Program Faculty and Mentors

BOB WILLARD, PhD – Internationally Respected Author, Speaker and Sustainability Leader

Bob is a leading expert on quantifying and selling the business value of sustainability strategies and has given hundreds of keynote presentations to corporate, government, university and NGO audiences. His publications include The Sustainability Advantage; The Next Sustainability Wave; The Sustainability Champion’s Guidebook and The New Sustainability Advantage (2012).

He is also the lead author of the “Future Fit Business Benchmark” – sustainability goals for a company that wants to be “fit for the future” and the “Sustainability ROI Workbook“.

Bob applies his business and leadership experience from his 34-year career at IBM Canada to engage the business community in proactively avoiding risks and capturing opportunities by using smart environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies.

More information about Bob and his resources for sustainability champions can be found at www.sustainabilityadvantage.com

M.J. (MIMI) MARROCCO, PhD – Faculty Leader, Diploma in Social Responsibility and Sustainability

Mimi Marrocco is the Faculty Leader for the Certificate in Corporate Social Responsibility at St. Michael’s College. She started the program in 2001 in partnership with the Conference Board of Canada; while serving as founding Director of Continuing Education at St. Michael’s.

She is the past Chair of the EthicsCentre CA (formally incorporated as the Centre for Ethics and Corporate Policy). She also served as President of the Ontario Council for Lifelong Learning from 1999-2000 and went on to become President of the Canadian Association for University Continuing Education (CAUCE) (2005-2007).

Mimi is the founder of Sense & Sustainability, a consultancy focused on affective approaches to leadership, stakeholder engagement and Corporate Social Responsibility. Mimi holds a Ph.D. in English Literature specializing in the work of modern writers of satirical fiction. Mimi brings a unique reflective and transformational perspective to the program. Mimi is an Instructor and Mentor Leader in the Program.

BRENDAN SEALE, AVP & Head, Environmental, Social and Governance, Definity

Brendan’s work is focused on enhancing business results by building a stronger connection to organizational purpose and improved environmental and social outcomes. He is well-versed in strategy development and organizational change to integrate sustainability principles across culture, governance, product & service offerings, and brand. He brings experiences in public and private corporations, the non-profit sector, academia, and engagement with all levels of government.

His past roles include Director, Corporate Sustainability, Scotiabank; Head of sustainability, Canada, IKEA and Sustainability Advisor, The Natural Step. Brendan started his career in Barrick Gold Corporation.

Brendan has a MSc, Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability, Blekinge Institute of Technology and a BA, Communications & Multi-media, McMaster University.

PRABH K. BANGA, Vice-President, Sustainability, Aecon Group

Prabh has worked in the sustainability sector for over 15 years. She has held multiple sustainability positions across diverse sectors- including government, teaching, aviation and most recently construction and infrastructure.

Prabh is also the North American representative on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Stakeholder Council. She has a Master of Resource and Environmental Management degree from Dalhousie University and an Environmental Studies degree from McMaster University.

Prabh is an instructor for Sustainability Standards and Reporting and in Sustainability Careers and a Mentor in the program.

MICHAEL BAUMTROG, PhD, MA, Assistant Professor, Department of Law and Business, Ted Rogers School of Management, Toronto Metropolitan University

Michael Baumtrog is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Law and Business at the Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University. He completed his PhD in philosophy at the New University of Lisbon (Universidade Nova de Lisboa), Portugal in 2015, with a specialization in reasoning and ethics. His current research in business ethics focuses on how employees may be treated unjustly as bearers and contributors of valuable knowledge.

He received the 2000 Ethics in Action Award – Ongoing Social Responsibility – Individual in recognition of his leadership in the field of corporate social responsibility.

Visit Dr. Baumtrog Website: https://www.michaelbaumtrog.com/

JESSICA BUTTS, MIPP, Principal, ESG Global Advisors

Jessica is a Principal with ESG Global Advisors. With over 12 years of experience, she works with clients, colleagues, and partners to identify and strategically manage a range of material ESG issues and priorities.

She leads projects across various sectors and markets – including energy and utilities, resources, finance, real estate, forestry, transportation, retail, and manufacturing. She is regularly called upon to speak publicly, brief executives, and facilitate multi-stakeholder processes. Her areas of expertise include sustainable business strategy, climate risk management, ESG disclosure, climate policy, carbon markets, and regulation across North America and internationally.

