environmental management.

In academic research, as a strategic consultant in the financial sector or as an organic market gardener, his professional career has been shaped by the ultimate desire to make a difference.

Patrick Decostre

President and Chief Executive Officer, Boralex

Patrick Decostre is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Boralex. After spending nearly 18 years developing the company’s European business, in 2019 he transferred to Montreal to become Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Today, with now over 20 years of experience in renewable energy and environmental protection, Patrick has forged a strong link between his extensive European expertise and Boralex’s Quebec and North American roots. Patrick began his career in 1996, working in France and the United Kingdom, where he quickly gained recognition for his thorough grasp of the energy industry, his strategic acumen and his development expertise.

Boralex’s first employee in Europe, he launched the company’s wind business and directed all its development and operations activities. Thanks to his efforts and those of the team he built from scratch, Boralex has been the leading independent producer of onshore wind power in France since 2014.

Now President of the company, Patrick is making his mark with his characteristic generous, inclusive leadership, forward-looking mindset and ambitious vision for Boralex. That vision is reflected in the company’s 2025 strategic plan, which he began developing with his team immediately upon taking the helm in 2020. The plan features significant growth objectives and the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy as a core element. Day in and day out, Patrick can count on the support of his wife and three children, who embarked with him on his Montreal adventure in 2019. Passionate about the great outdoors, active and eager for discovery, his family fuels his drive to contribute every day to the fight against climate change.

A native of Belgium, Patrick Decostre is a graduate of École Polytechnique (Brussels) in engineering physics, the Solvay Business School (Brussels) in business administration and the Oxford University’s Saïd Business School in various special programmes. Before joining Boralex in 2001, he worked for the EDF group (Électricité de France) as an engineer and industrial project manager. Patrick has also served on the boards of France Énergie Éolienne (FEE) and the Cercle des dirigeants d'entreprises franco-québécois.

Jacques Deforges

CEO, Finance Montréal

As Chief Executive Officer of Finance Montreal, Jacques leads a team whose mandate is to contribute to the development and promotion of Quebec as a world-class financial centre, in collaboration with members and stakeholders from the financial sector. 

He is a seasoned manager and leader with nearly 30 years of experience working in the financial sector and for innovative companies, including more than 20 years in senior management roles, in SMEs as well as large private and public companies.  

Jacques holds an MBA from Concordia University, as well as a diploma from the HEC in Paris. 

Born in France and proud Montrealer by adoption, Jacques enjoys the good times in life with his family and likes to spend his free time playing golf, working on his motorcycle and bodysurfing. 

Marianne Duguay

Senior Vice-President, Asset Management - Real Estate, Fonds immobilier de solidarité FTQ

Marianne Duguay joined the Fonds immobilier de solidarité FTQ in May 2020 as Senior Vice-President, Asset Management. In addition to managing a team of professionals, she is responsible for the Fonds immobilier’s assets under management and its asset acquisition and disposal strategy. She also oversees the property management team, responsible for two buildings and 21 leasable sites. Ms. Duguay is a member of the Management Committee and Chair of the ESG Advisory Committee, created to support the organization’s commitment to sustainability.

Prior to her arrival at the Fonds immobilier, Marianne Duguay spent over 20 years honing her skills in real estate asset management, including the acquisition, development, repositioning and disposal of different types of properties on the Québec, Canadian and other North American markets. She held, among others, the position of Vice-President, Asset Management, and President at 360 Pacifica, and Vice-President, Asset Management, at Delta Hotels Limited.

Ms. Duguay holds an M.B.A. and is a graduate of ESG-UQAM and McGill University. She is a member of the Ordre professionnel des administrateurs agrées and holds the LEED AP Neighborhood Development credential, as well as the ICD.D. designation, obtained from McGill University following completion of the ICD-Rotman Directors Education Program.

Shirley Fagnen

Director, ESG Business Practices, Corporate services, Desjardins Group

TBD

Julie Favreau

President and Special Advisor, Fi3

TBD

Wendy Franks

Chief Strategy Officer and Head of Hydrogen Business Unit, Northland Power

As Chief Strategy Officer & Head of Hydrogen BU, Wendy is responsible for leading the company’s strategy and investment management functions, as well as overseeing the Hydrogen Business Unit. This includes key strategic programs to generate new areas of growth, with a focus on exploring the economic and environmental potential of green hydrogen. She is also responsible for Corporate M&A. She joined the company in June 2020.

Wendy came to Northland with more than 15 years of leadership in business strategy and principal investing across multiple technologies and jurisdictions within the renewable energy and infrastructure asset sectors. Most recently, she was Senior Principal, Relationship Investments at the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. In this capacity, Wendy served on the boards of Renew Power, one of the largest renewable power companies in India and Essential Utilities, a NYSE-listed water and natural gas utility. Prior to that, she was an Associate Principal at McKinsey & Company.

