2026 speakers 

John Kerry

68th U.S. Secretary of State & Executive Co-Chair, Galvanize Climate Solutions

Secretary John Kerry is co-executive chair at Galvanize, where he focuses on expanding the resources and reach of the firm’s investment strategies, originating differentiated opportunities, and leveraging firsthand knowledge as to how technology, policy, and geopolitics are shaping the energy transition. 

In 2021, Secretary Kerry was sworn in as the United States’ inaugural Special Presidential Envoy for Climate and the first-ever Principal to sit on the National Security Council entirely dedicated to climate change. In that role, he negotiated successful restoration of US-China climate cooperation, helped galvanize $11.3 billion dollars in Athens to protect oceans, and helped shape the commitment of almost 200 countries embracing the UAE Consensus at COP28 to transition the world away from fossil fuels. 

In 2013, he was sworn in as the 68th Secretary of State of the United States, becoming the first sitting Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman to serve as Secretary in over a century. 

As America’s top diplomat, he guided the Department’s strategy on nuclear nonproliferation, combating radical extremism, and the threat of climate change. His tenure was marked by the successful negotiation of the Iran nuclear deal and the Paris Climate Agreement, and the elevation of global environmental issues including the oceans within the framework of civilian security. 

From 1985 to 2013, he served as a U.S. Senator representing Massachusetts, and was Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee from 2009 to 2013. In the Senate, he worked closely with Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) to make peace with Vietnam and begin normalization of relations. 

In 2024, President Biden awarded Secretary Kerry the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of his lifetime commitment to public service, saying simply, “the son of a foreign service officer, diplomacy is in his DNA.” 

As a young man, Secretary Kerry served in the U.S. Navy, completing two combat tours of duty in Vietnam for which he received a Silver Star, a Bronze Star with Combat V, and three Purple Hearts. 

Secretary Kerry is the best-selling author of A Call to Service, This Moment on Earth with his wife Teresa Heinz Kerry, and his 2018 memoir, Every Day Is Extra, which The New York Times described as “a bittersweet reminder of what the country once demanded of its leaders.” 

He received his undergraduate degree from Yale University and his law degree from Boston College Law School. 

Ulric Adom

Chief Financial Officer, Aluminum & Lithium, Rio Tinto

Ulric was appointed Chief Financial OĔcer, Rio Tinto Aluminium, based in Montreal, in May 2023. In August 2025, his role was expanded to include the newly acquired Lithium portfolio. Ulric brings a unique perspective and strategic vision to his role. He is committed to driving organisational growth and success through ėnancial excellence and innovation.

With a wealth of experience across various industries, Ulric joined Rio Tinto in 2018. Before joining Rio Tinto, Ulric spent 14 years at the French pharmaceutical company Sanoė, where he notably held the position of CFO for its Japan and Paciėc operations. Earlier in his career, Ulric worked as a Management consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers consulting. He has lived and worked in Europe, Africa, Japan, Australia, the United States, and now, Canada.

A graduate from Sciences Po Paris, Ulric possesses a diverse skill set that spans operations, research and development, exploration, technology, strategy, and innovation. His leadership and change management capabilities have been demonstrated in complex and multicultural environments, enabling him to successfully manage various business integrations and transformations.

Amr Addas

Senior Director, Sustainable Finance and Insights, FCC | FAC

Since 2010, Amr has offered advisory services to financial institutions on developing investing strategies, serving on investor sustainability advisory boards, and working with groups that highlight Montreal as a global hub for sustainable finance. This includes the Finance and Sustainability Initiative, Finance Montreal’s Sustainable Finance Working Group, and the advisory committee for developing a sustainable finance roadmap for Quebec. 

In 2025, Amr was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal in recognition of his work in advancing sustainable finance in Canada. Amr has an MBA from the University of Michigan and a B.Sc. in mechanical engineering from the American University in Cairo.

Dominique Anglade

Executive Director and Professor of Practice, Executive Education HEC Montreal

Former party leader, Deputy Premier and Minister of the Economy of Québec, Dominique Anglade has held numerous executive leadership positions within leading organizations such as Procter & Gamble, Nortel Networks and McKinsey & Company before becoming President and CEO of Montréal International.Today, through executive education and research, she leverages her expertise to help organizations transform knowledge into sustainable and measurable impact. Her work focuses primarily on leadership, sustainable transformation and the dynamics of polarization. She currently serves as Chair of the Board of the International Women’s Forum Canada and Réseau Environnement. Throughout her career, she has served on more than a dozen boards of directors. Her leadership across the economic, social and political spheres has been recognized through more than twenty awards and distinctions. 

Sébastien Angers

Agronomist specializing in regenerative agriculture, Biosphères

Sébastien Angers is an agronomist and regenerative agriculture specialist. For nearly 20 years, he has been developing innovative conservation agriculture approaches on his farm in Nicolet, Quebec, with a strong focus on soil health, biodiversity, and resilient farming systems. Recognized for his creativity and hands-on approach, he experiments with innovative cropping designs inspired by large-scale permaculture and actively supports farmers in their regenerative transition. 

Since 2020, he has also led the development of a collaborative regenerative pumpkin seed value chain in Quebec, bringing together farmers, processing infrastructure, and markets around a shared vision of a more sustainable and locally rooted agriculture. 

More recently, he joined the Biospheres team as Head of North American Development. Biospheres supports agri-food companies, agricultural value chains, and farmers in implementing concrete regenerative strategies by connecting agriculture, biodiversity, climate, and economic performance. The company develops impact measurement methodologies, ESG reporting frameworks, and regenerative value creation approaches designed to build stronger connections between producers, supply chains, and international markets. 

Through his role, Sébastien contributes to collaborative projects focused on agronomic innovation, food system transition, carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and the resilience of agricultural landscapes across North America.

Wendy Berman

Chair, Canadian Sustainability Standards Board (CSSB)

Wendy Berman is the Chair of the Canadian Sustainability Standards Board. She leads the CSSB, supporting effective governance and strategic direction. She is responsible for overseeing the CSSB’ work to set and maintain Canadian sustainability disclosure standards in the Canadian public interest. She also leads the CSSB’s efforts to support implementation of these standards, including through domestic and international engagement. Wendy is a member of the IFRS Sustainability Standards Advisory Forum.

Wendy is a widely recognized leader with over 30 years of experience in securities litigation, regulation, and corporate governance. Most recently, she was a partner and head of the Securities Litigation practice at a national law firm in Toronto, where she advised public companies and boards on complex disclosure, regulatory, and governance matters.

Previously, Wendy was Vice-Chair of the Ontario Securities Commission, where she served on the board, executive team, and adjudicative committee. She oversaw key regulatory initiatives in Canadian capital markets, including climate-related and diversity disclosures, crypto asset regulation and burden reduction for Canadian companies.

She holds an LL.B. from the University of Toronto and is called to the Bar in Ontario and British Columbia.

Yannick Beaudoin

President and CEO, Canada Growth Fund

Yannick Beaudoin is the President and CEO of Canada Growth Fund Investment Management Inc. (CGFIM). In this capacity he is responsible for the $15B Fund’s portfolio construction strategy and investment execution activities, in alignment with Canada Growth Fund’s important mandate to unlock investment in Canada’s energy, natural resources and clean technology sectors to grow Canada’s economy and promote efficient and cost-effective emissions reductions across the country. Until recently Yannick was Managing Director, Head of Asia-Pacific and Europe, Natural Resources at the Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP Investments), where he oversaw a portfolio of over $8 billion. Prior to joining PSP Investments, Yannick was Vice President of Corporate Finance and Development at Gildan Activewear and Director of Strategic Development at Molson Coors Brewing Company in Denver, Colorado. Yannick holds an MBA from McGill University, a BAA from the École des Hautes Etudes Commerciales (HEC) of Montréal, the Director designation (ICD.D) from the Institute of Corporate Directors, as well as the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.

Rosa van den Beemt

Director of Stewardship, Eclipx Family Office

Saloua Benkhouya

Vice-President Private Equity and Impact Investing, Fonds de solidarité FTQ

Saloua Benkhouya is Vice President, Private Equity and Impact Investing at Fonds de solidarité FTQ, where she leads a nearly $4 billion portfolio across services and entertainment, including financial services, TMT, engineering consulting, and hospitality. 

A McGill graduate (BSc, MBA), she completed executive programs in Artificial Intelligence and Fintech at MIT and Harvard, as well as the IWF Leadership Fellows Program at INSEAD and HBS. 

Her international career spans HSBC, SNC-Lavalin, and RBC, with leadership roles in capital markets and structured finance. 

As President of the Board of the Women in Finance Association of Quebec (AFFQ), she is deeply committed to advancing women’s leadership and access to capital. She also serves on the board of Nesto and on McGill University’s Infrastructure and Finance Committee. 

Steve Bélisle

Senior Portfolio Manager, Fundamental Equity, Manulife Investment Management

Steve is a senior portfolio manager with the fundamental equity team, responsible for fundamental equity strategies. He began his career at Standard Life Investments as a research assistant following his involvement in a Standard Life portfolio managed by business school students. Steve joined Manulife Investment Management when Standard Life's Canadian operations were acquired by Manulife in January 2015. Steve holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. 

Caroline Bergeron

Head of Canada, Business Development and Sustainability and Impact Solutions, Innocap

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En tant que directrice principale, ESG et solutions d’impact, Caroline est responsable de l’offre en matière d’ESG et de solutions d’impact d’Innocap. Elle dirige et développe des initiatives stratégiques visant à aider les clients d’Innocap à investir du capital constructif afin de générer de la croissance tout en contribuant à un monde plus durable. Caroline vise à avoir un impact significatif sur les propriétaires et les gestionnaires d’actifs ainsi que sur toutes les parties prenantes de l’écosystème. 

Caroline était auparavant directrice principale du développement et des relations investisseurs chez Innocap. Dans ce rôle, elle a développé de solides partenariats avec les clients institutionnels d’Innocap, a dirigé pendant deux ans les efforts de développement des affaires d’Innocap en Europe et aux États-Unis et a été l’instigatrice de notre offre de produits ESG et de solutions d’impact. Elle a plus de 13 ans d’expérience dans le secteur de la finance. Caroline a commencé sa carrière chez Innocap en tant que conseillère juridique, où elle a participé à la conception et à la mise en place de plateformes de comptes gérés dédiées pour des investisseurs sophistiqués à l’échelle mondiale. Elle est titulaire d’un baccalauréat en droit de l’Université de Sherbrooke, d’une maîtrise en droit du commerce international (LL.M.) de Cape Town University (Afrique du Sud) ainsi que de la certification CAIA (analyste agréé en investissement alternatif) et Sustainable Investment Professional de l’Université Concordia. 

Mathieu Blais

Co-Founder & Portfolio Manager, BeeQuest

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Mathieu est Co-fondateur et Gestionnaire de portefeuille chez BeeQuest, où il est co-responsable des stratégies et de la recherche reliées aux actions à grande capitalisation. Mathieu est en charge des activités de transactions de la firme, en plus d’être impliqué dans la construction et l’optimisation des portefeuilles des clients. 

Avant de fonder BeeQuest, Mathieu a travaillé pour un gestionnaire international d’actifs où il agissait à titre de Chef de l’implémentation et de l’exécution des investissements. Dans ce rôle, il était notamment responsable des activités mondiales de négociation des actions, taux de change et marché monétaire, en plus des équipes de rééquilibrage des portefeuilles. Avant d'occuper ce poste, il faisait partie de l'équipe du CIO où il était spécialisé dans les stratégies d'actions, l'investissement factoriel et la gestion des risques. 

Lauren Bonnett

Director, Quinn+Partners

Biography coming soon

Pierre-Olivier Boulanger

Vice President Responsible Investment, Optimum Global Asset Management

Pierre-Olivier Boulanger is Vice President, Responsible Investment at Optimum Asset Management. In this role, he is primarily responsible for managing fixed-income portfolios across active strategies, strategic biases and customized mandates, in addition to overseeing private investments. He also plays a central role in the integration of ESG factors, the consideration of climate-related risks and the development of sustainability initiatives, including ongoing work on integrating biodiversity into investment processes. 

Since joining the organization in 2016, he has served on several management and investment committees, including those focused on fixed-income strategy, ESG, and asset allocation, actively contributing to the advancement of responsible investment practices within the firm. 

Pierre-Olivier Boulanger holds the CFA designation and a Master’s degree in Finance from the Université de Sherbrooke. He has also completed a certification in sustainable investing from the Institute for Sustainable Finance at the Smith School of Business, Queen’s University.  

Lucie Bourgeois

Présidente fondatrice, Umalia

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Lucie Bourgeois est présidente fondatrice d’Umalia, firme certifiée B Corp, où elle accompagne entreprises, OBNL et territoires dans l’intégration du développement durable et la création d’écosystèmes collaboratifs à impact. Stratège, praticienne et leader d’influence, elle dirige Umalia depuis 13 ans et a mené des projets majeurs en adaptation climatique, gouvernance collaborative et agriculture régénératrice au Québec et à l’international. Avant de fonder Umalia, elle a occupé pendant 20 ans des postes de cadre dirigeante au sein de multinationales canadiennes et internationales, réalisant des transformations stratégiques d’envergure. Administratrice de sociétés certifiée, elle siège à Québec Net Positif, Évol et au Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Institute du Conference Board du Canada, ainsi qu’au conseil aviseur d’Education for Sustainability. Lauréate du prix Accelerators Awards du Pacte Mondial des Nations Unies, elle est affiliée au réseau Shared Value Initiative. 

