Join Canadian Club Toronto on February 23 when we host a panel of dynamic business leaders to take a deep dive into the S of ESG – social responsibility. They will discuss increased investor attention to the social factors that help to create returns, how it plays out in organizations’ behaviour relative to their workforce, and how it is increasingly material to the bottom line while at the same time strengthening organizations, families, communities and helping society meet some of its toughest challenges. This expert panel will be moderated by David Simmonds, Global Chief Communications & Sustainability Officer, Great-West Lifeco, and will feature:
**A link to the live stream will be provided closer to the event date.**
Kevin Bourne
Managing Director – Head of Sustainable Finance at IHS Markit
Kevin is deeply involved with solving the ESG/Climate data jigsaw puzzle created by the growing need to link multiple frameworks together to capture the most effective library of relevant information. Mr. Bourne leads the build out of the IHS Markit data platform that delivers detailed ESG profiles for both companies & countries. He is particularly focused on the growing engagement by national regulators and supervisory bodies with the establishment of their own ESG frameworks. He manages the internal ESG data repository that cross references forty leading reporting frameworks such as UN SDGs, TCFD, SASB, GRI with almost ten thousand ESG data points. This is In addition to the IHS Markit ESG schemas for 8,000 public companies & 211 countries.
Previously, Kevin was Global Head of Sustainable Investment at LSEG/FTSE Russell and was responsible for implementing their new ESG & Green revenues data models, systems and indexes. Prior to this, Kevin has 25 years’ experience in equities trading with his final appointment being as Managing Director & Global Head of Electronic & Portfolio Trading at HSBC.
Norie C. Campbell
Group Head and General Counsel TD Bank Group
She is responsible for the Bank’s legal, regulatory compliance, corporate citizenship, public affairs and corporate security functions. Norie leads the Bank’s Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy and is passionate about delivering on TD’s Purpose: to enrich the lives of its colleagues, customers and communities. As a member on the Government of Canada’s Sustainable Finance Action Council, she is working with public and private sector leaders to support the growth of a strong, well-functioning, sustainable finance market.
In 2000, Norie joined TD from Toronto law firm McCarthy Tétrault. She was appointed General Counsel in 2011, joined the senior executive team two years later and has since led a diversity of mandates across the Bank, including human resources and marketing.
Dedicated to making a positive impact at TD and in the community, Norie is past chair of TD’s Inclusion and Diversity Leadership Council and serves on the Boards for Ryerson University and The Rideau Hall Foundation. In 2021, she chaired the United Way of Greater Toronto’s Major Individual Giving campaign.
Norie’s leadership has been recognized by Canada’s “Top 40, Under 40”, Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women, the WXN Hall of Fame and is a Catalyst Honours Champion.
Mohamad Fakih, C.M.
President & CEO of Paramount Fine Foods
In 2006, Mohamad Fakih, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist, purchased a nearly bankrupt restaurant and transformed it into what is now known as the fastest growing Middle Eastern Halal restaurant chain in North America – Paramount Fine Foods. Mohamad’s determination to change perceptions surrounding Middle Eastern food has driven Paramount’s brand success across Canada and Internationally as well as advancing the global Middle Eastern food trend.
Paramount currently employs over 2000 people across its 71 restaurants and gourmet butcher shops globally with 42 in Canada and 12 International locations, plus food factories and its Toronto international corporate head office. Paramount is proud to bring Halal Foods to the world after being the first halal restaurant to open at Terminals 1 and 3 at Toronto Pearson International Airport.
Mr. Fakih is a strategic and successful business leader who employs his skills, expertise and experience into expanding Paramount’s brand to pioneer the halal market globally. He believes this can only be achieved by sharing his vision, knowledge and expertise with his management teams and franchisees in every country where he opens locations. Mr. Fakih aims to continue the swift growth of Paramount globally while continuing to promote excellent standards of food quality and service in Middle Eastern restaurants and to share the cuisine with diverse audiences.
In 2020, in the midst of the global pandemic, Mr. Fakih launched three new restaurant brands: Box’d, Krispo, and MaseMo Pizza. In 2021, a new partnership with Rabba Fine Foods was announced, adding Paramount Butcher shops and Rabba Kitchens by Paramount inside Rabba Fine Food stores.
A community leader, Mr. Fakih regularly participates in fundraisers and community events, supporting multiple causes and organizations including the Canadian Cancer Society, Islamic Relief worldwide, Sick Kids Hospital, the Make a Wish Foundation in Toronto and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in Canada. Both Paramount and Mohamad have donated generously to these charities and other non-profit organizations. Across his restaurants Mohamad offers discounts to all Emergency Service Workers in uniform to show appreciation for their service in our communities.