Prior to joining ESG Global Advisors, Jessica was a Senior Director with the Delphi Group, where she co-led the firm’s Climate Change practice. Prior to Delphi, Jessica worked with the Climate Change and Energy team at the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). She also spent time as a Balsillie Fellow with the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) and has worked for the Parliament of Canada.

Jessica has a Master of International Public Policy degree from the Balsillie School of International Affairs, Wilfrid Laurier University along with a Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management from Carleton University. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Pembina Institute.

Dr. Michael DeGagne, C.M., O.Ont., PhD, L.L.D. (Hon), President & CEO, Indspire

Dr. Mike DeGagné (Ojibway from Animakee Wa Zhing 37 First Nation) helps Indigenous students find, and achieve, their life purpose in his role as President & CEO of Indspire, Canada’s largest Indigenous charity. He previously served as President and Vice Chancellor of Nipissing University in 2013, becoming one of the first Indigenous presidents of a Canadian public university. While President of Nipissing, Dr. DeGagné dedicated much of his work to Indigenous issues and ensuring that Nipissing University took a leading role in the Indigenization of the post-secondary education sector. He later served as the first President of Yukon University, a new hybrid post-secondary institution in Whitehorse, Yukon.

In 1998, Dr. DeGagné became the founding Executive Director of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation where for 15 years he worked to encourage and support community developed, delivered, and culturally based initiatives addressing the intergenerational effects of abuses suffered in the Indian residential school system. In recognition of his support for residential school survivors and First Nation communities, Dr. DeGagné was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada – Canada’s highest civilian honour – in 2014, and was also awarded the Order of Ontario. Dr. DeGagné is a Visiting Fellow at the University of St. Michael’s College and a graduate of the Certificate in Corporate Social Responsibility at the University of St. Michael’s College, in the University of Toronto.

Mike is an Instructor in the program on Truth and Reconciliation.

WES GEE, Master Sustainable Business, Certificate in Cleaner Production, B.Commerce – Reporting Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility

Combining academic expertise with extensive professional experience, Wesley leads the sustainability practice at The Works Design Communication Ltd. Drawing on his background as a sustainability consultant, he provides guidance on stakeholder engagement, materiality and sustainability communications/reporting to leading Canadian companies including Goldcorp, Loblaw Companies Limited, Maple Leaf Foods, Scotiabank and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan.

Noted for his practical perspective, Wesley contributed to the development of the G4 (GRI) Guidelines, serves on sector working groups with the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board, and recently co-authored two publications with CPA Canada, including A Starter’s Guide to Sustainability Reporting. He is a judge for the CPA Canada Corporate Reporting Awards and is a frequent speaker at conferences and events.

Wesley is a CSR/sustainability lecturer at Ryerson University and University of Toronto. Before joining The Works, he was Senior Sustainability Consultant at Stantec and Senior CSR Advisor at Canadian Business for Social Responsibility. Wesley is a graduate of the Master’s in Sustainable Business program from the University of Leeds, and holds a post-graduade Certificate in Cleaner Production and Sustainable Development at Lund University and a Bachelor of Commerce from Dalhousie University. Wes is an Instructor and Mentor Leader in the Program.

CATHY GALLAGHER – LOUISY, Professor, Consultant, and Global DEI Benchmarks Expert Panelist

With 19 years experience in equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), Cathy currently serves as a consultant, educator, and volunteer. As the President of CGL Consulting, she offers a range of EDI and cultural competence learning, coaching, and strategic planning services. She is a Professor at the Centennial College Certificate in Leadership and Inclusion and a member of the Program Advisory Committee and lecturer for the George Brown College DEI in the Workplace Program.

Cathy is also one of 8 Canadians on the global group of 115 volunteer Expert Panelists who create the Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Benchmarks.

Previously, Cathy co-founded and worked with the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI) for nearly eight years, where she led Consulting, Measurement and Analytics, and Research. Cathy co-developed CCDI’s organizational assessment tools, and she personally developed CCDI’s strategic planning methodology, focus group methodology, and cultural competence curriculum. She also co-developed the Canadian Certified Inclusion Professional designation and the curriculum for the Centennial College Certificate in Leadership and Inclusion. Prior to CCDI, Cathy led Diversity and Corporate Social Responsibility for Hewitt Associates Canada.

