More than 70 countries and 1,200 companies have committed to net zero carbon goals, yet huge questions remain as to how to get there. The dizzying amount of data and lack of uniform standards has sparked fears of “greenwashing.” And while Europe has made climate disclosures mandatory, the state of Texas is banning some ESG-minded firms. How should companies navigate net zero and what are some of the key strategies for achieving their goals? Join Canadian Club Toronto on October 4 to hear from our expert panel at the forefront of these issues:
**A link to the live stream will be provided closer to the event date.**
Jonathan Hackett
Managing Director & Co-Head Energy Transition Group & Head of Sustainable Finance, BMO
In these roles, he advises clients on opportunities as they navigate the transition to a low carbon economy, supports clients in navigating the impact of ESG on their access to capital and advises on sustainable financing structures. His team is also responsible for managing the bank’s $350MM Impact Investment Fund which invests in companies that are solving sustainability challenges.
Jonathan joined BMO in 2017 as a Managing Director of Strategy in BMO’s Office of Strategic Management where he supported the bank’s Executive Committee on several initiatives including the development of BMO’s purpose statement and commitment framework. He is also a part of the working team on the bank’s efforts to promote Inclusive Local Economic Opportunity with the United Way of Greater Toronto and established the bank’s $12B commitment to affordable housing. Prior to joining BMO, Jonathan was a Principal at the Boston Consulting Group and a member of its financial services, strategy and risk practices, supporting clients across North America. His work there included strategies for various Canadian governmental and nongovernmental organizations on innovation, economic development and competitiveness.
Jonathan holds a PhD from the University of Waterloo where he was a doctoral student in residence at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. His research focused on topology, particle physics and quantum gravity.
Adam Heltzer
Managing Director, Head of ESG, Ares Management
Mr. Heltzer is a Managing Director and the Global Head of the Environmental, Social and Governance Group, reporting to Ares’ President and CEO, where he leads the Firm’s environmental, social and governance efforts. Prior to joining Ares in 2020, Mr. Heltzer was the Head of ESG and Sustainability at Partners Group, where he focused on ESG integration across the investment platform, including the development of sustainable investment products. Previously, Mr. Heltzer was a Global Leadership Fellow at the World Economic Forum (WEF), where he focused on facilitating partnerships among the Forum’s agribusiness members and public and non-profit sector counterparts. Mr. Heltzer holds a B.A. from the University of Michigan in Political Science and U.S. History, an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and an M.P.A. from Harvard Kennedy School.
Laura Zizzo
Co-Founder & CEO, Manifest Climate
Laura is co-founder and CEO of Manifest Climate, a SaaS platform that empowers organizations to navigate climate transformation. She is a trained lawyer, communicator, and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience leading organizations towards a low-carbon and climate-adapted future. Laura is a respected advisor to leading North American financial institutions, as well as local and international governments. She is a leading voice on the legal imperative to adapt to climate change and the need to bring climate into the core of business considerations.
Laura started her legal career with a prominent global law firm before founding the first law firm in Canada focused on climate change in 2009. As a respected speaker on the move to the low-carbon economy and its implications for investors, she has addressed audiences representing over $1 Trillion in assets under management (AUM). She is a published author and frequently writes for both academic and business media. Laura sits on the University of Toronto’s Law Alumni Association and on the boards of the Clean Air Partnership and Shift Action.
Andrea Mandel-Campbell
Operating Advisor, Vertu Capital
Andrea is a member of the Advisory Board for Crown Realty Partners, a private commercial real estate company, and is an Operating Advisory with Vertu Capital, a Toronto-based private equity firm specializing in Canadian global enterprise software companies. She sits on the Board of Directors of the Ontario Centre of Innovation and the Canadian Club of Toronto. She is also the founder of a new sustainable adventure travel start up, karibu.