Wendy holds a PhD in Bioelectronics from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (Zurich, Switzerland) as well as degrees in chemical and electrical engineering from the University of Waterloo.

Lisa French

Vice-President, Sustainability Standards, Financial Reporting & Assurance Standards Canada

As vice-president, Sustainability Standards, Lisa reviews and assesses international sustainability standards.

Before joining CPA Canada, Lisa served as chief technical officer at the Value Reporting Foundation and one of its pre-merger entities, the International Integrated Reporting Council. Over the span of a decade, Lisa contributed to the development of the International Integrated Reporting Framework and subsequently oversaw its revision and preparation of accompanying implementation guidance. Within this capacity, she also supported the International Accounting Standards Board as a member of its Management Commentary Consultative Group and the International Sustainability Standards Board as a member of the International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation’s Technical Readiness Working Group. Her earlier role as technical director of the Global Reporting Initiative rounds out her standard-setting and framework development background.

Previously, Lisa was principal, Research, Guidance & Support at the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants. Her experience in the for-profit sector includes work as a research chemist at 3M Canada, application engineer at Metso Minerals and financial analyst at Ford Motor Company of Canada and Ford Credit Canada.

Notable career achievements include appearances before the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Investor Advisory Group, White House Forum on Business Innovation, World Bank Fiduciary Forum and The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development’s Intergovernmental Working Group of Experts on International Standards of Accounting and Reporting. In addition, Lisa has engaged in collaborative projects with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, United Nations Global Compact and Principles for Responsible Investment.

She has also served on various boards, committees and working groups. For example, Lisa currently sits on the Standards Council of Canada’s Canadian Standardization Advisory Committee on Environmental, Social, and Governance.

Hélène V. Gagnon

Chief Sustainability Officer and Senior Vice President, Stakeholder Engagement, CAE

Hélène V. Gagnon is Chief Sustainability Officer and Senior Vice President, Stakeholder Engagement at CAE and is a member of the Executive Management Committee. She leads CAE’s ESG strategy, sustainability, environment, and social impact to make the world a safer place. She is accountable for CAE’s global communications with employees, media and other stakeholders as well as public affairs and government relations including R&D and Higher education institutions relations. She joined CAE in 2015 as Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, Global Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility.

Prior to her appointment at CAE, Ms. Gagnon worked for 11 years at Bombardier, the last eight as Vice President, Public Affairs, Communications, Corporate Social Responsibility and Achieving Excellence System for Bombardier Aerospace, at the time, the third largest civil aircraft manufacturer. From 2003 to 2007 she was Senior Director of Public Affairs at Bombardier Transportation.

She began her career in 1995 with the law firm Fasken as a specialist in environmental law. In 2000, she joined mining and metallurgy multinational Noranda Inc./ Falconbridge Limited (now known as Glencore) as Director of Public and Corporate Affairs for Québec.

Ms. Gagnon has always been very active in the community. She has been involved in more than 50 organizations including government advisory boards, pressure groups, cultural and charity organizations and business associations and was appointed to more than 25 Boards of Directors.

She is an independent member of the Board of Directors of Hydro Quebec since 2015 and Chairs the Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility Committee. She is also Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of The Montreal Airports (ADM) and has been a Director since 2014. She is Vice Chair of the Board of the Canadian American Business Council and has been a member of the Board since 2017. Hélène chaired the Board of Directors of Aéro Montréal, Greater Montréal’s Aerospace Cluster (2015-2018) and the Board of the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada’s (2012-2013) and is still a Board member of both.

Éric Girard

Minister of finances, Gouvernement du Québec

A native of Sept-Îles who was raised in Québec city and studied in Montréal, Mr. Girard has more than 25 years of experience in the investment and financial markets sectors. Prior to becoming minister, he had been Treasurer of the National Bank since November 2011.

He is keenly interested in economics, education, sports, and public policies, and is a board member of the Fondation CHU Sainte‐Justine. He has also been a board member of CIRANO and a member of the governing board of the Académie Saint‐Clément, in addition to being involved in the community as a hockey and baseball coach.

Mr. Girard holds a B.A. Joint Honours in Economics and Finance degree from McGill University and a master’s degree in economics from the Université du Québec à Montréal

Chris Hartshom

Advisor, FLINTpro, NatureAlpha

Jingdong Hua

Vice-Chair, International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB)

Mr. Hua was appointed as Vice-Chair of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) in August 2022, effective 1 October 2022. In this role, Mr. Hua has a special focus in overseeing the development and implementation of the ISSB’s strategies to support and include stakeholders in emerging and developing economies as well as small and medium-sized companies. 