Micah Bornfree

Author, Activist, Builder & Co-Creator, Occupy Wall Street

Dr. Micah Bornfree (formerly Micah White) is an activist and theorist who co-originated the 2011 call for Occupy Wall Street, a movement that spread to 82 countries and 1,000 cities. He is the author of The End of Protest (Knopf Canada, 2016), published in English, German, and Greek, and has given talks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the OECD Forum in Paris, Princeton, UCLA, Yale, and the Sydney Opera House. Bornfree is the founder of Outcry, an activist AI platform. His work seeks to understand the future of activism in an era reshaped by AI and the failure of mass protest. Learn more at micahbornfree.com. 

Gabriel Brice

Manager, Sustainable Finance and Impact Investing, Fondaction

Biography coming soon

Marie-Clara Buellingen

Managing Director, Societe Generale

Marie Clara Buellingen is the Head of Sustainable Finance for the Americas at Societe Generale, where she leads the Bank’s sustainable finance strategy in the region, with a strong emphasis on client engagement, transaction origination, and deal execution. 

Based in New York, she oversees a team responsible for originating and developing sustainable finance opportunities across sectors, with a particular focus on energy transition, natural capital, water, and resilience. Under her leadership, the team plays a central role in identifying emerging investment themes across asset classes, shaping client strategies, and converting them into bankable financing opportunities. 

She is particularly active in advancing innovative financing models – including nature-based solutions and adaptation-focused investments – while building a robust and differentiated pipeline aligned with both client needs and the Bank’s strategic priorities.

Kimberly Buffitt

CEO, Shore Grow

Kimberly Buffitt is the CEO of Shore Grow Holdings, an integrated enterprise on Québec’s Lower North Shore combining aquaculture, hospitality, consulting, and wellness ventures. With over 20 years of experience in community and economic development, she leads projects that connect language, culture, and entrepreneurship across rural and Indigenous regions of Canada. Kimberly is passionate about mentorship-based workforce development and creating bilingual learning opportunities that strengthen community identity, local employment, and sustainable regional growth. 

Lucile Caron

Vice-President, Societe Generale

Lucile joined the bank in 2020 as its first Environmental and Social (E&S) Risk Officer. In 2021, she moved to the Investment Banking front office to advise corporate clients on sustainability strategies and the financing of decarbonization plans. She is now a Vice-President on the Sustainable Finance & Advisory team, a cross-asset platform originating sustainability-focused transactions and mandates across project finance, M&A, equity private placements, debt, and equity capital markets and financial advisory. Lucile supports bankers in the energy (renewables, biofuels, nuclear), infrastructure, and carbon removal (including CCUS and nature-based solutions) sectors, contributing to both advisory and deal origination activities. She works closely with investment banking, coverage, and product teams to deliver tailored financial solutions that help clients meet their sustainability objectives. Lucile holds a business degree in Finance from McGill University. Outside of work, she serves on the junior board of Wild Tomorrow Fund, a nonprofit focused on wildlife and biodiversity restoration in South Africa. 

Jacques-Alexandre Caussignac

CCO & Director of Client Experience & Strategy, Clear Skies

With more than 27 years of experience as a financial markets professional, Jacques has a diverse background spanning multiple asset classes and sub-industries. After working as an institutional derivatives marketer at RBC, he pivoted to asset management, being responsible for over $2bn at Addenda Capital, handling Liability Driven Investments (LDI), credit and structured products. In 2008, he co-founded AlphaFixe Capital, a leader in active Fixed Income management, serving as Chief Risk Officer. In 2016, he joined TMX Group as VP, Innovation, Growth, Products and services, managing a pan-Canadian team covering Equities, Fixed Income, Derivatives and ESG. He also served for 4 years as an independent Director at Albecour, an aluminum smelting company owned by Investissement Québec. Jacques started his responsible investment journey as a PRI signatory in 2011. He has a Masters degree from HEC Montreal and a teaching certificate from UQAM. 

Rodolphe de Cande

Managing Partner, Paulownia Partners, Impax Asset Management

Rodolphe (Rudy) de Candé is the founder and managing partner at Paulownia Partners, an advisory firm offering business development solutions leading to the transformation for a sustainable economy. Soon after its launch in October 2023, Paulownia strategically partnered with Impax Asset Management on expansion efforts within Canada. 

Prior to starting Paulownia Partners, Rudy spent more than 20 years at BNP Paribas Asset Management (BNPP AM) as Head of Business Development in the UK, US and Canada. In his most recent role at BNPP AM, Rudy spent 9 years developing relationships with asset owners and distribution partners across Canada. Rudy started his career with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in Argentina. 

Rudy completed his postgrad degree in finance and management at the European Business School Paris (EBS Paris). Outside of work, Rudy has recently started a tree planting project of paulownias in France. Paulownias are most known for their environmental benefits, including carbon sequestration, biodiversity support, water efficiency and soil erosion control. He is also an active member of “Sandwich Sans Nom,” a charity organization helping the homeless in Montreal. 

John Cameron

Principal, Sustainability Standards, Canadian Sustainability Standards Board

John Cameron is a Principal, Sustainability Standards with the Canadian Sustainability Standards Board (CSSB). He has built a career working at the intersection of business, policy, and society through roles in financial services, politics and policy, and corporate sustainability. At the CSSB, he supports the Board’s work developing Canadian Sustainability Disclosure Standards (CSDS) and helps build external relationships. His previous work included roles at TD, Morningstar Sustainalytics, and the US Senate. He received his MBA from Schulich School of Business with specializations in Finance and Business & Sustainability.  

Eoin Callan

Managing Partner, Bloom Impact Fund

Biography coming soon

Benoit Chéron

ISSB Technical Staff, Foundation IFRS

Benoit serves as Technical Staff at the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), where he focuses on industry-based considerations to support the ISSB's standard setting activities. Previously, he advised companies on sustainability-related risks and opportunities, and on their implications for business and operational models, in his role as an Executive Director at a global consulting firm. He also had executive positions in the asset management sector in Europe.   

Benoit studied economics and finance. He is based in the IFRS Foundation's Montreal office.  

Mark Campanale

Founder & Acting CEO, Carbon Tracker Initiative

Mark is the CEO of the Carbon Tracker Initiative, a non-profit think tank best known for its work on ‘stranded assets’ the ‘carbon bubble’ and mapping the impact of the clean energy revolution on the fossil fuel energy system. This analysis is used by investors in fossil fuels and financial supervisors, in how to divest, or set decarbonisation pathways; and with policy makers interested in regulatory frameworks that smooth the energy transition. In 2017, Mark founded ‘Planet Tracker’ which is focused on nature and biodiversity, also through the lens of financial markets.

Prior to forming Carbon Tracker in 2011, Mark spent twenty years in fund management where he was a co-founder of some of the first responsible investment funds in London at Jupiter Asset Management, NPI, AMP Capital, and Henderson Global Investors. Mark has served on the World Business Council for Sustainable Development working group on capital markets leading up to the 1992 Earth Summit; was a Member of the Steering Committee of UNEP Financial Sector Initiative (1999-2003);  founder of the UK Sustainable and Responsible Investment Forum (UKSIF), 1990-2006; and is now on the Advisory Board of GFANZ, the Glasgow Finance Alliance for Net Zero.

Mark is a member of the advisory council of the Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation’s Conservation & Markets Initiative; ESG advisory board of Glenmede Wealth Management; a Fellow of Tribe Impact Capital; an advisor to Amazonia Impact Ventures and senior advisor to Consilium Capital. He is a Visiting Lecturer at the Imperial College Master’s course on sustainable finance and Oxford’s Said Business School’s sustainable finance course.  In 2021 he was winner of the CEREs/Trillium Capital Lifetime Achievement Award on Sustainable Finance. He was made both an Ashoka Fellow and Sorenson Impact Fellow in 2022.
 

Marieke Cloutier

Senior Director, Programs, Federation of Canadian Municipalities

Marieke Cloutier is Senior Director, Programs at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Green Municipal Fund (GMF), where she leads strategic program design and delivery to help municipalities build net-zero, climate-resilient and sustainable communities.   

Marieke leads multidisciplinary teams and strategic partnerships, advancing FCM’s priorities to strengthen local capacity, scale municipal impact and unlock the economic potential of cities and communities through innovative financing, partnerships and knowledge-sharing. She oversees a national portfolio spanning sustainable affordable housing, building retrofits, low-carbon development and climate adaptation, ensuring measurable environmental, social and economic outcomes.   

With over 25 years of experience, Marieke is recognized for translating ambitious climate objectives into practical, scalable solutions and fostering collaboration across governments and sectors to deliver high-impact results for communities across Canada.   

Marieke has worked with all orders of government as well as with the private sector, non-governmental organizations and international organizations such as the Organization of Economic Co-operation Development (OECD).  She also led the development and implementation of the City of Montreal’s 2020–2030 Climate Plan.    

Jennifer Coulson

Senior managing director & Global head ESG, BCI

Jennifer Coulson has worked in the financial services industry for 25 years. She began her career in the mutual fund business working for a national firm that specializes in responsible investing solutions. At BCI, she oversees a team of multidisciplinary professionals integrating Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) across public and private asset classes; engaging with portfolio companies to manage ESG risk; developing public policy submissions on ESG matters of broad relevance to the investment industry; and overseeing the proxy voting program for Public Markets. Jennifer has an undergraduate degree in Environment & Resource Management from the University of Western Ontario as well as a Masters in Environmental Studies from York University. She has attained the Institute of Corporate Directors designation (ICD.D) and is Chair of the Vancouver Island Chapter of ICD. She chairs the Investor Group of the 30% Club of Canada which promotes diversity across corporate Canada. Jennifer volunteers her time mentoring young professionals as part of the Investment Advisory Committee for the University of Victoria Student Investment Fund; is a member of St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation Board; and a Director on the board of Science World.  

John A. Cook

Senior Vice President, Portfolio Manager, Team Co-Lead, Mackenzie Investments

John Cook is a Senior Vice President, Portfolio Manager, and Team Co-Lead with the Mackenzie Greenchip Team. 

John’s career in the investment industry began in 1991. He was President of Greenchip Financial Corp. since it was founded in 2007 and became part of Mackenzie Investments in 2021. Prior to Greenchip, John led corporate development at one of Canada’s largest innovation hubs. He has also held a number of executive positions at Canadian mutual fund companies. 

John holds a BA from Queen's University and the Chartered Investment Manager (CIM) designation. 

Erica Coulombe

Executive Director, Resilience & Sustainability

Biography coming soon

Thomas Connor

Senior ESG Product Specialist, S&P Global

Thomas Connor, MS, CFA, is an atmospheric scientist and AI/data science leader with expertise in climate modeling, catastrophe risk analytics, and large-scale environmental data. He has a Master’s in Atmospheric Physics from the University of Massachusetts Lowell and professional experience developing scientific code for atmospheric simulations, radiative transfer, and stochastic catastrophe risk models used in catastrophe bonds and index-based insurance.

Thomas previously led the Data Science Excellence Program at Verisk’s Atmospheric and Environmental Research (AER) division, advancing analytical practices and environmental modeling capabilities. He currently serves as Head of AI and Data Insights within S&P Global’s Energy Horizons’ Sustainability Specialist team, where he helps clients interpret and maximize value from S&P Global’s climate, ESG, and environmental datasets and solutions.

Delia Cristea

Partner, Chief Operating Office and General Counsel, Power Sustainable

Delia Cristea is a founding Partner, Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel of Power Sustainable, where she leads firm-wide strategy, governance, legal affairs, and ecosystem engagement. Since co-founding the firm in 2019, she has played a central role in shaping its organizational foundations, investment strategy, and culture. Previously, she served as Assistant General Counsel at Power Corporation of Canada and as General Counsel at Power Energy Corporation, a renewable energy developer within the Power group. Earlier, she practiced in the funds and M&A groups at McCarthy Tétrault LLP in Montreal and Toronto.

Delia holds a law degree and a Master's in European Law from the Sorbonne (Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne) and is a gold medalist from McGill University's Faculty of Law. She is the co-founder of Women in Climate Finance, a pan-Canadian network recognized with the Clean50 Project Award, and serves as Chair of Lawyers Without Borders Canada. She also sits on the boards of Sustainable Finance Montréal, Cycle Momentum, and Concordia's Volt-Age program. 

Chris Creed

Managing Partner and Co-Head, Credit and Capital Solutions, Galvanize

Chris has over two decades of experience in investment management, public-private partnerships, and innovative financing solutions for high-impact energy and infrastructure projects. Most recently, Chris served as the Chief Investment Officer of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office (LPO), with over $300 billion in lending authority. He led efforts in financing emerging, first-of-a-kind energy technologies, companies, and projects to support America’s transition to a sustainable energy future. Prior to the DOE, Chris spent over 20 years at Goldman Sachs, as a Managing Director and Portfolio Manager, overseeing more than $75 billion in credit assets across mutual funds and separate accounts at GSAM. His leadership in the financial markets has positioned him as a recognized expert in managing complex portfolios and innovative financing strategies. Chris graduated from Brown University with an Sc.B. in Applied Mathematics – Economics. 

