Hub for Sustainability Integration Conference 2024

Catherine Abreu, Founder and Executive Director of Destination Zero, is an internationally recognized, award-winning climate justice advocate with 15 years of experience in the heart of the global climate movement. Recognized for her diplomacy, communications, and coalition-building skills, she's one of the world’s top 100 climate policy influencers according to Apolitical.

Catherine is honoured to have been named 2023’s National Hero by Canada’s Walk of Fame. She is one of 14 appointed members of Canada's Net-Zero Advisory Body, the legally-mandated expert body tasked with providing advice to government on pathways to meet its climate commitments. She serves as an advisor to the Canadian Climate Institute and sits on the Boards and steering committees of several organizations, including Climate Action Network Canada, the Global Gas and Oil Network, and the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative. Catherine is the recipient of the 2020 Jack Layton Progress Prize for her transformative work, and was named to Canada’s Clean50 in 2018.

Her expertise makes her a vital figure in climate policy and action, shaping global discussions on the transition toward clean energy.

Frances Edmonds is the Head of Sustainable Impact at HP Canada, where she is responsible for business development and oversees Corporate Social Responsibility programs nationally. With a focus on sustainable procurement, Frances is driving meaningful change cross-sector that supports a more circular and sustainable economic future for Canada. With more than 30 years of experience, Frances is recognized as one of Canada’s top sustainability professionals having received two Clean 50 awards, is listed on the Canadian Women in the IT Channel Hall of Fame and has led HP to became the most sustainable technology company in Canada. 

Passionate about driving change through education, Frances has developed and implemented volunteer programs globally for HP. She is Vice Chair of the board of Learning for a Sustainable Future and serves as a consultant for customers and academic institutions on sustainability strategies. She also sits on the Sustainable Development Advisory Council for the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada as well as having completed work on the Expert Panel on the Circular Economy in Canada as assembled by the Council of Canadian Academies. 

Geordie is the Chief Executive Officer of the First Nations Financial Management Board, one of three national fiscal institutions created under the First Nations Fiscal Management Act to support First Nations economic development. 

He brings deep experience in finance and financial law, with experience as a securities regulatory lawyer at the BC Securities Commission, financial tribunal Chair and CEO at the Financial Services Tribunal (BC), management consultant at McKinsey & Company and investment banker at Broadview (now Jefferies). He has also practised Aboriginal and corporate law at a national law firm, and driven economic development initiatives for the Gwich'in Nation. 

Geordie served as a member of the Independent Review Committee on Standard Setting in Canada that conducted a review from 2021 to early 2023 to ensure Canadian audit and accounting standard setting will continue to be independent and internationally recognized and recommended the creation of the Canadian Sustainability Standards Board. 

In December of 2022, the Chair of the International Sustainability Standards Board appointed Geordie as a Special Advisor to provide strategic counsel on issues relating to natural ecosystems and just transition. Geordie is a member of CFA Canada’s Canadian Advisory Committee for investment policy and on the Board of the Responsible Investment Association Canada and the advisory board for the Peter Dhillon Centre for Business Ethics (UBC Sauder). 

Geordie is Gwich'in (Northwest Territories. Yukon and Alaska First Nation). 

Dr. Jennifer Lynes is associate professor at the University of Waterloo in the School of Environment, Enterprise and Development and co-director of Canada’s first undergraduate program in Sustainability & Financial Management. Her area of expertise is at the intersection of sustainability and marketing, with a particular focus on how organizations communicate information about climate change.  She holds an advisory position with the Privy Council’s Program of Applied Research on Climate Action.  

For over two decades she has demonstrated leadership in sustainability through her research, teaching and long-standing support of community initiatives. This includes 10 years as a board member for REEP Green Solutions and six years as director of Canada’s leading program in the environment and business. 

Dr. Lynes holds a PhD from the Griffith University (Australia), a Masters in Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo and a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing from the University of Guelph. Her work has been featured in the Nature Energy, the Globe and Mail and on CBC’s The Current. 

Tracy is one of the few women to become a CNSC licensed operator at Bruce Power and was the first to do so at Bruce A.  She is the only woman to ever work her way up to Shift Manager from the shop floor where she started as a nuclear operator in training in 1990 at Pickering.  She worked shift for most of her career and before retiring in 2021 led multiple teams in operations and maintenance.  She is a current member of the Women in Nuclear Canada Board, the United College Board of Governors and the Ontario Power Generation Board.  She is also the Founder and Principal of Agile Bear.

Raising her two boys with her husband Dave, Tracy has always been active in her community.  She has years of volunteer and board experience both in the energy industry and in various other organizations. 

She is a proud member of the Nipissing First Nation and strives to use the Seven Grandfather Teachings in her leadership.

Helen Slinger is Executive Director at Accounting for Sustainability (A4S), leading our work to provide finance professionals with the knowledge, skills and practical guidance to embed sustainability into their business-as-usual. Whilst at A4S, Helen has led the development and delivery of the A4S Academy and driven the substantial expansion of A4S’s knowledge hub. 

During her time as Head of Sustainable Business at Yorkshire Water, Helen championed a transition to a sustainable business model. She was instrumental in formalising governance structures for their transition to net zero and advancing their TCFD, sustainable finance framework and multi-capitals impact reporting.

Previously at PwC, Helen supported a diverse portfolio of clients in addressing their sustainability challenges across governance, strategy, reporting and assurance.