Mr. Hua brings a wealth of international finance and development expertise to the ISSB. He is the former Vice President and Treasurer of the World Bank, where his responsibilities included green bond initiatives and sustainable finance capacity-building programmes. He also served as the Administrator of the World Bank Group Pension Fund. 

Before joining the World Bank, he served as Vice President and Treasurer of the International Finance Corporation, where he led innovative bond issuances in several emerging markets. He has also previously served as Deputy Treasurer of the Asian Development Bank and has held positions at the United Nations Development Programme and the African Development Bank. 

Anne-Marie Hubert

Eastern Canada Managing Partner, EY

Anne-Marie Hubert is known for promoting growth in people and organizations she is involved with. 

She has a track record of helping clients successfully re-think business models to create more solid foundations that leverage people and disruptive technologies for growth and long-term competitive advantage, while managing underperformance risk.  

Having been a member of the EY Global Advisory Council and of EY Canada’s Executive Committee, Anne-Marie has a reputation for disrupting the status quo to make it easier for our teams to create value for all stakeholders and positively impact our economy and communities. 

Geordie Hungerford

Chief Executive Officer, First Nations Financial Management Board

Geordie bring deep experience in finance and financial law, with experience as a senior investment product securities lawyer at the British Columbia Securities Commission, financial tribunal Chair and CEO at the Financial Services Tribunal (British Columbia), management consultant at McKinsey & Company and mergers and acquisitions investment banker at Broadview (now Jefferies). Geordie was also on the committee that recommended the creation of the Canadian Sustainability Standard Board.

Geordie holds an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and an MA (East Asian Studies/Chinese) from Stanford University, a law degree from the University of British Columbia, and an electrical and computer engineering degree from Queen’s University. He is proficient in Mandarin Chinese, having studied for a year at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. Geordie is a CFA Charterholder, CAIA Charterholder and an Action Canada Fellow.

Manon Jeannotte

Director, First Nations Executive Education, HEC Montréal

A graduate of the McGill – HEC Montréal EMBA and co-initiator of the FNEE project, Manon Jeannotte has more than 20 years of experience working with First Nations, in the fields of politics, governance, as well as in the defense of Indigenous rights.

Elected for 12 years on her community’s (the Micmac Nation of Gespeg), council, she has dedicated the past few years to supporting First Nations governments in the fields of business development and governance.

Lori Kerr

Chief Executive Officer, FinDev Canada

Lori Kerr joined FinDev Canada as Chief Executive Officer in June 2021.  A Canadian national, she is a widely experienced international development finance professional with more than two decades of leadership in private investment in emerging markets with a focus on sustainable infrastructure, climate finance, and blended finance. 

Ms. Kerr joined FinDev Canada by way of the Global Infrastructure Facility at the World Bank in Washington, DC, where she was responsible for corporate strategy, thought leadership, partnerships, and international engagement for the largest global fund advising developing country governments on the preparation and structuring of commercially viable infrastructure projects. 

Previously, Ms. Kerr served as Senior Director at Climate Finance Advisors developing low-carbon, climate-resilient investment strategies and blended finance solutions to mobilize private capital in developing countries. She also spent 18 years at the Inter-American Development Bank Group serving in management and senior investment roles where she spearheaded strategic initiatives to support the expansion and development impact of private sector activities as well as private sector transaction origination, structuring, and asset management. Ms. Kerr also spent 14 years as an Adjunct Professor of International Project Finance and Investment at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Washington, D.C.  

Ms. Kerr holds an Honours Bachelor degree from the University of Western Ontario and an International MBA from the Schulich School of Business at York University. 

Sean Kidney

Co-Founder and CEO, Climate Bonds Initiative

Sean Kidney is CEO of the Climate Bonds Initiative, an international NGO, working to mobilize global capital for climate action. Projects include a green bond definitions and certification scheme with $34 trillion of assets represented on its Board; working with the Chinese central bank on how to grow green bonds in China; market development programs in Brazil, Mexico, ASEAN and Africa; and market tracking services for the green bonds industry. He is a member of the European Commission's Platform on Sustainable Finance, and was a member of its predecessors, the 2017 EU High Level Expert Group on Sustainable Finance and the EU Technical Expert Group on Sustainable Finance. He is also a member of green finance committees in China, India, Mexico and Kazakhstan. Sean is also a Professor in Practice at SOAS University of London.

Frédéric Krikorian

Vice-President, Sustainability, Public Affairs and Brand, Energir

Mr. Frédéric Krikorian is Vice President, Sustainability, Public Affairs and Brand at Énergir. He has 20 years of experience in public affairs as well as an expertise in corporate social responsibility with an emphasis in the natural resources and energy sectors. He worked in government sectors and with associations before joining Énergir in 2005 where, among other roles, he has been responsible for the development of renewable energy projects.