Flavie Desgagné-Éthier

Program Director - Climate, Trottier Family Foundation

Flavie Desgagné-Éthier is a sustainable finance leader specializing in climate finance, transition policy, and capital market transformation to address systemic climate risk. She currently serves as Climate Program Director at the Trottier Family Foundation, where she works on initiatives advancing Canada’s sustainable finance architecture such as Business Future Pathways. Prior to joining the foundation, she held senior roles in communications, philanthropy, and institutional partnerships, notably at La Caisse, where she worked on strategic initiatives at the intersection of finance and public engagement. She has also worked in the private sector with major Canadian brands and is a Université de Montréal lecturer.  

Alain-Olivier Desbois

CEO, Elements Financial

Alain-Olivier Desbois (CFA), is the CEO of Elements Financial, a capital orchestrator investment firm dedicated to making coastal and remote communities investable. With over 25 years of experience in the fields of Cleantech venture capital and impact investing, Alain-Olivier as structured, raised and implement 6 PE/VC funds and has supported more than thirty Impact start-up companies, particularly in the Food, Cleantech and Health sectors. Overall, he has contributed to mobilize $450M from Canadian, US and International impact investors. Alain-Olivier is one the pioneer and leader of the Canadian impact investment community. 

Lucas Didier

Director of Advisory, Biosphères

Lucas Didier is a France-based consultant at Biosphères, where he provides strategic guidance to agri-food companies on deploying regenerative agriculture across their supply chains. His work focuses on building robust environmental impact accounting frameworks — selecting the right indicators for soil health, biodiversity, water, and climate — and on structuring regenerative sourcing programs internationally, from crop farming in Poland to aromatic plant production basins for the fragrance industry. He brings deep expertise in environmental impact accounting methodologies and EU regulatory frameworks (CSRD, Green Claims Directive) to help companies turn regenerative commitments into measurable, credible outcomes.

Jérôme Dupras

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

Jérôme Dupras is the CEO of Habitat and a professor in the Department of Natural Sciences at the Université du Québec en Outaouais, where he holds the Canada Research Chair in Ecological Economics and the UNESCO Chair in the Economics of Biodiversity. 

Mélanie Duquette

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

Mélanie Duquette is Vice President, Internal Control, Risk Management and ESG at Boralex. With nearly 30 years of experience in finance, accounting and risk management, she has held several senior leadership roles within the company and has also worked as a consultant on public disclosure matters. 

Hervé Duteil

Chief Sustainability Officer, Americas, BNP Paribas

Hervé Duteil created the first position of Chief Sustainability Officer for BNP Paribas in 2014, in the Americas.  In this role and as part of the CEO Office, he works with all relevant stakeholders in the definition and implementation of the Bank’s regional ESG strategy. 

In 2018, Euromoney selected him as one of the 10 “champions of global impact banking”. On the opening day of Climate Week NYC 2022, he was honored by Insider as one of the 30 “top global leaders working toward climate solutions” in their inaugural Climate Action 30, along with Francia Márquez, Vice President of Colombia, and Ed Markey, U.S. Senator from Massachusetts. 

Hervé has spent most of his career with BNP Paribas in New York.  He specialized in trading and managing derivatives market activities, spanning across commodity, currency, fixed income and electronic markets.  More recently, he led BNP Paribas’ efforts to close its first two  Social Impact Bonds. 

Hervé served as a member on the CFTC’s Climate-Related Market Risk Subcommittee of the Market Risk Advisory Committee, WBCSD’s Sustainable Finance Policy, SIFMA’s Sustainable Finance taskforce, the Yale Initiative on Sustainable Finance Advisory Board as well as Insider’s One Planet Advisory Council.  

Hervé holds a Master in Business Administration with distinction from the Harvard Business School, a Master of Science from the University of Cambridge, and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics & Physics from the Sorbonne University of Paris. 

Noah Dueck

CFA, Wealth Advisor, Valeurs Mobilières Peak

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Noah est conseiller financier chez PEAK Securities, où il accompagne ses clients dans l’atteinte de leurs objectifs financiers en bâtissant des stratégies d’investissement alignées sur leurs valeurs personnelles. Son approche repose sur des décisions réfléchies, cohérentes et orientées vers le long terme.​

Diplômé de l’Université McGill et titulaire du titre de Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Noah s’appuie sur une solide formation en finance ainsi qu’une expérience internationale acquise notamment lors d’un programme d’échange universitaire en Australie. Il est reconnu pour sa rigueur, sa transparence et sa capacité à guider les investisseurs vers des choix financiers porteurs de sens et d’impact. 

Katie Dunphy

Partner, Resilience & Sustainability, KPMG

As the National Leader of Sustainability Strategy and Reporting services at KPMG in Canada, Katie advises financial institutions on the design and implementation of sustainability and climate-related strategy, policy, governance, and reporting and focuses on sustainable value creation integration in investment and asset management processes. 

She completed her Bachelor of Commerce (Co-op) at Dalhousie University, holds an International Master of Sustainable Development designation from the EOI Escuela de Organización Industrial in Madrid, Spain, and has completed the Competent Boards Sustainability & ESG, and Climate Designations. In acknowledgement of her work as a sustainability advisor in Canada, Katie was recognized in 2023 with a Canada’s Clean50 award. 

Hanna Ellis-McKinney

Manager, Agriculture Portfolio, McCain Foods

Hanna Ellis-McKinney is Manager, Agriculture Portfolio at McCain Foods, where she works across North American agriculture strategy, program integration, and external funding partnerships supporting regenerative agriculture adoption at scale. 

Her work has focused on building and executing public-private funding models that help growers strengthen productivity, resilience, and long-term competitiveness. She has led multi-year agriculture initiatives involving governments, financial institutions, NGOs, and regional delivery teams, including the development and execution of large-scale soil health and incentive programs across North America. 

Hanna’s experience sits at the intersection of sustainable finance, agriculture operations, and execution strategy, translating sustainability commitments into practical systems, partnerships, and on-farm outcomes. She is particularly passionate about how capital, collaboration, and disciplined execution can accelerate the future of resilient food systems. 

Stéphanie Émond

VP and Chief Impact Officer, FinDev Canada

Stéphanie Émond is VP and Chief Impact Officer at FinDev Canada’s, overseeing the Impact Enablement team responsible for development impact, technical assistance, environmental, social and climate risk management and thought leadership. Stéphanie is a board member of the Lucie and André Chagnon Foundation, and is a member of the investment committee of the McConnell Foundation. Prior to joining FinDev Canada, Stéphanie served as the Executive Director of FINCA Canada, a microfinance organization with the mission to alleviate poverty through lasting solutions that help people – women in particular – build assets, create jobs, and raise their standard of living.  

Before FINCA, she worked as a management consultant with Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton, on business and strategic planning, market analysis and marketing strategies, and for the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA – now Global Affairs Canada) as an economic advisor focusing on private sector development and financial inclusion. Prior to that, Stephanie worked with FINCA Peru, a Peruvian microfinance institution, and for Newad, a Canadian place-based media company, as Director of Marketing.  

She holds a MBA from HEC Montreal.

Will Fayed

RVP Institutional Sales & National Accounts - Québec, Mackenzie Investments

Will is Regional Vice-President at Mackenzie Investments, where he leads institutional sales and national accounts across Québec. In previous roles, he partnered closely with financial advisors, delivering tailored investment solutions to address evolving client needs. He currently leads sales initiatives with institutional investors and develops strategic partnerships with wealth distribution firms. Will holds the Chartered Investment Manager (CIM®) designation and is actively involved in the Québec investment community.

Emmanuel Faber

Chair, International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB)

Emmanuel Faber was appointed as the inaugural Chair of the International Sustainability Standards Board in December 2021, effective 1 January 2022. He is well-known for his passion for sustainability and his leadership positions at multi-national food products company Danone for the past 20 years. He joined the company in 1997 as Chief Financial Officer, Strategy, and served as its Chief Executive Officer from 2014, as well as Chair of the Board from 2017 until 2021. He became a partner at Astanor Ventures in October 2021.

Faber has lived and held senior leadership positions in Africa, Asia, the Americas and Europe. He has founded and chaired several international organisations and initiatives, including the One Planet Business for Biodiversity coalition and the G7 Business for Inclusive Growth coalition―co-chaired with the OECD Secretary General. He initiated Danone Communities, a social business initiative providing funding to bring nutrition and water access for vulnerable communities, as well as the Livelihoods Venture, which provides funding for ecosystem restoration and the development of sustainable farming in emerging economies.

Prior to joining Danone, he held roles as Chief Financial Officer and later Managing Director at Legris Industries. He also has experience from investment banking at Baring Brothers and as a consultant at Bain & Company.

He holds a Master’s degree in business administration from HEC Paris, France.

Tariq Fancy

Lecturer in Management, Stanford Graduate School of Business & founder of Rumie

Tariq Fancy is an investor and lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business focused on the intersection of capital markets and the energy transition, and where the two have begun to diverge in practice.

He began his career in technology investment banking during the dotcom era and went on to invest through the post-crash cycle, developing a focus on turnaround situations and mispriced assets. He later held senior roles in global investing at CPPIB and BlackRock, where he led sustainable investing efforts and helped shape the firm’s approach to ESG.

He also founded Rumie, a Y Combinator-backed technology platform that has delivered hundreds of millions of free microlessons globally and became a Harvard Business School case study.

Drawing on that experience, he has been a prominent public critic of ESG’s limitations, arguing that the energy transition is following a familiar pattern: a period of enthusiasm and capital misallocation, followed by a more disciplined phase of investing. His current work focuses on where capital has diverged from infrastructure and climate-related assets on the ground—and what the next phase of the transition may look like.

His work sits at the intersection of finance, policy, and markets, with a focus on identifying where the next phase of the transition will create both risk and opportunity.

Luc Fortin

President & CEO, TMX Global Markets and Post Trade, TMX Group

Luc Fortin is President and Chief Executive Officer, TMX Global Markets and Post Trade. His key responsibilities include leading growth in TMX’s equities, derivatives, and fixed income trading businesses, and delivering a world-class experience to our global client base. In 2021, his mandate expanded to include oversight and strategic direction of CDCC and CDS, TMX’s post trade businesses and crucial components of Canada’s capital markets infrastructure.

Mr. Fortin joined MX as Managing Director, Derivatives Trading in June 2016, following a 25-year career in Canada’s capital markets industry, leading client-facing teams in fixed income and derivatives. Prior to joining MX, he served as Managing Director, Canadian Head of the Institutional Client Group at HSBC Bank Canada. In this role, Mr. Fortin led HSBC’s institutional client-facing businesses in rates and credit, derivatives, foreign exchange and money markets across Canada. Prior to HSBC, he held senior leadership positions at TD Bank and TD Securities.

Mr. Fortin serves on the boards of CDCC, Canada’s derivatives clearing house, and CDS, Canada’s equity and fixed income clearing house. He also serves on the board of BOX Holdings Group LLC and BOX Market LLC (BOX), a U.S. equity options market, the Finance Montreal Board of Governors, and the Young People of the DYP Foundation.

Mr. Fortin is a graduate of the TD Securities Leadership program at Ivey Business School and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from University of Ottawa.

Rosa Galvez

Senator, Canada

The Honourable Rosa Galvez is an environmental engineer, an independent senator at the Senate of Canada, and the President of the Parliamentary Network on Climate Change of ParlAmericas. She was a professor at Laval University in Québec for over 25 years and was Chair of its Civil and Water Engineering department from 2011 to 2016. She specializes in pollution control, water and wastewater treatment, municipal and hazardous waste, sustainable development, impact assessment and climate risk to infrastructure. 

At the Senate of Canada, she is the Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources and a member of the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance. In 2021, she was the sponsor in the Senate of the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act, providing an accountability framework for the Canadian federal government to achieve its net-zero emissions goal by 2050. She was also recipient of the Clean50 Award 2021, the 2022 Ecological Society of America Regional Policy Award and the 2023 Top 25 Women of Influence Award for her parliamentary work on climate and the environment. 

Since her appointment at the Senate, Senator Galvez has published several policy papers including a discussion paper on Canada’s building codes and a white paper on a clean and just recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2022, she published a white paper on Aligning Canadian Finance with Climate Commitments, which led to the introduction in the Senate of Bill S-243, the Climate-Aligned Finance Act, legislation to help guide Canada’s financial sector in its transition to a net-zero economy. 

Hélène V. Gagnon

Chief People and Sustainability Officer, CAE

Hélène V. Gagnon is CAE’s Chief People and Sustainability Officer since 2024 and is a member of the Executive Management Committee. In her role, Hélène leads all aspects of the company’s Human Resources organization globally, while harnessing the power of CAE’s people and creating an exceptional workplace. She acts as a role model and driver of CAE’s innovative, inclusive and collaborative culture, and is a strong advocate of CAE’s people as one of the company’s most competitive advantages.

