Upskill in ESG: How to gain an edge in sustainable finance and communications

The Concordia Sustainability Ecosystem, in collaboration with Addenda Capital and the Trottier Family Foundation, is pleased to introduce five new micro-certificates for individuals who are driven to advance their careers by acquiring cutting-edge knowledge in the evolving field of sustainability.

Join us on February 14 at 12 p.m. to gain insight into each of these micro-certificates, learn about how they can provide you with a professional edge over your competition, and get the opportunity to interact with our expert instructors.

Our program developers and instructors will discuss each of our new micro-certificate programs:

• Carbon Markets and the Economics of Carbon Removal
• Economics of Biodiversity and Natural Capital Markets
• Water Stewardship and Market Mechanisms
• Transition Finance and Climate Finance Frameworks
• ESG Fundamentals for Communication and Marketing Professionals

We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our distinguished partners, Addenda Capital and the Trottier Family Foundation, for their support in the development of these programs.

About the speakers

Amr Addas

Amr is the Strategic Advisor for Sustainability and a lecturer at the John Molson School of Business, Concordia University. He is also the Director of the Van Berkom Investment Management Program, leads Concordia’s Sustainable Investing Practicum and is the Director of Concordia’s Sustainability Ecosystem. Amr has taught at Queen’s University, McGill University, and Sherbrooke University.

In addition to his academic work, Amr offers portfolio management and sustainable investing consulting services to corporate clients and financial institutions. He also serves on several advisory boards and industry working groups, including the Institute for Sustainable Finance’s Research Advisory Council and Concordia University’s Joint Sustainable Investment Advisory Committee (JSIAC). Amr has been interviewed by media on sustainable finance and investing, including CBC TV, CBC Radio, Global TV, the Toronto Star, CBC News, Reuters, the Financial Post, and La Presse.

Amr obtained his MBA from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 1995 and his B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the American University in Cairo in 1991. 

Jessie Sitnick

Jessie is a passionate, purpose-driven strategic communications executive with deep expertise in sustainable finance, ESG, and climate communications. She is the inaugural VP External for The Natural Step, Canada’s solution space for a strong and inclusive economy that thrives within nature’s limits.

Previously, Jessie was a Senior Vice President of Corporate and Public Affairs at Argyle/Believeco: Partners.  She led a talented team serving clients across multiple sectors and industries (finance, tech, real estate and the built environment). She established the firm’s Sustainable Value portfolio, supporting businesses, NGOs, governments, and academic experts in their work to bring climate and sustainable economy solutions to bear.

Jessie's other roles include:  founding Communications Director and brand architect for Canada's Ecofiscal Commission, Senior Communications Counsel for the Smart Prosperity Leaders Initiative, and Head of Strategic Communications for WWF-Canada.

Jessie lives in Toronto with her two teenage sons, partner, and gigantic dog (Cooper). Her happy place is the muddy trail along Grenadier Pond in High Park.

Jason Taylor

Jason Taylor is a capital markets professional with over 20 years of experience. He is the founder of Clariti Advisory a boutique sustainable investing and environmental finance firm. In recent years he led the development of the sustainable finance strategy for two Canadian banks working in close collaboration with groups across the bank and capital markets to design sustainable finance solutions for investors, corporates and governments.

A frequent panelist and public speaker covering topics ranging from transition finance, taxonomies, sustainable finance regulation, Jason has also participated in a number industry standard setting workstreams to accelerate the mainstreaming of sustainable finance in Canada. He is an advocate for using the power of capital to influence systemic change and contribute to building just, fair, and resilient communities. Experienced in ESG integration, thematic investing, and sustainable investing, his work focuses on crowding-in capital to shrink the funding gap in a financially efficient manner.

He completed an MBA focused in sustainability, collaboration, and innovation management at McGill/HEC Montreal, where he was named to the Poets & Quants 2019 100 best & Brightest list. He has completed certificate programs on topics ranging from ESG reporting, ESG integration, climate finance, GHG accounting, and energy innovation. He is a CFA and CAIA charterholder. His recent volunteering experience relates to mentoring student-athletes in the Parcours Leadership Carabins program at the University of Montreal founded by Robert Dutton, through the McConnell Foundation’s Solutions Finance Accelerator in 2020, coaching his sons hockey and lacrosse teams, and as a board and investment committee member of the Foundation of Greater Montreal.