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The continued and increasing ambition of climate-concerned asset owners

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Webinar
  • Mar 9, 2026
    12:00-1:00 PM EDT
  • Virtual

In the face of headline-grabbing pullbacks and withdrawals of climate ambition among some actors, a group of climate-concerned asset owners has continued and even increased climate investing commitments and ambition. In this session, a spectrum of different asset owners will share the rationale behind their respective portfolio climate commitments and the approaches they are taking to achieve their goals. 

Our panelists will discuss in practical terms what it took to set these goals and how they are being implemented including setting sub-goals, tracking performance, and stewardship. They will share the benefits and challenges of these efforts and reflections on how other asset owners, whether just beginning or already very advanced, can take the next steps in their portfolios’ climate journeys. 

Moderator

Yrjö Koskinen

Director of Research, Institute for Sustainable Finance

Yrjö Koskinen is Director of Research at the Institute for Sustainable Finance at Smith School of Business, Queen's University and BMO Professor of Sustainable and Transition Finance at the Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary. He holds an MSc in Economics from the University of Helsinki and a PhD in Management (Finance) from INSEAD. He currently serves as the Chair of the steering committee for the Canadian Sustainable Finance Network, which was founded by ISF. Prior to his academic career, he worked as an investment manager, financial journalist, and economist and head of the Securities Markets Office at the Bank of Finland.

Panel Discussion

Chad Park

Vice President, Sustainability & Citizenship, Co-operators

Chad Park is the Vice President, Sustainability & Citizenship for Co-operators. In this role he leads the co-operative’s efforts to embed and integrate sustainability principles throughout the organization, including in its investment strategy and underwriting practices. He also oversees the Co-operators nation-wide community investment and partnership programs, including the Cooperators Community Funds. Prior to joining Co-operators in June 2020, Chad played a leadership role with several sustainability-focused organizations and initiatives. He served for five years as the Founding Director and Lead Animator of the Energy Futures Lab, a diverse coalition of innovators and partner organizations working together to advance solutions for a transformative energy vision for Canada. He is a member of the Research Advisory Council for the Institute for Sustainable Finance.

Barbara Zvan

President and CEO, University Pension Plan

Barbara Zvan is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the University Pension Plan Ontario (UPP), where she leads strategies to provide lifelong pension security and service excellence to over 41,000 members. Recognized as Canada’s 2022 CEO of the Year and Corporate Citizen of the Year by The Globe and Mail’s Report on Business magazine, she is a prominent advocate for defined benefit pensions and responsible investing. Previously, Barbara was the Chief Risk and Strategy Officer at the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP), playing a key role in its transformation into a global pension leader during her 25-year tenure at the Plan. She chairs the McConnell Foundation’s Investment Committee and Climate Engagement Canada’s steering committee, serves on the board of the Responsible Investment Association, and is a Senior Fellow at the C.D. Howe Institute. She is a member of the Advisory Board for the Institute for Sustainable Finance.

Roger Beauchemin

President and Chief Executive Officer, Addenda Capital

Roger Beauchemin is President and Chief Executive Officer of Addenda Capital. He is responsible for the development and deployment of the company’s business strategy and operations. He joined Addenda Capital as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer in 2013, before being appointed President and Chief Operating Officer in 2015. Roger is a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization, a Trustee of the Douglas University Institute for Mental Health Foundation and a Director of the Cedars Cancer Foundation. He previously worked at McLean Budden Limited (1999 to 2011), holding several senior management positions before being appointed President in 2006 and Chief Executive Officer in 2008. He is a member of the Advisory Board for the Institute for Sustainable Finance.

Bertrand Millot

Head of Sustainability, La Caisse

Bertrand Millot steers the development of La Caisse’s sustainable investing strategies, including its climate policy. As such, he is responsible for defining the major strategic orientations in this area and asserting the organization’s leadership in sustainable investing with internal and external stakeholders. He participates in major global forums and maintains open dialogue with civil society. He also represents the organization before the Board of Directors, depositors and other partners on climate issues. Lastly, he contributes to La Caisse’s international outreach on sustainability. He joined La Caisse in 2015 and has held several positions in sustainable investing and risk management, including supporting the Fixed Income, Capital Solutions, Infrastructure and Cross-sectoral Risk teams. Prior to joining La Caisse, Mr. Millot was CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Cordiant Capital, a fund manager specializing in corporate debt in emerging markets. In his early career, he worked in infrastructure project financing at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in London and BNP Paribas in Paris.