Hélène also leads CAE’s sustainability, environment and social impact strategy across CAE’s worldwide operations, and as a true business partner, helps CAE fulfill its strategic objectives and mission of making the world safer and more sustainable. She is accountable for CAE’s government programs (R&D) and academic partnerships.

She first joined CAE in 2015 as Vice President, Public Affairs and Global Communications and became Chief Sustainability Officer and Vice President, Stakeholder Engagement in 2022. 

CAE delivers cutting-edge training, simulation, and critical operations solutions to prepare aviation professionals and defence forces for the moments that matter with 13,000 employees at around 240 sites and training locations in over 40 countries. Every day, CAE empower pilots, cabin crew, maintenance technicians, airlines, business aviation operators, and defence and security personnel to perform at their best and when the stakes are the highest. As a global defence and security leader, CAE is well-positioned to capitalize on rising global demand for mission-ready defence solutions.

Before joining 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.

Manveer Gill

Sustainable Finance Lead, CDP

Manveer leads CDP's sustainable finance research, shaping how the financial sector uses real economy environmental data and how it reports on environmental issues. His work sits at the intersection of transition finance, nature, and climate risk, helping financial institutions move from disclosure to action. 

He has represented CDP at COP29 and COP30, and contributed to working groups including ISO 32212, the standard for net zero transition planning for financial institutions. Manveer is the author of CDP reports on transition plan data for credible transition finance, physical climate risks and anticipated financial effects, nature-related disclosures, and sustainable supply chain engagement. He holds the CFA Certificate in Climate and Investing. 

Outside of his research, Manveer has served on charity boards and currently sits on the Sounding Board of a community renewable energy not-for-profit. 

Solène Hanquier

Head of Responsible Investment, National Bank Investment

As Senior Manager and Head of Responsible Investment, Solène Hanquier is responsible for leading the development and execution of the responsible investment plan for National Bank Investments (NBI) and National Bank’s Wealth Management division.  

Solène has been working in the field of responsible investment and sustainable development for over a decade. Before joining NBI, she developed her skills within the Desjardins Group’s and Bell Canada’s responsible investment and corporate social responsibility teams. Solène is a board member of the Responsible Investment Association (RIA), serves on the governance committee of Fonds Investi, and instructs in Finance Montréal's advanced sustainable finance training program. 

Solène holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in environmental management, as well as her FSA certification from the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and her CFA-ESG certification.  

Karim Haddad

Partner and Senior Analyst, Global Small Cap Equities, Van Berkom

Biography coming soon

Gilles Horrobin

Chief Investment Officer, Pension Funds, Société des transports de Montréal

Mr. Horrobin has worked in the financial community for over 30 years.

At the beginning of his career, he worked as a trader and analyst for various brokerage firms. He then gained a significant amount of experience in mutual funds marketing and portfolio manager selection at TD Asset Management and TAL Investment Counsel.

His portfolio manager career started at CDP Capital where he successfully started and managed a portfolio of International REITS. In 2000, he joined the Montreal Transit Society Pension Funds as portfolio manager U.S. equities. From 2007 to 2012, he also supervised the management of all other equities portfolios. In 2012, he took over the role of Chief Investment Officer and the responsabilities of asset mix decisions, alternative investments and risk management. He is also involved in the industry by sitting on pension investment committees and speaking at various conferences.

Mr. Horrobin graduated from the University of Montreal Business School (HEC) in Finance and also holds the CFA designation.

His personal time is monopolized by sports and by his three children, who keep him as well as his better half very active.

Elizabeth Hunter

Executive Director, FoodBridge (Terre à table)

Beth Hunter is the founder and Executive Director of FoodBridge. Her career is marked by significant initiatives: at the McConnell Foundation, she served as Program Director, leading and contributing to national programs on sustainable food systems, climate, and reconciliation. A co-founder of Équiterre including its Community Supported Agriculture network, she also coordinated Greenpeace Canada’s campaign on responsible seafood sourcing in supermarkets. She later worked with Nature United and co-authored a sustainable agriculture framework for philanthropy with the Transition Accelerator. 

Beth holds a Master’s degree in Rural Economics from Laval University. Recipient of Canada’s 2026 Clean50, she has been recognized nationally for her key role in advancing agricultural transition and strengthening resilient, sustainable supply chains in Canada. 

Jérémy Le Jan

Head of Canada, Tikehau Capital

Jérémy Le Jan joined Tikehau Capital in Paris in 2007 and currently serves as Head of Canada. He first joined the firm as an Account Manager before becoming Deputy Chief Financial Officer and then Finance Department Manager in 2014. From 2016 to 2019 he was the Chief Financial Officer of Tikehau Capital before joining the teams in New York to develop the Group's activities in North America. Previously, Jeremy was as an Accountant and then Head of Mission for various accounting firms such as Deloitte, In Extenso and the BDO network. 

Rommie Johnson

Technical Director, IFRS Foundation

Rommie Johnson acts as Technical Director for the IFRS Foundation. In this role, he oversees the International Sustainability Standards Board's (ISSB) technical agenda and helps lead the technical staff's work to ensure IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards establish a global baseline of sustainability information focused on the needs of investors and other providers of financial capital. He is based in Montreal, Quebec. 

Before joining the IFRS Foundation in 2022, Mr. Johnson worked in a variety of strategic, technical, policy-focused and communications-related positions with the Value Reporting Foundation, the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), and as a sustainable finance consultant to companies, investors, and market intermediaries. Before that, he served in leadership positions in the publishing and food and beverage industries. Drawing on his multi-disciplinary background, Mr. Johnson has authored and co-authored an extensive body of influential market analysis, policy papers, and thought leadership. 

Mr. Johnson earned B.S. and MBA degrees from the University of Florida and holds the Fundamentals of Sustainability Accounting (FSA) Credential. 

Sarah Kapnick

Global Head of Climate Advisory, JP Morgan

Dr. Sarah B. Kapnick is the Global Head of Climate Advisory at J.P. Morgan. In this role, she advises the bank's clients on climate, energy, biodiversity and sustainability topics. Responsible for overseeing the Firm’s climate thought leadership strategy, Dr. Kapnick leverages extensive technical and scientific expertise to drive content strategy and advise clients at the intersection of finance, climate science, commerce and national security.

Prior to her current role, she served as Chief Scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), appointed by the President, responsible for guiding the programmatic focus of NOAA’s science and technology priorities. In this capacity, Dr. Kapnick oversaw the development of critical scientific strategies for emerging topics such as climate intervention, greenhouse gas monitoring, marine biodiversity, climate macroeconomics, and climate security.

Dr. Kapnick engaged with Congress on legislation, education, and budget priorities, and served as an advisor to the Department of Commerce and the U.S. Federal Government on R&D design, technology transfer, and public-private partnerships.  She also acted as a senior strategic advisor to various government working groups and advisory committees on climate security, climate macroeconomics, climate intervention, weather and ocean technology, space commerce sustainability, and water, including the Water Subcabinet. 

Previously, Dr. Kapnick was a Senior Climate Scientist and Sustainability Strategist for J.P. Morgan’s Asset & Wealth Management division, where she produced thought leadership on climate and environmental issues and advised clients. 

Dr. Kapnick has also served as Deputy Division Leader and Research Physical Scientist at the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL), NOAA, where she led R&D efforts in seasonal to decadal variability and predictability and collaborated with various U.S. states and agencies on climate change and infrastructure planning. Her earlier roles include Research Physical Scientist at GFDL, Visiting Researcher at the University of Hamburg and Max-Planck Institute for Meteorology, and NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Princeton University.

Dr. Kapnick earned a Ph.D. in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences and a Leaders in Sustainability Certificate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), as well as an A.B. in Mathematics with a certificate in Finance from Princeton University. She presently serves on the nonprofit boards of Climate Central and the Woods Hole Oceanagraphic Institution. Additionally, she serves on the scientific advisory panels for the World Meteorological Organization and Food Security Leadership Council. 
 

Xavier Kato

Partner, VC and Early-Stage Investments, EDC

Xavier Kato has been involved in the private equity environment in Europe and Canada for more than 20 years. He is currently Partner, early-stage investments at EDC, based in Montreal. Prior to joining EDC in 2024, Xavier was leading a team of investment professionals at Investment Quebec for more than 10 years. He came to Montreal while working at ACE Management, a French leading private equity firm specialized in cutting edge industries like aerospace and defense/security where, after building and managing a portfolio of technology companies in France, he successfully started and developed ACE’s activities in Canada from 2007 on. Before that, Xavier had also been involved with another French VC firm, dedicated to IT’s early-stage investments. Prior to his private equity career, Xavier worked as an M&A analyst at Société Générale bank, both in France and Spain. Xavier holds a master’s degree from École Supérieure de Commerce de Bordeaux, France.

Brian J. Kernohan

Chief Sustainability Officer, Manulife Investment Management

Brian is responsible for overseeing the global sustainability platform for Manulife Investment Management’s private and public markets businesses. This spans timberland, agriculture, real estate, infrastructure, private equity, and private credit as well as public markets’ equity, fixed income, and multi-asset strategies. Brian is accountable for sustainability strategy, developing internal sustainable investing policies and compliance mechanisms across Manulife Investment Management. He also supports regulatory affairs and reporting on sustainability matters.  

Previously, Brian was chief sustainability officer for Manulife Investment Management’s private markets business and before that he was the chief sustainability officer at Hancock Natural Resource Group, Manulife’s timberland and agriculture business. Prior to joining the firm, he was director of policy at Forest Capital Partners, where he was responsible for a variety of programs, including forest certification, forest policy, government affairs, public relations, conservation transactions, and ecology support.  

Brian represents Manulife Investment Management on several external groups and committees and he holds the Certified Wildlife Biologist designation from The Wildlife Society, a B.S., Wildlife Ecology from Michigan State University, and a M.S., Wildlife Management from South Dakota State University. 

Lori Kerr

Chief Executive Officer, FinDev Canada

Lori Kerr is Chief Executive Officer of FinDev Canada and a globally recognised leader in development finance with more than 25 years of experience shaping strategies to mobilise private investment for sustainable development. A pioneer in blended finance, she was among the architects of the inaugural multilateral development bank (MDB) principles for concessional blended finance during the launch of the Climate Investment Funds in 2008, a milestone that defined the modern era of private sector engagement in climate finance. At the Inter-American Development Bank Group, Lori oversaw the first concessional finance program that became the foundation of IDB Invest’s blended finance operations and later served at the World Bank’s Global Infrastructure Facility, driving global strategies to scale private capital for climate and infrastructure in developing countries. Today, as CEO of FinDev Canada, Lori continues to drive innovation in mobilising private capital for climate action, gender equality, and market development. She holds an International MBA from York University in Canada and taught International Project Finance at Georgetown University for over 15 years.

Rheia Khalaf

Director of Partnerships, MILA

Rheia Khalaf is the Director of Partnerships at Mila – Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute. She brings an expertise in actuarial science, artificial intelligence (AI) and risk management acquired through more than fifteen years working in various roles for reputable organizations like IVADO, Fiera Capital and EY.

She contributes to numerous initiatives that focus on responsible AI use, sustainable finance or climate risks, and has co-authored several publications on AI.

After earning a B.Sc. in actuarial mathematics from Concordia University, Rheia completed an M.Sc. in risk management at the University of Zurich / ETH Zurich. She also has a certificate in sustainable investing from Queen’s University.

François-Joseph Khoury

Executive Director - Private Equity, Tikehau Capital

Sean Kidney

Co-Founder and CEO, Climate Bonds Initiative

Sean Kidney, FRSA, is CEO of the Climate Bonds Initiative, an international NGO working to mobilize global capital for climate action.  He works on market development programs on six continents; sustainable investment taxonomy development by governments ranging from the European Commission to Thailand & Brazil; and policy development for capital mobilization. Sean is a Professor in Practice at SOAS University of London, serves on the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s Sustainable Finance Advisory Panel, and is a member of the International Energy Agency’s Finance Industry Advisory Board.

Olivier Lacaille

Managing Director & Head of Infrastructure and Energy Transition, Desjardins

Biographie disponible en français seulement

Olivier Lacaille est directeur général et chef des financements d’Infrastructure et de la transition énergétique chez Desjardins. Olivier possède une expérience établie dans les marchés des capitaux et bancaires, il est spécialisé dans les transactions de financement d’infrastructures et d’énergies renouvelables à travers l’Amérique du Nord. Titulaire d’une maîtrise en finance de marché du HEC Montréal ainsi que de la désignation CFA, Olivier est responsable de diriger l’origination et l’exécution des financements de projets et il s’implique activement dans les initiatives de transition énergétique chez Desjardins. 

Matthew Lawton

Head Impact Fixed Income, T. Rowe Price

Matthew Lawton is head of Impact Fixed Income and a portfolio manager in the Fixed Income Division. He manages the Global Impact Credit Strategy, the Global Impact Short Duration Bond Strategy and co-manages the Emerging Market Blue Economy Bond Strategy. He is a co-chair of the Sector Strategy Advisory Group and is a member of the ESG Oversight Committee. Matthew is a vice president of T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.  