Mr. Krikorian has a master’s degree in Corporate Social Responsibility from Nottingham University Business School in the United Kingdom. He has participated in conferences and written articles on implementing social responsibility practices and strategies for companies in the energy sector.
He co-chairs the board of SWITCH, the Alliance for a Green Economy, and sits on the board of directors of Ruelle de l’avenir, Quebec Business Council on the Environment (CPEQ) and Center for Interuniversity Research and Analysis of Organizations (CIRANO).

Hugo Lacroix

Superintendent, Securities Markets, Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF)

Hugo Lacroix joined the Autorité des marchés financiers in September 2011 and has served as Superintendent, Securities Markets since January 2019.  

A member of the AMF’s Executive Committee, he leads a team of some 100 employees tasked with ensuring the application of the regulations applicable to derivatives, the public offerings and continuous disclosure obligations of corporations and investment funds, and take-over and issuer bids. The team also oversees the Québec activities of market structures, including exchanges and clearing houses, and is responsible for oversight of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC). Since 2021, Mr. Lacroix has served as executive lead on sustainable finance issues. 

Mr. Lacroix participates in a variety of national and international forums and is regularly invited to speak to stakeholders on regulatory matters pertaining to the capital markets. He sits on the Policy Coordination Committee of the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA), which is responsible for efforts to modernize and harmonize securities and derivatives regulations in Canada. He is also a member of the Sustainable Finance Task Force of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO).  

Mr. Lacroix, who holds a Bachelor of Laws and is a member of the Québec Bar, began his career working as legal counsel and chief compliance officer at various financial institutions and asset management firms. This experience gave him a strong sense of business ethics, which he further honed by obtaining a Graduate Diploma in Applied Ethics. Mr. Lacroix is a member of the steering committees of the University of Montréal’s Observatoire du droit québécois des valeurs mobilières and Laval University’s Centre d’expertise en gouvernance de sociétés.

Mairead Lavery

President and CEO, Export Development Canada (EDC)

Since joining Export Development Canada in 2014, Mairead Lavery has put values and ethics at the center of her leadership approach. Appointed President and CEO on February 5, 2019, Mairead set out three pillars for her leadership: Champion for Trade; Environmental, Social and Governance Responsibility; and Inclusion, Diversity and Equity. These values are the centerpiece of her – and EDC’s –

business agenda. Under her direction, Canada’s export credit agency has pursued ambitious objectives, achieving strong growth, and helping more Canadian companies do business in 200 markets around the world, while generating over $100 billion in trade and investment annually.

In 2020, EDC became a major contributor to the Government of Canada’s COVID-19 economic response, helping deliver billions of dollars in liquidity to companies across Canada.

EDC also stands as the single largest financier of Canadian cleantech, a proud supporter of women-owned and women[1]led businesses, and regularly ranks among Canada’s Top 100 Employers.

Mairead is the Board Chair for the EDC subsidiary, FinDev Canada, Canada’s international development finance institution, and a Board member of Ontario Global 100, creating opportunities for business leaders of Ontario mid-sized companies to accelerate growth. She also sits on the advisory boards of Toronto Global Forum and Project Arrow, which is creating Canada’s original full-build, zero-emissions concept vehicle. Prior to joining EDC, Mairead held executive roles at Bombardier, where she managed a range of large complex portfolios over a sixteenth year career.

She is a native of Northern Ireland, has a degree in Management and Accounting from Queen’s University Belfast, and is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland. She is also the first woman to occupy EDC’s chief executive role in its 75-plus year history. In 2015, Mairead experienced another very proud milestone: becoming a Canadian citizen.

Megan Leslie

President and CEO, WWF Canada

Megan Leslie is President & CEO of WWF-Canada and leads their 10-year plan Regenerate Canada to 
reverse wildlife loss and fight climate change. Megan was a Member of Parliament representing Halifax 
for two terms and served as environment critic and vice-chair of the committee on environment and 
sustainable development. Megan is a proud recipient of a Mount Saint Vincent University Honourary 
degree. 

 

Marie-Chantale Lortie

Assistant Vice-president, Partnerships, Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)

Marie-Chantale has over 20 years of experience in partnerships, strategy and marketing. As the Director of Partnerships at BDC, she manages all partnerships and strategic alliances. Prior to that, she held the position of Director of Business Development and Marketing at Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) where she developed new strategies for the sales and marketing team.

Marie-Chantale also worked as Communications and Marketing Director for Bell Canada and for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). In addition, she has worked for the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Canadian Department of National Defense, promoting the Government of Canada's international multilateral programs and national defence policies. 