In the past 19 years, Cathy has delivered more than 750 EDI speaking/learning engagements and workshops, plus over 1,000 individual coaching sessions using the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI). Cathy has authored five EDI practitioner toolkits, and she has authored or co-authored 25 major research and benchmarking reports including the only national benchmarking study on Supplier Diversity in Canada. Her work has appeared in dozens of news and trade publications.

Cathy is a graduate of the SR&S program (2007). She has achieved an Honours BA from University of Toronto, as well as certifications in the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), Prosci ADKAR Change Management, and the Cultural Detective.

NADINE GUDZ, B.Sc., M.Sc., Vice President, Academy for Sustainable Innovation

Most recently Global Director, Sustainability with modular flooring manufacturer, Interface, Nadine led and developed sustainability leadership through education, strategic partnerships and innovative market solutions. Her focus is on activating Interface’s mission both new and old gave her a front row seat in Organizational Change Management.

With more than 20 years experience in environmental education, planning and sustainable business; Nadine worked with many NGO’s, municipalities and taught in the Faculty of Environmental Studies at York University before joining Interface. Based in Toronto, she is a LEED Accredited Professional and serves on a number of local and international boards and committees. Nadine is an Instructor on change management for sustainability in the Graduate Certificate in CSR/Sustainability. Nadine is an Instructor and Mentor Leader in the Program.

GABRIELA POLANCO-SORTO, Head of Purpose & Sustainability at Gore Mutual

Gaby Polanco-Sorto is a strategist with 15 years of experience working in multinational organization across Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Environmental Sustainability, ESG, Community Investment, and Social Responsibility.

She has worked in various organizations, including Scotiabank, LoyaltyOne and Manulife in progressively senior roles. Currently, Gaby is the Head of Purpose and Sustainability at Gore Mutual. In this capacity, Gaby is responsible for guiding Gore Mutual’s efforts and priorities to making a difference in Canadian communities. Reporting to the CEO, she is accountable for embedding ESG into all areas of our business strategy and for leading the social impact, community, purpose, inclusion and sustainability activities across the organization.

She is also active in the academic space, currently as lecturer for University of Toronto’s St. Michael’s College Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainability Graduate Diploma program, as well as sitting on Seneca College’s Program Advisory Committee for the Sustainable Business Management program.

Originally from El Salvador, she is passionate about eliminating the barriers faced by immigrants and refugees. She has held various Board positions with NGOS focused on supporting immigrants and refugees in Canada, most recently on the Board of Sojourn House, which provides Emergency Shelter and Transitional Housing services in Toronto to newly arrived refugees coming from all parts of the world. She holds an MBA from the Schulich School of Business.

ADAM ROCHWERG, Head of Climate Strategy, Manifest Climate

Adam brings years of experience practicing law with a focus on climate-related policy, law, disclosure, and liability. At Manifest Climate, Adam combines this depth of climate expertise with strategy to lead clients in a multidisciplinary approach to understanding and managing climate impacts. In addition, Adam’s passion for organizational strategy and operations underpin his leadership role within the strategy team.

Prior to joining Manifest Climate, Adam’s breadth and depth of experience included managing large public-interest litigation files at a leading plaintiff-side class action law firm in Toronto, and a term at the United Nations in New York, where he served as an advisor for the Permanent Mission of the Maldives and a policy advisor for an intergovernmental organization focused on small island state development. Adam also brings experience as a government affairs advisor for the United Nations Environment Programme, advising for the Oceans and Environment Division of Global Affairs Canada, and as a caseworker at Canada’s largest environmental law charity, Ecojustice Canada.

Adam is currently a member of the IUCN’s World Commission on Environmental Law and a Global Fellow with the Centre for International Sustainable Development Law. He also serves on the executive board of the Environmental Law Section at the Ontario Bar Association.

Adam holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts from Dalhousie University, a Master of Arts from the University of Western Ontario, a Master of Science from the London School of Economics, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law. He also clerked for the judges of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.

Adam provides instruction on the Taskforce on Climate Related Financial Disclosures in the program.

TARA ADDIS, Principal at Addis & Associates

Tara Addis is a senior stakeholder engagement and public affairs leader with a demonstrated ability to build and sustain cross-boundary collaborations. With more than eighteen years of corporate, not-for-profit and public management experience, Tara has designed, developed and implemented award winning community mobilization, stakeholder relations and communications programs.

