Key Strategies for Business Sustainability

This four-week course is designed for:   

• Senior and emerging leaders who wish to understand how sustainability reshapes businesses and industries.
• Business managers and mid-to-senior level professionals interested in harnessing the impact of sustainability in their work environments.
• Anyone looking to understand better the foundational concepts of participating in sustainable initiatives and reporting. 
• Individuals tasked with implementing sustainability initiatives and strategic reporting within their organization.

Learn alongside your team!

WatSPEED provides custom learning experiences tailored for large groups from any single organization. Register three or more employees from the same organization and receive 15 per cent off. Contact our team at watspeed@uwaterloo.ca for details.

This course offers multiple modes of learning that will allow you to get up-to-speed quickly on how sustainability plays a role in businesses. This includes: 

• 90-minute live sessions, taking place via Zoom on Tuesdays (October 29-November 19) from 1- 2:30 p.m. ET, comprised of facilitated sessions with industry experts.
• Curated readings that will allow you to dig deeper into specific topics of interest.  

Receive a certificate from the University of Waterloo

Upon successful completion of this program, you will receive a professional education certificate from the University of Waterloo.

Amanda Ackerman is a sustainability professional with 15+ years of experience in energy, decarbonisation strategy, and sustainable finance. Focused on providing advisory support to organisations around understanding ESG risks and opportunities. Currently, Ackerman is based in Netherlands and is a Co-Founder of Bloom ESG.

Sarah Keyes is a leader in ESG and climate change, focusing on financial and operational performance and long-term value. In her role,  Keyes helps establish strategies that align with core priorities, allowing for effective integration with existing risk processes.

Keyes is ISO 14064-3 Certified for Greenhouse Gas Verifications and received the 2018 Emerging Leader Award from CPA Ontario. In 2023, Keyes received a Top 50 Changemaker Award from the Globe and Mail’s Report on Business. Sarah also facilitates a module on ESG and sustainable finance in the ICD’s Director Education Program and serves on the Boards of Directors of Leading Change Canada and Sustainable Buildings Canada.

Andrew McLaughlin is the Vice President of Legal Affairs, General Counsel, and ESG Lead at Major Drilling Group International Inc. (TSX:MDI). In recent years, Andrew has been making the case for lawyers to lead the charge on “ESG” (i.e. environmental, social, and governance practices) in their organizations. He has been featured in various publications including the Toronto Star and The Hill Times, and his ESG efforts were featured as the cover story for Canadian Lawyer InHouse magazine. In 2023, he chaired the Canada-wide ESG Summit. Andrew previously served as a diplomat at the Canadian embassies in Havana and Mexico City and was a Canadian foreign service officer from 2006-2015.

Cindy Baily is the Corporate Sustainability Officer at Purolator.  In her role, Cindy is responsible for leading the development of Purolator’s environmental sustainability strategy, advancing policies and standards, managing environmental risks and opportunities, and improving Purolator’s performance, disclosures, and reputation related to the environment and climate change. Currently, Cindy is leading the development of Purolator’s emissions reduction goals and roadmap, which includes electrifying 60% of Purolator’s last-mile delivery vehicles by 2030. Cindy has 20+ years working as an environmental sustainability professional in a variety of industries including automotive manufacturing, financial services, and transportation and logistics.

Jennifer Roedding is the executive in residence at the School of Accounting and Finance’s HUB for Sustainability Integration. The HUB is a sustainability ecosystem that brings together students with a sustainability business council to incorporate professional development related to sustainability integration.

Roedding is an accomplished and innovative Corporate Director, Executive Leader, and Business Transformation Consultant. Her distinguished career in both audit and consulting includes 25 years at a national firm, where she was a National Consulting Partner for telecommunications and technology. Roedding is a Corporate Director for Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG) and Chairs its Audit and Risk Management Committee.

She also Chairs the Board of Directors for Alimentiv, an international biotech and clinical research organization operating in 62 countries.