Marie-Chantale is also a member of the board of directors of the Théâtre d’aujourd’hui, the MBA Association of Quebec and Microcrédit Montréal. She holds an MBA from HEC Montréal and a BA in political science from Laval University. 

Tyler McKinna

Vice-President, Commercial Mortgages, Addenda Capital

Tyler is responsible for the portfolio analytics team, project implementation and ESG integration. 
He also supports client relations and business development. Tyler is a member of the Sustainable Investing committee and the Operating committee. He holds a Master of Management degree from Minot State University, North Dakota and a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, completed magna cum laude,
from Minot State University, North Dakota.

Bertrand Millot

Head of Sustainability, Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec

Bertrand Millot leads the Stewardship Investing team, which is responsible for defining and implementing CDPQ’s strategic directions, including integrating ESG factors into all activities and deploying the climate strategy. His responsibilities have three aspects: helping investment teams structure impactful investment opportunities (particularly with regard to social, climate and energy transition investments); managing risks related to ESG, climate change and reputation and contributing to the organization’s outreach in collaboration with the CDPQ Global team.

Mr. Millot is one of the architects of CDPQ’s climate change strategy and a seasoned investor in infrastructure and corporate debt in emerging markets, fields where ESG considerations have historically been at the forefront. At CDPQ since 2015, he previously held various positions in risk management and stewardship investing, including Business Unit Risk Manager for the Fixed Income, Capital Solutions and Cross-functional Risk portfolios. He also served as Head of Climate Risk and Issues and led the Stewardship Investing team.

Before joining CDPQ, Mr. Millot was CEO and CIO at Cordiant Capital, an emerging market corporate debt fund manager. Earlier in his career, he was active in infrastructure project finance with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in London, U.K. and with BNP Paribas in Paris, France. Mr. Millot holds an MBA from McGill University, a Master’s in Engineering from École Nationale Supérieure d’Arts et Métiers in Paris and is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD.D designation).

Marie-Paule Jeansonne

VP, Strategy, Impact and Sustainability, Mila

TBD

Stéphan Morency

Vice-President and Chief Investment Officer, Fondaction

TBD

Geneviève Morin

CEO, Fondaction

President and CEO of Fondaction, a labour-sponsored fund with CAD 3.11 billion in net assets, Geneviève Morin has been leading the shift and focus of the financial industry towards sustainability for over 30 years in Québec, Canada. Recognized as a pioneering and for her expertise in sustainable finance, she actively works to mobilize capital and various stakeholders for the positive transformation of the economy to make it more equitable, inclusive, green and successful. 

Stephen Nolan

Managing Director, Financial Centres for Sustainability (FC4S) and Head, Secretariat Sustainable Insurance Forum (SIF)

A senior business professional who has led and delivered initiatives from start-up to scale across both public / private spheres in Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa and North America. Background in technology, policy and most recently sustainable and responsible finance, possesses a distinct skillset/understanding of the machinery of Government, international agencies and businesses/capital markets and where they collaborate to drive market opportunities. Track record demonstrates ability to successful lead, raise capital for and execute complex, multi-stakeholder undertakings at the highest levels internationally.

Marie-Anne Vincent

VP of Climate Finance, Sweep

Marie-Anne Vincent is Sweep's VP climate finance. The former CEO of the European climate data provider Carbon4 Finance has 15+ years of experience in the finance industry, working at various positions at HSBC and BNP Paribas on the intersection of finance and sustainability. 


 

Eoin Ó hÓgáin

Partner and Chief Investment Officer, Power Sustainable

Eoin is a Partner of Power Sustainable and chief executive of Power Sustainable Investment Management, covering Chinese equities. He is also a member of the strategy team at Power Corporation. He previously worked in Fundamental Equities at State Street in Dublin, Ireland; McKinsey & Company in New York, NY, USA; and Morgan Stanley in London, UK. He serves on the boards of the Ireland-Canada Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Irish Studies Foundation. He received a Bachelor of Business Studies and a French degree with first-class honors from Trinity College Dublin and an MBA with high distinction from the Harvard Business School. He is a CFA charter holder.

Marie-Josée Privyk

Chief ESG Innovation Officer, Novisto

TBD

Luc Rabouin

Executive Committee Member, Ville de Montréal

Luc Rabouin became mayor of the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough in October 2019 and a member of the Ville de Montréal executive committee, responsible for economic and commercial development and design, in December of the same year. Following his re-election in November 2021, he remains mayor of his borough and is appointed member of the executive committee economic and commercial development, knowledge, innovation and design. He is also member of the board of directors and executive committee of the Communauté métropolitaine de Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM).