In 2016, after the Canadian government decided to welcome 25,000 Syrian Refugees, Mr. Fakih made headlines when he travelled to Lebanon to visit the Islamic Relief Camps for Syrian Refugees to gain a deeper understanding of current relief efforts. Hoping to lead by example, Mohamad partnered with Ryerson University for the Lifeline Syrian Challenge – allowing Paramount Fine Foods to fund employment support counsel to help recruit new Syrian Canadians during their job search. Mohamad opened the doors of Paramount restaurants to the skills and drive many refugees bring to Canada by providing up to 150 jobs for the newcomers in his restaurants in 2017.
Mr. Fakih’s determination to uphold the values of giving back to communities where Paramount restaurants are located has resulted in a workplace culture of giving to others and supporting one another. He has made philanthropy and giving back a key part of Paramount’s culture and identity. Mr. Fakih has been featured in several leading media outlets across Canada including CBC TV and Radio, CTV, Global and CP24, Toronto Star, Globe and Mail, Hamilton Spectator, Newstalk 1010, National Post and many more.
In February 2017, Mr. Fakih was acknowledged in the Canadian Parliament by the Prime Minister of Canada as an Exemplary Canadian Citizen and Businessman who successfully operated a Middle Eastern restaurant chain, and was applauded for his charitable work in January 2017 when he covered the funeral costs of six victims of a mass shooting at a Quebec City mosque. In his business affairs and community work, Mr. Fakih is viewed as a Canadian of Lebanese birth who brings together people of all origins in a global workplace, advancing our communities and helping each other to contribute to our societies. The Prime Minister of Canada, as well as the Premier of Ontario, and several Mayors have all visited Paramount Restaurants in Ontario.
Along with being named a finalist in the 2014 Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Mr. Fakih made the cover of Canadian Immigrant Magazine for both his business success and inspiring life story. In addition, The Globe and Mail titled Mr. Fakih one of Toronto’s “16 to watch in 2016”. The list included other notable Canadians such as John Tory, Mayor of Toronto and Alessia Cara (International Artist). Toronto Life Magazine named Mr. Fakih as one of the Top 50 Most Influential People in 2017, 2019, and 2020 including him in a list of successful politicians, international businessmen, media and tech titans who are changing the world as we know it.
In 2018 Mohamad received an honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Ryerson University in Toronto. He also received the prestigious 2018 Employer Award for Newcomer Employment from IRCC- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
Mr. Fakih is currently a member of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce COVID-19 Recovery Leadership Council, CEOs brought together to help Canada recover from the health and economic crisis. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Restaurants Canada, a Director of the Empire Club of Canada, and a member of the Metroland Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
In 2019, after a long legal battle against hate crime, hate speech and Islamophobia, the Ontario Supreme Court awarded Mr. Fakih $2.5 million dollars in damages for defamation against Kevin J. Johnston. Mr. Fakih continues to support communities who face hate crime and hate speech. He will donate collected money to an anti-hate fund. This legal battle not only creates precedent, it is also the largest defamation award in Canada.
In 2021, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce named Mohamad CEO of the Year, and the Globe and Mail’s Report on Business named him Corporate Citizen of the Year. He was also appointed to the Order of Canada in December.
Damien Fruchart
Executive Director, ISS ESG at Institutional Shareholder Services
Damien has been working in the ESG space since 2007, and has been involved in different facets of the discipline, ranging from corporate controversies to ESG ratings, going through ethical screening. He now heads ISS ESG’s Data Governance unit.
David Simmonds
Senior Vice-President, Global Chief Communications and Sustainability Officer, Great-West Lifeco and Canada Life
David Simmonds is Senior Vice-President, Global Chief Communications and Sustainability Officer, Great-West Lifeco and Canada Life and a member of the executive management committee.
David drives the organization global communications strategies, which includes external engagement, investor communications and sustainability efforts.
In addition, David supports the company’s strategy and the development and execution of programs related to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), sustainability, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), social impact and corporate social responsibility (CSR).
David joined the organization in April of 2021 as Senior Vice-President, Office of the CEO, Corporate Initiatives.
He has deep experience with reputation, brand strategy, financial communications, and corporate affairs across regulatory environments, with advisory experience to senior leaders in a variety of sectors.
David is a member of Western University’s Board of Governors; Director and President of Canadian Club Toronto; a Governor of the Stratford Festival and, an Advisory Board Member at Catalyst Canada. A graduate of Western University, he has completed the executive development program at the Wharton School. In 2015, the Diversity Advancement Network named David one of Canada’s Top 100 Black Canadians.