Currently, Tara is running her own freelance stakeholder engagement and public affairs practice, working with clients that range from senior leaders in the pharmaceutical, transportation and energy industries to the not for profit health and service sectors.

Additionally, Tara was an Associate with the Collaborative Learning and Innovation Group at Simon Fraser University, and is a Faculty Adviser at St. Michael’s College, Continuing Education, CSR Program at the University of Toronto, where she jointly develops and leads the Co-Creative Stakeholder Engagement Executive Program and delivers the Corporate Community Investment and Involvement curriculum.

Specialties: Stakeholder engagement strategy & action planning, multi-stakeholder dialogue & facilitation, public relations planning, strategic communications, government relations, co-creative program & service design, corporate responsibility, corporate community involvement, social marketing and advocacy.

NIKKI BYRNE, B.A. Anthropology, Grad. Diploma in Social Responsibility & Sustainability, USMC; Strategy & Development Manager, Fashion Takes Action

Nikki Byrne is the Strategy & Development Manager at Fashion Takes Action, Canada’s first non-profit fashion industry organization focused on sustainability.

With 15+ years of experience working with grassroots charities in Toronto, primarily in a fundraising capacity, Nikki joined FTA following the completion of the Graduate Diploma in Social Responsibility & Sustainability (2018/2019).

Recognizing that collaboration is the key to driving change, Nikki supports FTA’s work to advance sustainability across the entire fashion system, identifying the barriers to sustainability that exist for both industry and consumers, and building collaborative partnerships and education programs, in an effort to remove them.

Nikki has a B.A. in Anthropology, McGill University and the Graduate Diploma in Social Responsibility & Sustainability at the University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto.

PAM CONE, Amity Advisory and VP, Global Social Responsibility Officer, Milliman

Pam is an innovative and transformative executive with 30+ years of success in global marketing, communications programs, and corporate social responsibility for global professional service firms.

She has expertise establishing strategic marketing communications programs from scratch, growing revenue through new business development, developing high-performing teams across the globe, and building strong and strategic relationships within the actuarial and legal professions.

Pam is a graduate from the Diploma in Social Responsibility and Sustainability at the University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto. She also has a BA in International Relations from the University of Minnesota, and a Master’s in Communication Management at Syracuse University.

ANTOINETTE (ANTOINE) ELLIS, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Canada, Tata Consultancy Services

Antoine is a community investment and volunteer expert. She was recently assigned a newly developed role in Canada to design and implement CSR programs and to create multiyear plans for community engagement, including raising awareness and development of engagement pathways employee volunteers.

Antoinette also raises STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) awareness through the launch of goIT, a student technology program for ages 9-16yrs, exposing over 6000 students to the impact of technology in their world, through training/mentoring programs. She is responsible for partnerships and maintaining relationships with external stakeholders (United Way, Toronto District School Board, Heart and Stoke Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society) supporting their initiatives through organization of volunteer programs and fundraising.

She is involved in developing marketing and communications including but not limited to; activity summaries, recognition pieces and internal messages strategies and implementation for all engagement efforts, maintaining outreach and interest across the country. She also mobilizes pro-bono multiple technology teams to develop resources to support STEM education and mentoring.

STEVEN FISH, CSR Manager, Aurora Cannabis

Steven is the Corporate Social Responsibility Manager for Aurora Cannabis and Founder of ESG Ledger, a blockchain platform to collect, verify and publish corporate Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) disclosures.

Previously he was Executive Director of Canadian Business for Social Responsibility (CBSR).

As an entrepreneur and thoughtleader, Steven has played a seminal role in the advancement of responsible business leadership in Canada. He has deep experience in socially and environmentally responsible supply chains and stakeholder engagement. Steven is a Member of the CSR Education Council @USMC and a Mentor Leader in the Program.

MARILYN FRIEDMANN, B.A. (Management Economics), Certificate in CSR (@USMC).

Marilyn has served as – Director, Corporate Development and Cause Marketing at the CAMH Foundation; Chief Development Officer, United Way of Peel Region; Vice President Development, World Vision Canada, and Vice President, Sun Life Canada.