Matthew's investment experience began in 2005, and he has been with T. Rowe Price since 2011, beginning as an investment-grade corporate credit analyst in the Fixed Income Division. Prior to joining the firm, he was an M.B.A. intern with T. Rowe Price and an associate at The Carlyle Group in Washington, D.C. He also worked as an associate in the investment banking division of Barclays Capital in New York. 

Matthew earned a B.S. in finance from Boston College and an M.B.A. from Georgetown University, McDonough School of Business. He has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation.  Matthew also serves on the board of the National Aquarium Foundation. 

CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are registered trademarks owned by CFA Institute. 

Annie Laliberté

CFA, Wealth Advisor, De Champlain Groupe Financier

Version anglaise à venir

Annie est une professionnelle reconnue de l’investissement avec plus de 25 ans d’expérience en gestion de portefeuilles d’actions internationales, mondiales et américaines. Elle a commencé sa carrière chez Jarislowsky Fraser puis œuvrer chez CGAM et Addenda Capital.​

Leader engagée et communicatrice chevronnée, elle a développé une solide expertise de l’industrie, notamment en investissement durable et en intégration ESG. ​

En 2025, elle s’est tournée vers la gestion de patrimoine en rejoignant De Champlain Groupe Financier, où elle accompagne des clients individuels dans l’atteinte de leurs objectifs financiers. Soucieuse de redonner, Annie est également membre du comité directeur du chapitre québécois de VersaFi.​

Pierre-Luc Lamontagne

Carbon Solutions Lead, McGill St Laurent Climate Solutions

Biographie anglaise à venir

Diplomé de l’UQTR en comptabilité, Pierre-Luc a commencé sa carrière chez en vérification chez PwC. En 2011, il a fondé une entreprise œuvrant dans le développement de projets carbone en foresterie sur le marché volontaire, ayant obtenue la première homologation en Amérique du Nord d’un projet de reboisement certifié Gold Standard. Pierre-Luc est aujourd’hui directeur solutions carbone chez McGill St Laurent Solutions Climat, une entreprise axée sur la commercialisation de l’ensemble des attributs environnementaux, transigeant autant sur les marchés volontaires que sur les marchés règlementés.

Audrey Lambry

Director - Sustainability & Impact - Eurazeo Planetary Boundaries Fund, Eurazeo

Audrey is the Impact Director for the buyout strategy Eurazeo Planetary Boundaries Fund (EPBF), and oversees three main areas: Impact methodology, Impact roadmaps (as an Operating Partner), and Impact performance of the Fund. 

Prior to joining Eurazeo, Audrey spent ten years supporting major companies and industries in their sustainability journey, with a particular focus on climate change, carbon footprint and avoided emissions assessment, biodiversity & regenerative practices, and environmental impact modelling. She spent six years at Le BIPE, a strategy consultancy renowned for its data-driven approach. 

She holds a Master's Degree in Agronomy engineer and Environmental Sciences (graduated from AgroParisTech). 

Jean Lemire

Envoy for Climate Change and Northern and Artic Affairs, Gouvernement du Québec

A biologist by training, Jean Lemire is an environmental specialist and renowned science communicator. He was appointed Special Envoy for Climate Change, Nordic and Arctic Affairs by the Government of Québec in September 2017, thus becoming the first envoy in the history of Québec diplomacy. In this capacity, he develops international partnerships and represents the Government of Québec at various multilateral conventions and forums, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Arctic Council, the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance and the United Nations Environment Programme’s Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution. As part of his responsibilities, Jean Lemire acts as: Representative and spokesperson for subnational governments at the Convention on Biological Diversity;  Ambassador for the SAGA project on food security and climate change of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); President of the Advisory Board of the International Climate Cooperation Program (ICCP), winner of the United Nations Global Climate Action Award; Coordinator of the Government of Québec’s International Environmental Team. 

His work on climate change and biodiversity has led to major international scientific missions. His films, books and web creations have garnered numerous awards. Among his distinctions, he was named an Officer of the Order of Canada, has received two honorary doctorates (oceanography-UQAR and geography-UQAM) and holds the title of Grand Ambassador of the Université de Sherbrooke. In 2010, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon appointed him UN Green Wave Ambassador for biodiversity. He is also the first recipient of the prestigious Midori Prize for Biodiversity. 

Erwann Le Ligne

Managing Partner - Co-Head of Eurazeo Planetary Boundaries Fund, Eurazeo

Erwann joined Eurazeo in 2006 after four years in leverage finance. 

He has participated in numerous investments and external growth transactions at the international level and specifically in Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, in the USA, Canada or India. 

Erwann led transactions notably in the Energy supply chain (Flexitallic) or in the Packaging (Gault & Frémont), Healthcare (Colisée, Péters Surgical, In’Tech Medica) or Tech-enabled Business Services (Redspher, Orolia, EasyVista) verticals. 

Following his work on ESG with France Invest then with Invest Europe from 2018, achieving Vice-Chairman status on Invest Europe's Responsible Investment Roundtable, Erwann has been Chairman of Invest Europe's ESG Committee from January 2023 to January 2025 and still a member of the Committee. 

Education : Post-graduate degree in international management, DESS post-graduate degree in Finance. 

Christelle Lim-Severe

Sustainability Practice Leader, Beneva

Christelle Lim-Severe is the Sustainability Practice Leader at Beneva, the largest insurance mutual in Canada. The company has over 3.5 million members and clients with more than 5,500 employees. Christelle holds a Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science from the London School of Economics and Political Science in the United Kingdom. She is also an Actuarial Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (FIA) and a Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA), both obtained in the UK. She is a senior leader with over 18 years of global experience in the insurance and financial services industry. Before joining Beneva, Christelle has worked in consulting, corporate strategy, transformation, finance, and risk management. She also led purpose driven and sustainable strategic initiatives.  

In her role as Sustainability Practice Leader at Beneva, she is responsible for the strategy and implementation of Beneva's sustainability action plan. Her capacity to combine her financial expertise with sustainability factors makes her an invaluable ally in accelerating a just transition towards a greener and more resilient world. 

A mother of two children, Christelle is also determined to contribute in creating a more sustainable world for the future generation. 

Rik Logtenberg

Director, CanAdapt & City Councillor. City of Nelson

Rik Logtenberg is Director of CanAdapt at the Climate Risk Institute, where he leads Canada's practitioner network for climate adaptation. A software developer by trade, he built the CanAdapt platform to connect adaptation professionals across sectors and regions. Rik also serves as City Councillor in Nelson, BC, and is founder of Climate Caucus, a national network supporting local elected officials taking action on climate. He's passionate about coordination challenges and the role networks play in accelerating climate action. 

David Loehwing

Portfolio Specialist, Impax Asset Management

David is responsible for integration of sustainability in Impax’s investments, including Corporate and Issuer Resilience Analysis. In partnership with Impax’s Quantitative Research Group (QRG), David co-leads the development of scoring methodologies and portfolio integration frameworks used in Impax’s systematic portfolios, including Impax’s Systematic Corporate Resilience (ISCR) Rating and Gender Leadership Rating. He is also a member of the Sustainability Lens Committee. 

David is a member of Impax’s Environment Group and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Group. 

David has worked in sustainable investing since 1998. Before joining Impax in 2007, he worked in the field at Citizens Advisers and the Investor Responsibility Research Center. David has been active within industry working groups and advisory committees related to sustainable investing. 

David graduated from Bowdoin College, Maine, with a BA in sociology.

Roberto Marrocco

CEO & CIO, Mageska Capital

A Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) since 1996 and holder of a Bachelor's degree in Finance from the Desautels Faculty of Management at McGill University, Roberto dedicated 28 years of his career to senior portfolio management for high-net-worth families at RBC Dominion Securities (RBC DS), from 1994 to 2022. With over $1.4 billion in assets under management, he was ranked among the top 20 most prominent portfolio managers in Canada. With a longstanding passion for finance and new technologies, he was an early adopter of quantitative portfolio management models in his investment strategies. Driven by the conviction that AI's exceptional capabilities could be fully harnessed in asset management, he co-founded Mageska Capital to offer investors and portfolio managers innovative, agile, and high-performing strategies. 

Thomas Martinuzzo

Senior Director, ESG and value creation, Fonds de solidarité FTQ

Biography coming soon

Laure Maillard

Senior Advisor, Responsible Investment, Desjardins

Laure has extensive experience in the field of sustainable finance in both France and Canada. Her career has been driven by a strong belief in the transformative role of finance in building a more sustainable future. 

Since joining Desjardins in 2022, she has been responsible for retail responsible investment disclosures involving the adaptation to regulatory changes and implementation of processes and internal guidelines aimed at preventing greenwashing. 

She drives the implementation of the policy advocacy roadmap for her sector. In this capacity, she participates in in several working groups dedicated to responsible investment. She is a member of the RIA’s Public Policy Advocacy Council, the SIMA ESG Working Group, and PRI’s regional and global policy groups. Through these engagements, she works to help establish enabling conditions for the sector. 

Prior to this role, Laure held several senior leadership positions at Caisse des Dépôts (CDC) in France, a public financial institution, founding member of the PRI, and a pioneer in impact investing. 

Laure holds a Master’s degree in Applied Economics from the Institut d’Études Politiques in Paris and a Bachelor’s degree in International Economics from Paris Dauphine University. She also holds the Sustainable Investment Professional Certification (SIPC) from Concordia University’s John Molson School of Business.

Jo-Anne Matear

Director, Sustainability Standards, Canadian Sustainability Standards Board

Jo-Anne Matear is Director, Sustainability Standards at the Canadian Sustainability Standards Board (CSSB), where she leads the team that supports the Board in advancing high-quality sustainability disclosure standards in Canada and in driving the Board’s strategic priorities. 

Before joining the CSSB, Jo-Anne was Associate Vice President and Head of Sustainable Finance at the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC). In that role, she led the OSC’s sustainable finance strategy and several significant policy initiatives related to sustainability and climate-related reporting, green finance innovation, board governance, and diversity on corporate boards and in executive roles. She represented the OSC internationally through IOSCO’s Sustainable Finance Taskforce and Diversity Network. 

Prior to joining the OSC, she practised corporate and securities law at law firms in Toronto and London, England. Jo-Anne holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from Queen’s University and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Toronto. 

Karel Mayrand

CEO, Trottier Family Foundation

Karel Mayrand is CEO of the Trottier Family Foundation. He joined TFF after five years as President and CEO of the Foundation of Greater Montréal. Previously, he spent more than a decade as Director General for Quebec and the Atlantic at the David Suzuki Foundation and chaired Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project in Canada. He is also President of the board of Société du Parc Jean-Drapeau. Karel is the author of Lettre à un.e jeune écologiste (Kata editor, 2022) and Une Voix pour la Terre (Boréal, 2012), as well as co-author of Demain, le Québec (Éditions La Presse, 2018), and Ne renonçons à rien (Lux, 2017) with the Faut qu’on se parle collective. He frequently contributes columns and op eds for l’Actualité and La Presse. 

Before joining the David Suzuki Foundation in 2008, Karel advised several UN agencies as well as Quebec’s former Premier, Pierre Marc Johnson, on globalization and sustainability issues, for over a decade.  He co-authored Governing Global Desertification (London, Ashgate Aldershot, 2006). He was co-founder in 2002 of Unisféra International Centre, a sustainability think-tank, where he created Planetair, a leading Canadian provider of carbon offsets and climate solutions. He is an Action Canada fellow (2005) and was finalist in 2008 for the Arista Prize as Social entrepreneur of the year in Quebec. 

Mitch McEwen

Director of sustainability, climate resilience and community impact, Wawanesa

Mitch McEwen (he/him) is the Director of Sustainability, Climate Resilience & Community Impact at Wawanesa Insurance, leading its sustainability strategy, climate resilience initiatives, and community investment across Canada. He brings financial sector experience developing and executing large-scale sustainable finance initiatives, including commercialization and sustainable bonds program. 

Mitch also serves on the Board of Directors of Leading Change Canada, a nation-wide movement of leaders and sustainability professionals accelerating action on issues that are critical to attaining a sustainable, prosperous, and socially just future within a generation. 

Catherine McKenna

Founder and CEO, Climate and Nature Solutions ; Chair of the United Nations high-level expert group on net zero emissions commitments of non-state entities

Catherine McKenna is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Climate and Nature Solutions. She is Canada’s former Minister of Environment and Climate Change and former Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. She is Chair of the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Expert Group on Net-Zero Commitments for companies, financial institutions, cities, and regions. Catherine founded Women Leading on Climate and hosts its new podcast. She is a member of Temasek’s Global Sustainability Advisory Panel and Singapore’s International Advisory Panel on Carbon Credits. She is a Visiting Professor in Practice at the Grantham Institute at the London School of Economics, a Distinguished Fellow at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy and an advisor to the Lawson Climate Institute. She serves on the advisory boards of several private sector companies and is a frequent global speaker on climate action, net-zero leadership, and women’s empowerment. Catherine was named a Chevalier of the Légion d’Honneur by the French government, an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, and holds an honorary Doctor of Science degree from McMaster University. She is the author of Run Like a Girl, a memoir about ambition, resilience, and fighting for change. She is a mother of three children and an avid open-water swimmer. 

