The School of Environment, Enterprise and Development is delighted to introduce Professor Julie Bernard, who brings her expertise in sustainable finance as part of the SEED faculty starting January 2025. Professor Bernard’s research centers on sustainable finance, responsible investment, and shareholder activism, with a focus on the integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria and their role in addressing climate change.
Professor Bernard completed her Ph.D. at Université Laval in 2022 and was a postdoctoral researcher at Ivey Business School, Western University (2022–2024). During her postdoc, she worked in collaboration with Carolinian Canada on Conservation Impact Bonds through the Sustainable Finance Lab under the supervision of Pr. Diane-Laure Arjaliès. Her research aimed to understand and facilitate the replication and scaling of innovative financial products designed to support nature-based carbon mitigation.
Professor Bernard’s work has been funded by organizations such as Carbon Solutions @ Western and the Canadian Academic Accounting Association (CAAA). She has also been recognized as a Bertram Scholar by the Canadian Foundation for Governance Research. During her doctoral studies, she was selected for the prestigious 12th PhD ARCS Academy for her groundbreaking research on sustainability. Additionally, she was named to the #Thinklist Next21, which highlights the next generation of doctoral researchers shaping the future of responsible business.
We look forward to the contributions Dr. Bernard will bring to our department and her continued work on sustainability initiatives that will benefit both the academic and broader communities.