Marilyn has more than 30 years of experience in management consulting, coaching, facilitating multi-stakeholder partnerships and leading marketing and fundraising teams in order to improve impact. She provides consulting and coaching services in the areas of fundraising, leadership development, corporate social responsibility, community investment, strategic planning, multi-stakeholder partnerships, marketing strategy and product / service innovation.

Marilyn is a Certified Management Consultant* and accredited Partnership Broker, through the Partnership Brokers Association, UK.. She is currently pursuing completion of the Certified Professional Co-Active Coach designation through the Coaches Training Institute (CTI).

YVONNE JEFFERY, B.A. (English & Management), Graduate Certificate in CSR, University of St. Michael’s College at the University of Toronto

Yvonne is Manager, Community Investment & Sustainability, Vermilion Energy Inc. She is a Certified Sustainability CSR Practitioner, and a Community investment and sustainability professional, passionate about corporate citizenship, social responsibility and the achievement of shared value for both communities and corporations.

Yvonne’s skills and experience include:

• Sustainability program development and GRI G4 reporting, including materiality analysis and stakeholder engagement, and aligning community needs and corporate vision
• Community investment program management, from major opportunity identification to implementation and ongoing stewardship with an emphasis on positive social and environmental impact
• Staff engagement through volunteer programs, including internal fundraising campaigns, natural disaster response, ongoing community service programs and event management
• Community engagement and relationship building in diverse cultural and social contexts, such as developing nations, rural Canada and economically disadvantaged urban areas
• Communication planning, management, implementation and analysis

JESSICA PELCHAT, Graduate Certificate CSR &Sustainability, PDC

Jessica Pelchat is a permaculture designer and social entrepreneur that teaches, consults, and practices regenerative landscaping in order to reconnect people with nature. She is a graduate of the Social Responsibility & Sustainability Graduate program at USMC and is Permaculture Design Certified (PDC).

Her multidisciplinary work over the last two decades has been focused on building a more sustainable future through climate change remediation of various forms. She served as Chief Sustainability Officer & Executive Vice President for a Canadian Profit 500 company, built and drove an award-winning management consulting firm in the Canadian market, and currently serves as a SR&S Advisory Council member for the USMC Sustainability program. She has long been an advocate for the return to more natural processes and self-sustaining systems, and is a USMC Program Mentor for emerging leaders in sustainability. www.wildchildregeneration.com

WENDY MITCHELL, B.A., B.Sc., Certificate in CSR (@USMC)

Wendy has served as Director, Corporate Responsibility, Sustainability and Stakeholder Relations for the Conference Board of Canada’s Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Institute and as the Canadian Start up Lead for Kin&Co, a UK purpose consultancy. She is currently Principal of Purpose by W.

She has an extraordinary network of CSR and Sustainability professionals around the world and is a results-driven leader with a proven track record of success. Wendy is a graduate of the Certificate of Practice in Corporate Citizenship & Corporate Community Involvement from Boston College Carroll School of Management – Centre for Corporate Citizenship and the Graduate Certificate in CSR/Sustainability from the University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto. Wendy is a Member of the CSR Education Council @ USMC and a Mentor in the Program.

ANNA RITACCA RPP, MCIP, PLE, Certificate in CSR, Partner and Strategic Advisor, BEL+RIT urbanism

Anna is a strategic advisor within the city-building and real estate investment community with extensive experience in private and public sector organizations. She leverages interdisciplinary expertise in urban economics, planning, real estate, and social responsibility towards informing strategic plans, investment, policy, and public interest. Her experience includes CSR/ESG frameworks, policy, KPI’s and metrics.

As a Registered Professional Planner with the Ontario Professional Planning Institute, a member of the Canadian Institute of Planners, a Professional Land Economist with the Association of Ontario Land Economists, and a graduate of the Certificate in Corporate Social Responsibility (USMC), she is ethically committed to guiding responsible choices and sustainability in city-building. Anna collaborates with partners & stakeholders under her independent practice BEL+RIT urbanism, and is an active leader in the community through the Urban Land Institute (UrbanPlan Volunteer and Women’s Leadership Initiative), Toronto CREW, and mentoring & championing young professionals. Anna holds a Bachelor of Arts, Specialist Economics and Geography from the University of Toronto.

Anna is a Study Group Mentor in the Graduate Diploma in Social Responsibility and Sustainability Program.