Resilient governance: Managing nature risks and gaining a market edge
- Oct 29, 2025
10:00-11:00 AM EDT - Virtual
Canadian directors are facing growing scrutiny - and potential liability - for failing to manage nature-related risks such as biodiversity loss, water stress, and extreme weather events. With insured losses from natural disasters reaching record highs, and investors integrating nature into capital allocation, nature and climate risks are quickly rising as priority items on boardroom agendas.
This session, hosted by the Institute for Sustainable Finance (ISF) in partnership with the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), the Commonwealth Climate and Law Initiative (CCLI) and CPA Canada, will help board members and their advisors understand how proactive nature governance protects value, mitigates litigation and reputational risks, and positions companies for success in a changing market.
The panel will explore the implications of a landmark legal opinion published by CCLI in July, which concluded that Canadian directors who fail to address nature-related risks could face liability under existing laws. TNFD’s Asking Better Questions on Nature guide will be highlighted as a key resource for boards seeking to surface decision-useful information and integrate nature-related issues across governance, strategy, risk management, and capital allocation processes.
Moderator
Krista Gnau
Market Engagement Lead (North America), TNFD
Krista is the TNFD’s Market Engagement Lead for the Americas, bringing over 20 years of experience in big data, financial data services, technology, and sustainable finance. She has a keen interest in the nexus of capital investment and sustainable investment, driving the integration of financial returns with positive environmental and social impact. Krista previously managed the London Stock Exchange Group’s Sustainable Finance and Investment portfolio, developing B2B SaaS solutions and analytical tools to assess climate risk, sovereign credit risk analysis and regulatory compliance.Panel Discussion
Candice Dott
Director, Market Engagement, TNFD
Candice is Director of Market Engagement at the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosure (TNFD). She is an accomplished business leader known for driving sustainable growth, with 20+ years of experience in global financial services where she has most recently worked for the London Stock Exchange Group and prior to that Bloomberg. She has deep expertise in sustainable finance, asset management, investment banking, commercial banking, corporates, central banks, exchanges, fintech and data.
Lisa DeMarco
Senior Partner and CEO, Resilient LLP
Lisa DeMarco is Senior Partner and CEO at Resilient LLP. She co-authored a landmark legal opinion on Nature-related risks and the duties of directors of Canadian corporations, published by the Commonwealth Climate and Law Initiative (CCLI) in July 2025. Lisa is called to the bar in Canada and England and repeatedly recognized as a global expert in climate and energy law with three decades of experience in the sectors. Lisa is a director of the boards at the Toronto Hydro Corporation, the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA), MaRS Discovery District, and member of Climate Economy Strategic Council and of the Expert Advisory Group of Voluntary Carbon Market Integrity initiative (VCMI).
Kelly LaRocca
Chief, Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation
Kelly LaRocca proudly serves as the Chief of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation (MSIFN). Her career highlights include the negotiation by the MSIFN Council of the commercial gaming and revenue share agreements for the Great Blue Heron Casino; participating in the negotiations that led to the Williams Treaties Final Settlement; establishing the MSIFN Community Legacy Trust, which ensures that treaty settlement monies will benefit the community and future generations; and achieving clean drinking water for the community in 2021. Chief LaRocca serves as Director for the National Lands Advisory Board for First Nations Lands Management, as Chair for the Ogemawahj Tribal Council, and as Trustee for Sick Kids hospital.
Brian Kernohan
Chief Sustainability Officer, Manulife Investment Management
Brian is responsible for overseeing the global sustainability platform for Manulife Investment Management’s private and public markets businesses. This spans timberland, agriculture, real estate, infrastructure, private equity, and private credit as well as public markets’ equity, fixed income, and multi-asset strategies. Brian is accountable for sustainability strategy, developing internal sustainable investing policies and compliance mechanisms across Manulife Investment Management. He also supports regulatory affairs and reporting on sustainability matters. Previously, Brian was chief sustainability officer for Manulife Investment Management’s private markets business and before that he was the chief sustainability officer at Hancock Natural Resource Group, Manulife’s timberland and agriculture business.