Previously, Mr. Rabouin held the position of Director of Strategic Development at the Caisse d'économie solidaire Desjardins for three years. He has also headed several organizations, including the Centre the Centre d'écologie urbaine de Montréal, Communauto France, as well as the Corporation de Development Corporation (CDEC) Centre-Sud/Plateau-Mont-Royal, now known as PME MTL Centre-ville.

Luc Rabouin holds a Master's degree in Political Science from the Université de and a Diplôme d'études supérieures spécialisées (DESS 2 th cycle) in Community Economic Development from Concordia University. He is the author of Démocratiser la ville, published by Lux Éditeurs, in 2009.

Éric Rondeau

Head of Montreal Innovation Centre, Green Innovation Americas, Alstom

Business and Program Manager, successful in the delivery of complex solution and project management in technology partnerships. Spearheaded the business development of new opportunities in Asia-Pacific for leading corporations offering IT solution services in the energy and telecom sectors.

Delivered complex solutions and enabled opportunities through collaboration engaging communications with multi-level peers and customers. Consistently demonstrated business acumen while focusing on sales-oriented and continuous improvement results.

Fluently bilingual, French and English. Graduate in Industrial Engineering and Project management certification (PMP).

Florian Roulle

Vice-president, Sustainable finance, Finance Montréal

Florian Roulle is Vice President, Sustainable Finance. He leads Finance Montréal's sustainable finance efforts and, with his team, is responsible for mobilizing the organization's members and partners to support all strategic initiatives to position Québec's financial center as a hub of excellence and innovation in sustainable finance in North America. Florian is also responsible for advancing Finance Montréal's strategy in sustainable finance, financial entrepreneurship and asset management, supporting the international recognition of Quebec's financial industry. 

Economist by training, Florian has over 10 years of experience in socio-economic research, strategic planning and government program evaluation, particularly related to economic development.  

David Roy

Facilitator, Biodiverisity Fresk

TBD

Fate Saghir

SVP & Head of Sustainability, Mackenzie Investments

Fate Saghir leads Sustainability at Mackenzie Investments. Fate is also the Chair of the Sustainability Steering Committee and the Head of Mackenzie’s Sustainability Centre of Excellence, dedicated to developing capabilities and enriching technical expertise of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors in support of corporate strategy, investment management practices and sustainable product offerings.

Fate brings thought leadership, education and tools aligned to creating sustainable investments to institutional clients, advisors and investors. Since joining Mackenzie in 2017, Fate led the development and launch of Precision, an intuitive investment analytics technology that assists financial advisors in the research and analysis of Canadian investments. She then established a new function, Market Strategy and Innovation, focused on research, insights and innovation enabling fact based and client centric decision making at IG Wealth Management and Mackenzie Investments.

Fate has more than 15 years’ experience in financial services building new sustainable business models through strategic research and insights, a strong client orientation and a focus on generating long-term value for all stakeholders.

She sits on the Advisory Boards for Timea’s Cause, an organization dedicated to building awareness in human trafficking and the Women’s Collection, an organization focused on enabling financial literacy for women. In 2021, she joined the Responsible Investment Association’s Leadership Council and joined the board of the Mackenzie Investments’ Charitable Foundation Board. She was also named a Clean50 2022 Honouree in recognition of her efforts to advance the cause of sustainability and clean capitalism in Canada.

Fate has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Windsor and is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CMA).

Éric Salobir

Président, Human Technology Foundation & Optic

Eric Salobir is the President of the Executive Committee of the Human Technology Foundation and the founder of OPTIC, an international research and action network that places human beings at the heart of technology development.

OPTIC brings together several thousand researchers, entrepreneurs, and technology developers. The network carries out research projects in practical ethics, resulting in the publication of articles and reports. It also assists public policy makers and entrepreneurs in assessing the impact of technologies.

A graduate of the ISC Paris business school, Éric Salobir worked at the French Embassy in Prague (economics and trade section), and at Crédit Lyonnais (now LCL) in the investmentbanking department in Paris.

Eric Salobir joined the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) in 2000. He is a priest with degrees in theology and philosophy. He was editor-in-chief of the radio station ROC FM and a member of the board of directors of the French Federation of Christian Radios. He has also been responsible for the web TV of catholic programs for the French television channel France 2.

Eric is a member of the Conseil National du Numérique, an independent consultative body appointed by the French Prime Minister to lead an open reflection on the complex relationship between humans and digital technologies.

Expert to the Holy See, Eric Salobir advises leaders of large companies and public policy actors on ethical issues related to disruptive technologies. He is the author of the book "God and Silicon Valley".