Inka Mélissa-Poulin

Vice President and Head of Strategies for Responsible Investment Solutions, Desjardins Société de placements Inc.

Inka‑Mélissa Poulin is Vice President and Head of Strategy for Responsible Investment solutions for individual clients at Desjardins Group. She brings over 20 years of experience in the banking and financial services sector, where she has distinguished herself as a team leader and strategist in the development of innovative offerings, as well as in digital initiatives and corporate strategy. Her rich and diverse career enables her to bring fresh and nuanced perspectives to the evolution of responsible investment. 

Since November 2024, she has been leading the Responsible Investment team, actively contributing to the advancement and ongoing evolution of its practices. A graduate of HEC Montréal with additional finance training from the Canadian Securities Institute, she began her career as a securities broker and now applies her expertise to advancing a more responsible and forward‑looking financial ecosystem. 

Iwan Meier

Professor – Department of Finance and iA Financial Group Chair in Sustainable Finance, HEC Montréal

Version anglaise à venir

Iwan Meier est professeur titulaire de finance et titulaire de la Chaire en finance durable iA Groupe financier à HEC Montréal. Il est membre de l'Institut sur la retraite et l'épargne (IRE), de l'Institut canadien des dérivés (ICD), et du Pôle Ideos (centre d'impact social) de HEC Montréal. Avant de se joindre à HEC Montréal, Iwan Meier était professeur à la Kellogg School of Management à Chicago. Ses domaines de recherche sont la finance durable, les décisions d'investissement des entreprises et la performance des fonds communs de placement et des fonds de couverture. Ses travaux ont été publiés dans des revues de premier plan, notamment le Journal of Financial Economics, l'Annual Review of Financial Economics et le Journal of Corporate Finance. Il détient également le certificat GARP Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR) et le certificat du CFA Institute en ESG Investing.

Isabelle Mégré

Director, Montreal Office, IFRS Foundation

Isabelle Mégré leads the Montreal office of the IFRS Foundation, where she plays a pivotal role in advancing the adoption and implementation of international sustainability disclosure standards. With a deep commitment to driving global change, Isabelle’s expertise lies at the intersection of sustainability, policy, and strategic communications. Prior to joining the IFRS Foundation, Isabelle made significant contributions to the energy transition sector, spearheading global, multi-stakeholder initiatives aimed at accelerating the electrification and decarbonization of key industries and sectors. 

With over 15 years of diverse international experience, Isabelle has built a distinguished career focused on sustainability, economic development, and global advocacy. Her work has contributed to shaping policies and strategies that foster a more sustainable and equitable global economy.

Bertrand Millot

Head of Sustainability, La Caisse

Bertrand Millot steers the development of La Caisse’s sustainable investing strategies, including its climate policy. As such, he is responsible for defining the major strategic orientations in this area and asserting the organization’s leadership in sustainable investing with internal and external stakeholders. He participates in major global forums and maintains open dialogue with civil society. He also represents the organization before the Board of Directors, depositors and other partners on climate issues. Lastly, he contributes to La Caisse’s international outreach on sustainability.

Mr. Millot is one of the architects of La Caisse’s climate strategy and a seasoned investor in infrastructure and corporate debt in growth markets, where sustainability considerations have always been at the forefront. He joined La Caisse in 2015 and has held several positions in sustainable investing and risk management, including supporting the Fixed Income, Capital Solutions, Infrastructure and Cross-sectoral Risk teams.

Prior to joining La Caisse, Mr. Millot was CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Cordiant Capital, a fund manager specializing in corporate debt in emerging markets. In his early career, he worked in infrastructure project financing at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in London and BNP Paribas in Paris.

He holds an MBA from McGill University and a Master’s Degree in Engineering from École nationale supérieure d’arts et métiers, Paris, and is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD.D). Since 2022, Mr. Millot has worked with Competent Boards as an expert, providing courses and training for corporate directors and executives. He sits on the Québec government’s Advisory Committee on Climate Change, as well as on the Boards of Ceres, a U.S. NGO leader on sustainability issues, the Datamars Sustainability Foundation and the Sustainable Infrastructure Foundation (SIF).

Anne-Marie Monette

Managing Director, Sustainable Finance, National Bank Financial Markets (NBF)

Anne-Marie Monette is a Managing Director in the Sustainable Finance team at National Bank Financial Markets (NBF), where she plays a key role in establishing connectivity with the financial community across the country and contributes to several strategic workstreams. In her role, she supports NBF’s clients in sustainable finance transactions structuring and provides strategic advisory services on sustainability positioning and practices.  

Prior to joining NBF, Anne-Marie was leading ESG equity institutional sales efforts across Canada at RBC Capital Markets, acting as a sustainable finance senior relationship manager for large asset owners and asset managers. She previously led the responsible investment practice across capital markets at PSP Investments, where she occupied the role of Senior Director, Responsible Investment.  

Anne-Marie is highly involved in the sustainable finance ecosystem and is an active member of CFA Montreal’s ESG Committee. She obtained an executive certification in sustainable finance from the NYU Stern School of Business, the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board credentials and the CFA Institute ESG Certificate. She was a lecturer in sustainable finance at HEC Montreal and Concordia University. She was also the founding chair for the Montreal chapter of Women in Capital Markets and is a founding member of Women in Climate Finance.  She holds a Bachelor in finance from HEC Montreal. 

Stéphan Morency

Chief Executive Officer, Fondaction

Chief Executive Officer of Fondaction and of the organization of the Bâtirente and Fondaction Combination, including Fondaction Asset Management, Stéphan Morency is a committed leader recognized for his expertise in sustainable finance and impact investing in Québec and internationally. With more than 25 years of experience, including 15 at Fondaction, he has held senior leadership roles in investment as well as in strategy and planning. A member of the Investors Council of the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN), he contributes to international discussions on climate finance and impact investing. He is credited with several landmark innovations, including the creation of Fondaction Asset Management, the Inlandsis Fund (carbon markets), SOFIAC (energy efficiency), and the establishment of the UPA–Fondaction Agricultural Trust. Driven by the conviction that financial performance, sustainability, and the public interest can go hand in hand, he advances an ambition to strengthen the power of savers, amplify the impact of engaged networks, and make collective savings a lever for social, ecological, and economic progress.

John E. Morton

Executive Managing Director of Nature Finance and Investment, World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

John E. Morton is the Executive Managing Director of Nature Finance and Investment at WWF. He has more than thirty years of experience in emerging markets, environmental finance, and economic and environmental policy. Throughout his career, John has been at the forefront of designing and structuring innovative platforms and investment vehicles to mobilize private capital flows into climate- and nature-related sectors in fast-growing global markets. 

John joined WWF from Pollination, a global climate change investment and advisory firm, where he was Head of Americas and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. His two tours in Government included serving as the U.S. Treasury Department's and Secretary Janet Yellen’s inaugural Climate Counselor, the President’s White House Senior Director for Energy and Climate Change at the National Security Council, and the Chief of Staff and Chief Operating Officer at the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) (now the U.S. Development Finance Corporation). 

Frédéric Morin-Bordeleau

CEO, MR-63

Version anglaise à venir

Après avoir vécu en Australie, au Japon et en Chine, Frédéric a découvert la force de l'entrepreneuriat social, qu'il met en pratique depuis 2011 à travers trois projets montréalais : MR-63, un bâtiment carboneutre fait de voitures de métro recyclées, Artbangbang, qui commissaire des expositions en espaces de bureaux, et le Corridor Culturel, un parcours piéton reliant 18 lieux culturels. 

Son fil conducteur : des projets qui allient culture, innovation et impact social, avec une empreinte humaine et environnementale positive. 

Pauliina Murphy

Engagement and Communications Director, World Benchmarking Alliance

Pauliina is a co-founder and Engagement and Communications Director at the World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA), a global non-profit assessing the world's most influential and dominant companies on sustainability progress and impact. Pauliina leads WBA's global advocacy efforts, encompassing policy and regulatory affairs, stakeholder relations, and engagement with companies and investors, as well as external communications. Under her leadership, WBA's sustainability assessments have become a key resource for businesses, investors, and civil society, motivating action and better performance. They are also increasingly informing national and multilateral regulatory and policy processes. With a particular focus on mobilising capital toward sustainable outcomes, Pauliina has contributed to high-level processes shaping the global sustainable finance agenda, helping secure the inclusion of language on corporate accountability and responsibility in key outcome documents. 

Before joining WBA, Pauliina was Head of International Government Engagement at the global insurer Aviva, where she engaged with global regulatory bodies and intergovernmental organisations and advised on global thought leadership initiatives. Pauliina serves as a Trustee of the Degrees Initiative, a non-profit focused working on climate adaptation and she serves as a mentor with the Paris Peace Forum, supporting high-potential initiatives in expanding their global influence and impact. 

The Hon. Nathalie Provost

Member of Parliament for Châteauguay—Les Jardins-de-Napierville and Secretary of State (Nature), Government of Canada

The Honourable Nathalie Provost is an engineer, Member of Parliament and currently serves as Canada’s Secretary of State (Nature).  

Graduating with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master's degree in industrial engineering from Polytechnique Montréal, Nathalie has held senior positions at Quebec’s Ministry of the Environment, the Fight Against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks, where she served as Director General of Analysis and Expertise for Central and Southern Quebec.  

A survivor of the tragic Polytechnique femicide in 1989, Nathalie was awarded the Canadian Medal of Bravery for her exemplary determination during these events. Since then, she has become a prominent spokesperson and a committed advocate for gun control in Canada, until the time she decided to run in the federal elections. 

In 2025, Nathalie Provost was elected to represent the riding of Châteauguay–Les Jardins-de-Napierville in the House of Commons. 

Alexandre Paris

CEO, ORPC Canada

Alexandre Paris is a clean energy executive working at the intersection of renewable energy deployment, community partnerships, and sustainable infrastructure financing.  

With a career spanning technology commercialization, infrastructure development, and public-private collaboration, he now leads strategic initiatives at ORPC to deliver reliable river and tidal energy solutions to remote and Indigenous communities across Canada, reducing diesel dependence while supporting long-term economic resilience and local capacity building.  

He works closely with government agencies, Indigenous leadership, investors, and utilities to accelerate clean energy deployment in the communities that need it most.

Anne Perreault

Senior Portfolio Manager, North American Equities, Desjardins

In her capacity as Senior Portfolio Manager, Anne is responsible for managing the Desjardins Sustainable Canadian Equity Fund. Anne also provides advisory services to internal clients. 

Anne joined Desjardins in 2002 and Desjardins Global Asset Management in 2016. Her experience in the investment industry spans over 20 years. Earlier in her career, Anne gained an array of professional experience at Fidelity Investments as an investment fund analyst and at Desjardins Securities, first as an analyst and later as a portfolio manager.  

Anne holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (Finance) and a Master of Science (Finance) from Université de Sherbrooke. She is also a CFA charterholder and holds the Fundamentals of Sustainability Accounting (FSA) credential. 

Jean-François Prince

Senior Vice-President, Regional Banking - Commercial Distribution, Royal Bank of Canada

As Senior Vice President, Regional Banking – Commercial Distribution, Jean-François Prince provide dedicated leadership across our Regional Banking, Commercial Salesforce, supporting the RVPs Commercial Financial Services to drive business performance objectives and maintain our leadership in Canada.  

Since arriving at RBC in 1994, he has held various management positions in Quebec, the Atlantic provinces and Toronto, in both Business Financial Services and Risk Management.  

In addition to his professional activities, Jean-François provides ongoing support to various mentorship, talent development and advisory programs within the organization, while being engaged in the community.  

Since 2020, Jean-François sits on the Board of Directors of The Jewish General Hospital.  

Jean-François has a Bachelor of Commerce from the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières and a Master of Business Administration, Finance from Université Laval. He also holds the designation of Charted Financial Analyst with the CFA Montréal.  

Jean-François and his spouse have two children. 

Marie-Josée Privyk

ISSB Educational Content Manager, IFRS Foundation

Marie-Josée (MJ) Privyk brings more than 30 years of experience in capital markets and 15 years in sustainability reporting. Drawing on deep expertise in financial analysis, business valuation, investor relations, and financial and sustainability reporting, she is passionate about helping organisations produce clear and effective disclosures in a rapidly evolving landscape. Before joining the IFRS Foundation as ISSB Educational Content Manager, MJ worked as an independent ESG Disclosure Coach, supporting companies in developing disclosures that are useful for decision-making. She also served as Chief ESG Innovation Officer at Novisto, a leading ESG data management software company, from 2020 to 2023. MJ currently serves on the board of Common Approach to Impact Measurement. 

MJ is a CFA charter holder and holds the IFRS Foundation’s Fundamentals of Sustainability Accounting (FSA) Credential, the CFA Institute Certificate in ESG Investing, the CFA UK Certificate in Impact Investing, and the Responsible Investment Professional Certification (RIPC) from the Canadian Responsible Investment Association. She earned a B.Com. in Finance from McGill University, along with a certificate in Applied Communications from Université de Montréal. 

