RI Canada 2021 | Responsible Investor (RI) | 27 September 2021 | Live Event

This is an exciting and important time for sustainable finance in Canada with new opportunities for investor leadership across North America and around the world. Political winds are shifting, and with the covid recovery in site and COP26 on the horizon, Canadian banks, pension funds, and financial regulators are all working to better define ESG metrics that will support climate action and build a more resilient world.

The Bank of Canada has joined the Steering Committee of the Network for Greening the Financial System and financial reporting alignment with the G20-backed Task Force on Climate Related Financial Disclosure (TCFD) is in progress. With Tiff Macklem, a noted climate champion, now settled into his new role as Governor of the Bank of Canada, all eyes are on OSFI to bring in more robust climate risk stress testing requirements for Canadian banks. But the US Fed may lead the way with a strong climate mandate in Washington, DC, driving change south of the 49th parallel ahead of Canadian players.

Canada’s pension giants continue to use their influence to push for climate-friendly action across their listed and private holdings but setting portfolio level climate targets remains a challenge. The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board recently overhauled its sustainability policy to urge companies to report in line with the TCFD and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB). Will this be enough to set the stage for rapid change in time for COP26 and to address the reputational risks around the ‘S’ in ESG at home and abroad?

This conference will bring local and international leaders together to examine the potential for Canadian investors to respond to systemic risks such as climate change, pandemics, the rise of populist authoritarianism, economic inequality and an accelerating energy transition away from fossil fuels. Participants will debate a wide range of ESG investing themes that have the potential to either reinforce or damage the bottom line for long-term value investors.

2021 Speakers

Fanny Doucet
Director, Sustainable Finance, Scotiabank

Peter Johnson
Director, Sustainable Finance, Scotiabank

Divya Mankikar
Global Head of ESG Market Engagement, S&P Global

Carol Wilding
President and CEO, CPA Ontario

Matthew Kiernan
Executive Chairman, Invest Green, Inc.

Kingsmill Bond
Energy Strategist, Carbon Tracker Initiative

Lindsey Walton
Head of Canada, UN-PRI

Joan M. Larrea
CEO, Convergence

Dennis Fritsch
Project Coordinator - Sustainable Blue Economy Finance, United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI)

Melody Pardoe
Chief Engagement Officer, Canada's Ocean Supercluster

Carmen Barker Lemay
Head of Strategic Partnerships, International Institute for Rural Reconstruction (IIRR)

Aurele M. Houngbedji
Head of Climate Risk, IFC

Adam Matthews
Chief Responsible Investment Officer, Church of England Pensions Board

Michael Zimonyi
Policy & External Affairs Director, CDSB

Caroline Lester
Senior Associate, CPP Investments

Layalee Ramahi
North America Network Coordinator, United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI)

Jennifer Story
Associate Director, Climate Advocacy, SHARE

Ellen Quigley
Senior Research Associate-Climate Risk & Sustainable Finance / Advisor to Chief Financial Officer, University of Cambridge, Cambridge University Centre for the Study o-f Existential Risk

Thomas O'neil
Director, Universal Owner

Tom Tayler
Senior Manager, Aviva Investors Sustainable Finance Centre for Excellence, UN High Level Climate Champions Finance Team

Carla Fredericks
Executive Director, The Christensen Fund

John Virdin
Director, Ocean and Coastal Policy Program. Duke University

Stephane Villemain
Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility, Ivanhoe Cambridge

Andreas Hoepner
Professor of Operational Risk, Banking & Finance, University College Dublin, and Member, EU's Platform for Sustainable Finance

Gina Gambetta
Reporter, Responsible Investor

Daniel Simard
CEO, Batirente

Maryam Golnaraghi
Director - Climate Change and Environment, The Geneva Association

Marcus Wignell
Chief Operating Officer, NewAg Partners

Mark Podlasly
Economic Policy Director, First Nations Major Projects Coalition

Barbara Zvan
President & CEO, University Pension Plan Ontario

Nyasha Fidelis
Project Coordinator, Agriculture & Soil Mitigation Projects, Climate Neutral Group

David Isaac
CEO, W Dusk Energy Group Inc.

Hugh Wheelan
Co-founder and Joint Managing Director, Responsible Investor

Sophie Robinson-Tillett
Editor, Responsible Investor

Sarah Takaki
Senior Director, Sustainable Investing, Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP)

Eila Kreivi
Director, Head of Capital Markets, European Investment Bank

Paul Finch
Treasurer and Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, BC Government Employees Union (BCGEU)

Colin Lynch
Managing Director and Head of Global Real Estate Investments, TD Asset Management

Rosa Van Den Beemt
Vice President, Responsible Investment Analyst, BMO Global Asset Management

Priti Shokeen
Vice President & Director - ESG Research & Engagement, TD Asset Management

Margaret Childe
Head of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) - Canada, Manulife Investment Management

Christian Felix
Head of Responsible Investment, Desjardins Global Asset Management

Khalid Azizuddin
Reporter, Responsible Investor

Kris Kolenc
Manager, Research & Sustainability, REALPAC

Tony Vadacchino
VP Real Estate, AIMCo

Mark Narron
Senior Director, Fitch Ratings

Catherine Ann Marshall
Principal, RealAlts

Michel Leveillee
Director, Climate Risk and Issues, CDPQ

Therese Feng
VP of Research, The Climate Service

Robert G. Eccles
Strategic Adviser, Persefoni

2021 Sponsors

LEAD SPONSOR:
• Scotiabank

SILVER SPONSORS:
• BMO
• CPA Ontario
• Desjardins
• Manulife Investmnet Management
• S&P Global
• TD Asset Management

BRONZE SPONSORS:
• European Investment Bank
• Factset
• Sustainable Fitch
• Ninety One
• Persefoni
• The Climate Service

SUPPORTING ORGANISATIONS:
• Carbon Tracker
• Finance Montreal
• Buyouts
• PE Hub
• Private Equity International
• Responsible Company
• Venture Capital Journal