David Simmonds

Global Chief Communications and Sustainability Officer, Canada Life & Great-West Lifeco

David Simmonds is Senior Vice-President, Chief Communications and Sustainability Officer at, Great-West Lifeco and Canada Life.  In this role, he oversees communications, external affairs, media relations, reputational risk management, ESG, and corporate social responsibility. He is a member of the Company’s Executive Management Committee.

David joined Great-West Lifeco in April of 2021 as Senior Vice-President, Office of the CEO, to support the design and execution of an enterprise-wide approach to building the company's first Environmental, Governance and Social (ESG) Strategy and Framework. 

Prior to Great-West Lifeco, David served as SVP Communications and Public Affairs at McKesson Corporation, where he built a multi-disciplinary department that included communications, government relations, public affairs, strategic events, brand, and social impact. Before this, he served as VP Enterprise Strategy and head of the enterprise strategy coordination office that helped launch McKesson's long range growth initiative to employees, partners, and investors. 

David began his career working across various public policy, politics, media, and consulting roles including time at a leading multinational public strategy firm and time as an on-air news contributor

A graduate of University of Western Ontario, David serves on the University’s Board of Governors, Director and President of the Canadian Club of Toronto, a Governor of the Stratford Festival and an Advisory Board Member at Catalyst Canada. David has completed the executive development program at the Wharton School and named one of Canada’s Top 100 Black Canadians by the Diversity Advancement Network.

Pamela Steer

President and CEO, CPA Canada

As president and CEO of Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada), Pamela leads one of the largest professional accounting bodies in the world, with more than 220,000 members. 

Formerly, Pamela was the chief financial and corporate strategy officer at Payments Canada where she oversaw the organization’s finance and corporate planning functions.

Prior to that, she was the chief financial officer and head of finance and employer services with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board. Here, she led the agency through a major transformation that resulted in improved financial operations and enhanced public trust and credibility for the organization. In 2019, these efforts earned her the honour of Canada’s CFO of the Year^™.

Over the course of her career, Pamela has worked in the technology and financial services industries (pensions, insurance), including publicly traded, private and regulated entities in Canada and abroad. Her professional roles are complemented by extensive experience as a board director and chair. She is a founding member of the Canadian Chapter of the Accounting for Sustainability CFO Leadership Network and of the advisory board for the Institute for Sustainable Finance. Also, she currently sits on the University of Waterloo’s School of Accounting and Finance advisory council.

Today, Pamela sits on the City of Toronto Investment Board and the boards of Michael Garron Hospital and Quarterhill Inc. (TSX: QTRH). She is a past Chair of the CFA Society Toronto.

Charles-Antoine St-Jean

Chair, Canadian Sustainability Standards Board (CSSB)

TBD

Chantal Thieblin Goffoz

Director, Impact Financing and Sustainability, Evol

Chantal Thieblin Goffoz has been Director, Impact Financing and Sustainable Development, at Evol since 2021. She is responsible for aligning the organization’s efforts on the ground with its impact and sustainable development objectives. 

A champion of Evol’s impact promise, Chantal has over 15 years of managerial experience and in-depth expertise in social engagement among businesses, principles of sustainable development, and impact investment. 

A businesswoman who is highly involved in the Quebec entrepreneurial community, Chantal offers her support to entrepreneurs and acts as a business coach with a number of incubators in Quebec. She also contributes to the success of Quebec businesses and non-profits by sitting on boards of directors. She is particularly active in the micro-credit networks of Quebec in the impact investing ecosystem. 

Originally from Réunion, Chantal gained professional experience in four different countries. Having focused on the living conditions of people living with a disability and vulnerable people around the world, she took on the mission of improving those conditions and is involved with the organization Humanity and Inclusion Canada.  

Convinced of the need for urgent action to foster achieving sustainable development objectives, and that entrepreneurs can play a pivotal role in that process, Chantal, like Evol, strives every day to make the economy more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable.

Marine Thomas

Editor-in-Chief, Les Affaires

Marine Thomas is editor-in-chief of Les Affaires since July 2019. Prior to her current position, she was director of content for the newspaper. Specialized in business magazines for over 10 years, she has managed the magazines Premières en affaires, Inspiro and Gestion of HEC Montreal.  

She holds a Master in Management of culture and media from Science Po Paris. 

Engaged in her community, Marine is a member of the Alliance for leadership feminization. She has been vice-president of the Board of YWCA Montreal, president-founder of Generation W, and board member of Lire et faire lire. 

Eric Usher

Head, UNEP Finance Initiative

Eric Usher Heads the UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative, UNEP FI, a global partnership bringing together the UN with a global group of banks, insurers and investors working to develop the sustainable finance and responsible investment agendas. Eric oversees governance, strategy and day-to-day management of UNEP FI’s work programme and global network development. Over the years UNEP FI has established some of the most important sustainability oriented frameworks within the finance industry, including the Principles for Responsible Investment (2006), the Principles for Sustainable Insurance (2012) and the Principles for Responsible Banking (2019). 