Marlene Puffer

Chair, Canadian Taxonomy and Transition Planning Council, Business Future Pathways

Biography coming soon

Kevin Quinlan

Senior Director, Sustainable Investing, SunLife Corporation Management

Kevin Quinlan is a Senior Director, Sustainable Investing at SLC Management. In this role, he supports the development of sustainability strategies across asset classes for relevant clients. He is additionally responsible for reporting climate information, meeting regulatory requirements for climate risk integration and scenario analysis, and supporting deal teams on integrating physical and transition risk considerations into due diligence, where material. 

Prior to joining SLC Management, Kevin worked at a Toronto-based climate change consulting firm, supporting organizations with their climate strategies, investment goals and climate risk capabilities. Previously, he served as Chief of Staff to the Mayor of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 

Kevin holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government from the University of British Columbia, a Master of Urban Studies from Simon Fraser University, an Executive Masters of Business Administration from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, and a Sustainability and Climate Risk Certificate from the Global Association of Risk Professionals.

Layalee Ramahi

North America Regional Lead, United Nations Environment Program, Finance Iniative

Layalee Ramahi is the Regional Lead for North America at UNEP Finance Initiative. She works closely with financial institutions across the banking, insurance, and investment sectors to strengthen the region’s approach to sustainable finance. In this role, Layalee leads engagement with UNEP FI members in North America, fostering collaboration, supporting knowledge exchange, and helping embed sustainability into financial decision-making and strategy. Her work helps institutions address regional priorities and access the tools and insights needed to contribute to a low-carbon, resilient, and inclusive economy. 

Layalee Ramahi is a sustainability and business strategy professional with over 10 years of experience in the financial sector. She holds an MA in Climate and Society from Columbia University, and an MBA in Banking and Finance. Before joining UNEP FI, she was an Associate Director at a U.S.-based sustainability consultancy, advising clients on strategy, reporting, and climate risk. Her earlier work spans financial markets and strategy roles across the Middle East, including in the UAE, Egypt, and Jordan. 

Simon Rawson

Executive Director, Taskforce on Inequality and Social-related Financial Disclosures (TISFD)

Simon is the Executive Director of the Taskforce on Inequality and Social-related Financial Disclosures (TISFD). The Taskforce is working with business and finance leaders, as well as labour organisations and civil society institutions, to develop recommendations on a global framework for reporting on people-related issues that can be used by companies and financial institutions across the world. 

Prior to joining TISFD, Simon served as Deputy Chief Executive of ShareAction, a responsible investment charity, leading the organisation’s work to build ambitious investor engagement initiatives to help companies transition towards a fair, just and sustainable economy. 

Simon previously worked for McKinsey & Company, a global management consultancy, where he helped build the firm’s social responsibility function. He also served as a diplomat for the British government. Simon is a trustee for two London-based charities supporting people at risk of or experiencing homelessness. 

Romina Reversi

Managing Director, Head of Sustainable Investment Banking Americas, Crédit Agricole - CIB

Romina Reversi is Managing Director, Head of Sustainable Investment Banking (SIB) for the Americas based in New York City. Prior to joining CACIB in 2021, Romina spent eight years at J.P. Morgan leading ESG DCM efforts in the Americas and was one of the founding members of that team. Romina has led/structured sustainable debt transactions globally including the first ever tech Green Bond for Apple, the first ever rental car green ABS for Hertz, first ever sovereign SLB for Chile, first ever US corporate nuclear Green Bond for Constellation, first ever coupon step up/down sovereign SLB for Republic of Uruguay, the first ever Sustainability-Linked Bond for Enel, as well as ESG deals for Alphabet, General Mills, Mondelez, Amazon, HP Inc., Ford and General Motors, among others. Romina started her career in equity and interest rate derivatives structuring. Romina holds a BBA from the University of Michigan at the Ross School of Business.  

Brigitte Roy

General Counsel, Insurance and Dispute Resolution, WSP

Brigitte Roy is Chief Counsel, Global Risk at WSP Global Inc., a Montreal-based publicly traded professional consultancy firm. WSP’s more than83,000 professionals deliver engineering and professional services inover 40 countries worldwide.

In her role, Brigitte is responsible for WSP’s Global Insurance Program,including the procurement and management of professional liability,pollution, property, casualty, cyber, and directors’ and officers’ (D&O)insurance coverage. She also oversees the organization’s Enterprise RiskManagement (ERM) program, the administration of various project riskreview committees, and the strategic management of WSP’s materiallitigation.

Before joining WSP in January 2016, Brigitte practiced insurancedefense, professional liability, and public liability litigation for nearly 25years at the Montreal-based law firm Robinson Sheppard Shapiro. Sherepresented insurers from the Canadian, US, and London markets andregularly appeared before all levels of court in complex construction andinsurance matters. Brigitte holds civil law and common law degrees from McGill University’s Faculty of Law, obtained in 1990.

Outside of her professional responsibilities, Brigitte advises several non-profit organizations on insurance related issues. She is an enthusiasticgolfer and the proud mother of three amazing children.

Françoise Roy

Vice President, Eastern Canada, Nature Conservancy of Canada

As Vice President, Eastern Canada at the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), Françoise Roy leads development efforts across Quebec and Atlantic Canada. She is focused on advancing solutions that align economic prosperity with the conservation of nature. Working alongside public, private, Indigenous, and community partners, Françoise and her 
team help deliver nature-based solutions that support both environmental and economic priorities.

Françoise brings more than 30 years of leadership experience spanning the non-profit, public, and private sectors, with deep expertise in strategic planning, fundraising, advocacy, communications, and stakeholder engagement.

Before joining NCC, Françoise led her own leadership development practice, helping clients achieve transformational goals through immersive experiences in nature. Her previous executive roles include Vice President of Communications, Marketing and Community at UNI Financial Cooperation; Deputy Minister of New Brunswick’s Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture, where she oversaw provincial parks; and Executive Director of the Atlantic Cancer Research Institute.

A proud New Brunswicker and lifelong outdoor enthusiast, Françoise is an avid hiker, cyclist, paddler, and nature lover. Her deep connection to the forests, rivers, and coastal landscapes of Eastern Canada strengthens her commitment to collaborating with partners to conserve some of the region’s most ecologically significant natural areas

Sophie Robillard

Vice-President, Private Equity and Impact Investing – Business Advisory Services and Chief Sustainability Officer, Fonds de solidarité FTQ

Sophie and her team work with partner companies of the Fonds de solidarité FTQ, to help them orchestrate and implement the necessary adaptations to meet their business ambitions, resolve strategic and operational issues by focusing on people as a strength and identify opportunities related to environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. She also heads the teams responsible for integrating ESG factors, conducting market analysis as part of the Fonds’ investment process and of the evolution of the strategy and sustainable development policy of the Fonds and its network. 

Sadie Saxton

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

Sadie Saxton is a Senior Associate of Institutional Business Development at Impax Asset Management. In this role, Sadie works with institutional asset owners across North America and Canada. 

Prior to joining Impax, Sadie was a Fulbright Scholar based in La Rioja, Spain. 

Sadie earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Environmental Studies from Bowdoin College. She was a member of the College’s Cross Country and Track teams. 

Maya Saryyeva

Director, Institute for Sustainable Finance, Queens University

Maya Saryyeva is a Director of the Institute for Sustainable Finance (ISF) at Smith School of Business, Queen’s University, where she leads the Institute’s core strategy, operations, partnerships, and engagement with university faculty, external partners, and government to ensure ISF continues to successfully fulfill its mission. Since joining ISF in 2018, Maya has led the development and implementation of the Institute’s core research and educational initiatives. She brings a strong background in international development, having previously led governance and economic development initiatives across Eastern Europe and Central Asia. She holds a Master's in Nonprofit Management from John Carroll University in Cleveland, and a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Emmanuel College in Boston. 

Marina Severinovsky

Head of Sustainability, Americas, Schroders

Marina Severinovsky is the Head of Sustainability, North America, and leads the sustainability and environmental, social and governance (ESG) integration for Schroders investments in North America. She collaborates with senior managers on market strategy, client communications, product development, sales, and investor management. 

Marina was previously the Investment Director for North America for the Quantitative Equity Products (QEP) team from 2020 and was responsible for communicating QEP’s investment policy and strategy with clients, as well as business management in the Americas.  

Prior to joining the QEP team, Marina was an Investment Strategist from 2016 to 2019, working in partnership with Hartford Funds to represent Schroders strategies to financial advisors and intermediaries across all client channels, primarily in the Central US region.  

Marina was an Alternatives Specialist at Schroders from 2010 to 2016, which involved supporting the development of Schroders’ Alternatives business in the Americas. Her product management activities covered multiple strategies, including Commodities, Absolute Return Emerging Market Debt and Insurance Linked Securities.  

Marina joined Schroders in 2010 and is based in New York. Prior to joining Schroders, she was an Associate in Investment Banking at Citi Capital Markets and Banking from 2008 to 2010, which involved supporting buy- and sell-side mergers and acquisitions, equity and debt transactions, and fairness opinions for a broad range of corporate clients in the Healthcare and Tech, Media & Telecom coverage groups. She was a Consultant and Client Relationship Manager at Digital Mandate, LLC from 2005 to 2007, which involved providing legal technology, process consulting, and technology optimization solutions to large law firms and corporate legal departments. She was an Analyst at Chicago Partners, LLC from 2004 to 2005, which involved finance, economics and accounting consulting, in the context of litigation and regulatory review activities.   
 
Marina brings 18 years of professional experience to her role at Schroders, including economic analysis, research, and financial modeling, as well as product development, strategy, and client relationship management. She is conversationally fluent in Russian.

Simon Sénécal

Manager, Responsible Investing, AlphaFixe Capital

As Portfolio Manager, Simon works to develop sustainable bond strategies that position AlphaFixe among leaders in responsible fixed income portfolio management. In addition, he oversees the integration of ESG factors and climate risks into the investment process. Simon is also involved in the firm’s investment strategy as well as client-partner relationships. 

​Prior to joining AlphaFixe Capital, Simon worked as an Investment and Treasury Manager at Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ), where he oversaw various external mandates. In addition, he was a member of the Sustainable Development Committee. Simon also worked at the Treasury of Desjardins Group as Credit Analyst. 

​Simon holds a Master's degree in Finance from Sherbrooke University and a Bachelor's degree in economics from UQAM. He also holds a Sustainable Investment Professional Certification from Concordia University. 

Harry Shea

Portfolio Specialist, Impax Asset Management

Harry serves as a Portfolio Specialist for the North American distribution team, working closely with the portfolio managers and respective portfolio construction teams for covered strategies. 

Harry joined Impax in 2022. He has 10 years of experience working with a range of asset owners, including institutional, intermediary, consultant relations and retirement across various asset classes. Having started his career in 2013, Harry brings a breadth of experience in financial markets and institutional asset management, most recently as an Investment Strategist covering affiliated strategies at Natixis Investment Managers. While there, Harry was responsible for representing the Loomis Sayles Growth Equity Strategies Team with investors and consultants in North America. Harry also represented alternative investment solutions for the AlphaSimplex Group.  

Harry began his career at Commonwealth Financial Network. He received a BS in business administration, option in finance and a BA in economics from the University of New Hampshire. Harry is a CFA® Charterholder and a registered representative of Foreside Financial Services, LLC.

Haskan Sioui

General Manager, IPNQ

Haskan Sioui is the Executive Director of First Nations Investment of Quebec (FNQI), which was created in 2002 to stimulate the economic development of Quebec's Indigenous peoples. The son of an Innu mother from Matimekush Lac-John and a Huron-Wendat father from Wendake, he embodies a rare combination of institutional financial expertise and deep roots in Quebec's Indigenous community. Haskan holds a bachelor's degree, a master's degree in finance from the Université de Sherbrooke, and a member of the CPA Order since 2005. Under his leadership, IPNQ I deployed $18 million over 40 transactions in 35 Indigenous businesses, supporting the creation of more than 400 jobs. In November 2025, Haskan closed IPNQ II at $45 million, marking a historic milestone: it is the first time that an Indigenous-managed private equity fund in Quebec has brought together Indigenous limited partners and pillars of traditional institutional finance on this scale. This fundraising generated national media coverage (Les Affaires, Radio-Canada, Le Devoir, Future of Good) and was hailed by Quebec Deputy Premier Ian Lafrenière as a milestone towards the economic autonomy of First Nations. Haskan served on the Board of Directors of the Foundation for Future Generations for 8 years, a national fund of over $250 million, dedicated to the families of residential school survivors, where he chaired the Appeals Committee and served as Vice-Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee. He is also involved in HEC Montréal's First Nations Executive School (FNE) as a trainer and co-leader of the entrepreneurship program and is a regular panelist, notably at the 4th edition of the Grand Economic Circle of Indigenous Peoples and Quebec (GCÉPAQ).

Priti Shokeen

Managing director & Head of sustainable investment, TD Asset Management

Priti leads the firm's sustainable investment function and is responsible for the firm's stewardship program, advancing ESG integration expertise within the investment team, and thought leadership on investment relevant environmental, social and governance topics. She has over 15 years of work experience with a U.S.-based global financial company providing sustainable investment solutions. Her previous work engagements include a research internship with the United Nations agency in Geneva, Switzerland, emerging market experience with Indian Chambers of Commerce, and research consulting in the UK. Priti holds a B.Comm. with Honours from the University of Delhi, an M.A. in Sociology from the University of Warwick and a Ph.D. in Accouting and Finance with a focus on ESG Integration from Kingston Business School. She sits on the Board of Governors at the International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN), the Responsible Investment Association's (RIA) Leadership Council and Climate Engagement Canada's Industry Leadership Advisory. 

Anna Teiletche

Senior Analyst, Sustainable Investing, Fiera Capital

Anna Teiletche is a Senior Analyst on the Sustainable Investing team at Fiera Capital, where she contributes to the implementation of a purpose-led and proactive approach to sustainable investment, enhancing the firm's position in the sustainable finance space and educating investment teams and clients on sustainability principles. Her work spans company- and industry-level sustainability analysis, thought-leadership on sustainability trends, engagement with portfolio companies and oversight of the firm's proxy voting practices as Chair of the Global Proxy Voting Committee. 

Anna joined the Sustainable Investing team at its inception in 2022, having joined Fiera Capital in 2020 and previously holding roles in the Chief Investment Officer's team. She holds a CFA charter and a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance from McGill University's Desautels Faculty of Management, and has completed the CFA Institute's Climate Risk, Valuation, and Investing Certificate. 

Jean-François Thériault

Chief Executive Officer, Alliance de l'énergie de l'Est

Jean‑François Thériault has more than 25 years of experience in project management and corporate leadership, including nearly 15 years dedicated to the wind energy industry. As Chief Executive Officer of the Alliance de l’énergie de l’Est, he operates at the heart of a unique energy development model in which communities in Eastern Québec are simultaneously partners, investors, and beneficiaries of wind power projects deployed on their territories, following a logic of sustainable value creation and local economic benefits.  

A member of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec, Jean‑François holds a Master of Business Administration from the Université de Sherbrooke, complemented by academic training at the Monterey Institute of International Studies. Combining technical and financial expertise, he plays a structuring role in the design and implementation of complex partnerships bringing together private developers, local communities, Hydro‑Québec, and institutional lenders.  

Under his leadership and through his involvement in the innovative structuring and financing of major projects, the Alliance de l’énergie de l’Est is now a partner in 1,752 MW of wind energy projects, to which are added strategic agreements concluded with Hydro‑Québec totaling an additional 8,500 MW. These achievements clearly illustrate the determining role of sustainable finance as a lever for the energy transition and as a driver of governance models firmly rooted in communities. 

Sarah Thompson

Managing Director & Global Head of Sustainable Finance, Royal Bank of Canada

Biography coming soon

Harlan Tufford

Vice-president research & development, MSCI

Harlan Tufford is a research analyst in MSCI’s Emerging Risk R&D team, developing portfolio-level solutions for AI-driven workforce transformation, the energy transition and other emerging risk areas for investors. From 2020 to 2025, he led MSCI’s corporate governance research team in the Americas, where he oversees the development and application of governance-related methodologies and research commentary for U.S. and Canadian companies. 

Prior to joining MSCI in 2020, Harlan held roles as a corporate governance advisor with the Hansell McLaughlin Advisory Group and Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), and as a corporate governance researcher with the Clarkson Centre for Business Ethics and Board Effectiveness at the Rotman School of Management. 

Harlan holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Toronto, where he was a Joint Specialist in History and Political Science, and a master’s degree in business law from Osgoode Hall Law School. 

David Ung

Director, Sustainability, Stewardship and Client Engagement, Manulife Investment Managememt

David is a director on Manulife Investment Management’s global sustainability team, responsible for ESG integration and stewardship initiatives in supporting the investment teams and clients. Prior to joining the firm, David worked in the financial sector for over 12 years and has been particularly involved in the responsible investment industry for the past 10 years as an ESG consultant for Millani, the HEC Montréal Pension Plan, and Vigeo Eiris. David was president of the advisory committee of the PRI Quebec Network between 2023-2025, and also served as interim president of the Quebec Responsible Investment Club in 2020/2021. ​

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 asset managers 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. 

Aleeya Velji

Founder and CEO, Enfin Impact

Biography coming soon

Walter Viguiliouk

Chief of staff & Managing director Sustainable Investing, Manulife Investment Management

Walter is responsible for leading the firms sustainable investing activities across the private equity and private credit strategies, North America public markets, and commercialization of the firms global sustainable investing capabilities. He also serves as the chief of staff, helping develop and manage the firms global sustainable investing strategy and organization. Prior to joining the firm, Walter was a Principal in the Total Fund Management Group at Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP), where he was responsible for leading ESG integration and stewardship activities across all public equity and credit strategies representing ~C$100 Bn in assets under management (aum). Prior to that, Walter worked at Jarislowsky Fraser Global Investment Management, where he was instrumental in establishing the firm’s sustainable investing strategy and program covering ~C$40 Bn in aum. During his time with the firm, he held roles in equity research, portfolio management, client relationships, and institutional business development. 

Over the years Walter has served on various industry committees and boards. He currently serves on the steering committee of the EDCI, the Compass committee at the Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center, and the investment committee of the York University Pension Fund. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the LA&PS Finance Department at York University in Toronto. 

Peter Villani

Partner, Fasken

Peter is a partner at Fasken law firm in Montreal and practices in the areas of Capital Markets, M&A, ESG and Emerging Tech, with a particular interest in climate tech and cleantech, both as an advisor and investor. 

Peter had also been involved in several sustainable bond offerings having advised investment banks on several such offerings.   

Peter sits on Fasken’s ESG Steering Committee and is a contributor to the annual Fasken ESG Disclosure Study which benchmarks ESG‑related disclosure and practices by Canadian public companies. 

A graduate of McGill University (B.A. Honours Economics) and Faculty of Law (LLB/BCL), Peter is recognized as a leading expert in Best Lawyers, Lexpert and the International Financial Law Review. 

One of his proudest achievements, apart from his three children, is his being awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubillee Medal for outstanding effort, professionalism and service to Canada for his volunteer work in education and education related philanthropy. 

Bruno Vilone

Director, Asset Management Policy and Technological Innovation, Autorité des marché financier (AMF)

Bruno Vilone acts as Director of Investment Products Oversight at the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF). He joined the AMF in 2016 and has held his current position since January 2023. 

Mr. Vilone and his team are involved in various policy initiatives related to investment products and technological innovation in financial markets. Members of his team work closely with their counterparts at other Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) and with foreign regulators on regulatory policy for investment products and technological innovation in securities markets. 

Mr. Vilone sits on the CSA Investment Funds Steering Committee and on other forums of Canadian regulators focused on innovative products and financial innovation. He also sits on the steering committee of the Fintech Task Force of the International Organization of Securities Commissions. 

Mr. Vilone holds a Bachelor of Commerce with a major in Finance from Concordia University, a Bachelor of Laws, and a Juris Doctor in Common Law from the Université de Montréal. He is a member of the Barreau du Québec. 

Jessica Vu

Associate, SVX

Jessica has over 2 years of experience in impact investing and consulting, including Propel Impact and multiple federal departments, with demonstrated expertise in program management, curriculum development, and facilitation of experiential learning programs, including global investment readiness programming for social enterprises. 

Phoebe Wang

Sustainability Sales Specialist, S&P Global

Phoebe Wang is a Sustainable Finance Professional who joined S&P Global in 2025 as a Sustainability Sales Specialist. She brings a diverse global perspective, having worked in multiple countries across APAC, Europe, and LATAM.

Before joining S&P Global, Phoebe was the Regional Head for Environmental Data Sales at CDP, where she managed key client relationships across key data providers and financial institutions from North America. Her career in sustainable finance began in 2017, following a decade in consumer electronics, particularly in manufacturing and semiconductor industries.

Her experience in sustainable finance also includes developing portfolio strategies for a renewable energy company in Germany, reviewing and advising on European regulations and leading second party opinion projects at Sustainalytics in the Netherlands. Throughout these roles, she has engaged with diverse global stakeholders and become an expert in innovative use cases based on environmental data, understanding the balance between actual impact and financial objectives.

Phoebe holds an MBA from HHL in Germany and a Master's degree in European Political Sociology from Dalarna University in Sweden.

Carolyn Whitzman

Adjunct Professor and Senior Housing Researcher, School of Cities, University of Toronto

Dr. Carolyn Whitzman is a housing and social policy researcher. She is an Adjunct Professor and Senior Housing Researcher at University of Toronto’s School of Cities, undertaking research on scaling up affordable and nonmarket housing supply.  She has worked as an expert advisor to UBC’s Housing Assessment Resource Tools (HART) project, which developed standardized best practices for analyzing housing need, using government land for nonmarket housing, and nonmarket property acquisition, all of which has influenced federal policy. Carolyn is the author, co-author or lead editor of six books, including Home Truths: Fixing Canada’s Housing Crisis (2024).  She has provided expertise to national, state/provincial and local governments, UN Women, UN Habitat, and private and non-profit organizations.  

Kathryn Wortsman

Managing Partner, Amplify Capital

Kathryn Wortsman is the Founder & Managing Partner of Amplify Capital. Founded in 2016, Amplify Capital is a Canadian based early-stage venture fund investing in transformational technology companies solving today’s biggest problems. Investing across North America, Amplify Capital manages 3 funds, $100M in assets and specializes in Climate and Health solutions. We leverage impact led diligence, deep sector expertise, and a founder-first approach to deliver superior returns.   

Kathryn started her career in investment banking at RBC and then went on to spend most of her 30 year career investing and managing venture capital and private equity in small to medium sized businesses both in New York and Toronto.  In New York, Kathryn had roles at Constellation Ventures, a Bear Stearns sponsored venture capital fund and an Investment Director for the strategic insurance technology investments group for MetLife. In Toronto, Kathryn spent time at CIBC Capital, BMO Capital Partners and Lynx Equity Partners, a small buyout firm in Toronto. 

Her passion in social finance was born in the early 2000’s when she joined Social Venture Partners NYC and then subsequently founded Social Venture Partners Toronto. Off the side of her desk, Kathryn grew Social Venture Partners to 45 Partners and provided $350,000 in capacity building grants and hands on partner consulting services to 8 nonprofits in Toronto solving for homelessness. 

Kathryn joined MaRS Discovery District in 2015 and Amplify Capital was launched in 2016 in collaboration with Richard Branson’s family foundation, Virgin Unite. Today, Kathryn leads the team of 7 at Amplify Capital covering 3 funds, with offices in Montreal and Toronto, investing across North America,  30+ portfolio companies. 

Kathryn holds a BA in Economics from the University of Western Ontario and an MBA from Columbia University in New York. Kathryn is based in Toronto, Canada. 

Laura Wood

Partner, Global Government Defence Leader, PwC Canada

Biography coming soon. 

Helen Zhou

Senior Manager, SVX

Helen is Senior Manager, Advisory Practice at SVX, where she leads on impact investing initiatives with capital deployers and social purpose organizations taking their first or next step on their impact journeys. She works on a number of different interventions, including venture and investor education initiatives, direct client support, partnerships, communications, and convenings. Helen has 5+ years of experience in impact investing across SVX, Good and Well, and Propel Impact. Helen has developed and led dozens of initiatives to drive greater capital flow and capacity amongst investors and entrepreneurs, particularly focusing on equity seeking and underserved communities across Canada. Helen graduated from the University of British Columbia (BA '20) as a 2015 Loran Scholar and is an alum of the Propel Impact Fellowship Program. 

Barbara Zvan

President and CEO, University Pension Plan (UPP)

Barbara Zvan is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the University Pension Plan Ontario (UPP), where she leads strategies to provide lifelong pension security and service excellence to over 41,000 members. Recognized as Canada’s 2022 CEO of the Year and Corporate Citizen of the Year by The Globe and Mail’s Report on Business magazine, she is a prominent advocate for defined benefit pensions and responsible investing.

Previously, Barbara was the Chief Risk and Strategy Officer at the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP), playing a key role in its transformation into a global pension leader during her 25-year tenure at the Plan.She chairs the McConnell Foundation’s Investment Committee and Climate Engagement Canada’s steering committee, serves on the board of the Responsible Investment Association, and is a Senior Fellow at the C.D. Howe Institute. Additionally, she co-chairs the C.D. Howe Pension Policy Council and is a member of her alumni McMaster University's Faculty of Science Dean’s External Advisory Board. 

Barbara has held leadership roles in numerous organizations, including prior board chair of the International Centre for Pension Management (ICPM), advisory board member of the Institute of Sustainable Finance at the Smith School of Business, and board member of the Global Risk Institute (GRI), the Canadian Coalition for Good Governance (CCGG) and the Pension Investment Association of Canada (PIAC). She was appointed to the Government of Canada’s Expert Panel on Sustainable Finance in 2019 and its Sustainable Finance Action 
Council in 2021. 

A Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and the Canadian Institute of Actuaries, Barbara holds an ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors and a Master of Mathematics degree from the University of Waterloo.