Since joining in 2015, Mr. Usher has focused on accelerating the deep integration of sustainability risks into financial practice, including addressing climate change, natural capital loss and human rights abuses, as well as building out the frameworks for positive impact finance needed to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Eric sits on several industry bodies including as UN representative on the Board of the Principles for Responsible Investment, and as a member of the governing boards of the Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative, the Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance, the Investor Agenda and the impact fund REPP Africa. 

Prior to leading UNEP FI, Mr. Usher has over twenty years of experience in the low carbon sectors, spanning technology commercialisation in Canada, solar rural electrification in Morocco and financial sector development across emerging markets. During 2011, Mr. Usher worked on the establishment of the Green Climate Fund and led efforts to create its Private Sector Facility. Eric has been an editor of the Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment report published annually with Bloomberg and was lead author for finance of the IPCC Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources. Earlier in his career, Eric was General Manager of a solar rural electrification company based in Morocco. 

Anne Van Riel

Head of Sustainable Finance Capital Markets Americas, BNP Paribas

Anne joined BNP Paribas in 2020 to establish the Sustainable Finance Capital Markets team in the Americas region. She has led several transactions for BNPP, including General Mills and Analog Devices’ Sustainability-Linked Bonds, Ford and GM’s inaugural Green Bond and many syndicated Sustainability-Linked Loans. Prior to this position, she was the Head of Sustainable Finance for ING Capital in the Americas where she originated and structured several sustainable finance transactions including the Johnson Control Inc. Sustainability Linked Loan and Xylem’s Sustainability Linked Revolving Facility. Past experience includes origination roles within Project Finance in the Infrastructure and Natural Resources sectors in both North and South America and Private Equity for the Dutch Development Bank (FMO). Anne has an MSC in Business Administration from the University of Maastricht and was an exchange student at Universidad Pacifico in Lima, Peru. 

Benoît Waeckel

Facilitator, Climate Fresk

TBD

Charlotte Weston

Chief Governance and Reporting Officer, The Sustainability Markets Initiative

Charlotte is an experienced consultant specialising in business transformation, strategy and governance, advising both Government and private sector clients. Charlotte is currently seconded from EY to The Sustainable Markets Initiative as Chief Governance and Reporting Officer and is a member of the senior leadership team.

The Sustainable Markets Initiative was launched by His Majesty King Charles III at The World Economic Forum 2020 and aims to catalyse the private sector - creating global engagement, inspiring change and accelerating investments towards sustainable markets.

Prior to joining EY Charlotte worked at PwC, and has worked in the UK, USA and Australia. Charlotte has a MSc from King’s College London and has published research in a number of peer reviewed academic journals.

Charlotte is a charity Board member and trustee, and volunteers with charity programmes engaging young people in the environment through fishing.

Joy Williams

Executive Director, Financial Institution Transition Planning, GFANZ

Megan Leslie is President & CEO of WWF-Canada and leads their 10-year plan Regenerate Canada to 
reverse wildlife loss and fight climate change. Megan was a Member of Parliament representing Halifax 
for two terms and served as environment critic and vice-chair of the committee on environment and 
sustainable development. Megan is a proud recipient of a Mount Saint Vincent University Honourary 
degree. 

 

Barbara Zvan

President and CEO; Member, University Pension Plan Ontario; Sustainable Finance Action Council

Formerly the Chief Risk and Strategy Officer for the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, Barbara is globally recognized as a leading voice on sustainable investing and an ambassador for defined benefit pensions. She was recently named Canada’s CEO of the Year and Corporate Citizen of the Year 2022 by the Globe and Mail’s Report on Business magazine in honour of her contributions and leadership in both areas.

A sought-after responsible investing expert, Barbara was appointed to the Government of Canada’s Expert Panel on Sustainable Finance in 2018 and is an inaugural member of the Sustainable Finance Action Council, which launched in 2021. On the global stage, Barbara played a significant role in creating the G7 Investor Leadership Network and was named one of 26 Climate Champions by British High Commission in Canada and the Canada Climate Law Initiative ahead of COP 26 in 2021.

She also serves on the boards of various global organizations including the Global Risk Institute, Responsible Investment Association, Climate Engagement Canada, and the advisory board of the Institute of Sustainable Finance at the Smith School of Business.

She holds a master’s degree in Math and Statistics from the University of Waterloo and a Bachelor of Science degree from McMaster University. She is a fellow of the C.D. Howe Institute, a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors, a Fellow of Canadian Institute of Actuaries (FCIA) and a Fellow of Society of Actuaries (FSA).