Conferences

CPA Ontario's Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Conference

Nov 01, 2022

Online

DATE

NOV 01

2022

TIME

8:45 AM - 3:10 PM

WHO CAN ATTEND

All

PD HOURS

4 Hours

ETHICS HOURS

0 Hours

STATUS

Registration closed on

Oct 31, 2022

EVENT DESCRIPTION

Stakeholder expectations and operational challenges have increased the focus on ESG. This is causing organizations to think about the frameworks used for measurement. Now, more than ever, the need for CPAs to understand the critical role they play in ESG is pivotal.

That raises the question: what’s next for CPAs?

Whether it’s developing strategy, ensuring implementation, or reporting, CPAs play an essential role with their technical skills and competencies, and upholding high ethical standards within their organizations. Join us for this virtual event, to learn from leading ESG experts on how CPAs can be leaders in ESG integration.

What you will learn:

  • How ISSB developments impact CPAs
  • How to integrate ESG reporting and recommended frameworks
  • How small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can start on the ESG journey
  • Stay up to date with stakeholder expectations and business opportunities
  • Best practices for ESG integration, reporting and disclosure

AGENDA AND FEATURED PRESENTERS

Sessions and speakers subject to change.

TIMEEVENT
8:45 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.Opening Remarks with Event Host: Abdul-Aziz Garuba Jr

9:15 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.Opening Keynote: ESG Outlook

Speaker: Blake Phillips, Director, School of Accounting and Finance, University of Waterloo

  • Overview of the ISSB’s structure
  • How existing standards fit into the ISSB’s work
  • The similarities and differences of sustainability vs. financial accounting
  • How the ISSB will impact corporate sustainability reporting
  • Ways the standard will help achieve desired sustainability outcomes
  • Areas where the standard falls short/li>
10:00 a.m. – 10:20 a.m.Break

10:20 a.m. – 11:20 a.m.Panel Discussion

Topic:A Roadmap to ESG Integration

Moderator: Dr. Leanne Keddie, CPA, CMA

Assistant Professor, Accounting, Carleton University

Panelist: Connie E. Carras, CPA, CA, GCB.D, CCB.D

Entrepreneur, Innovator, Independent Director and Chair

Panelist: Ani Hotoyan-Joly, FCPA, FCA, ICD.D, GCB.D, CCB.D

Vice Chair, Audit Committee, Community Services Sector, Province of Ontario

11:20 a.m. – 11:40 a.m.Break and Networking
11:40 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.Sustainable Accounting

Speaker: Katie Blum, CPA

  • What is Sustainability Accounting and Carbon Accounting
  • What this means for CPAs
  • The similarities and differences of sustainability vs. financial accounting
  • How these ties into the roles and knowledge they already have as CPAs
12:30 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.Lunch and Networking
1:15 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.ESG Reporting & Disclosures

Speaker: Sarah Keyes, CPA, CA, CEO at ESG Global Advisors Inc.

2:00 p.m. – 2:10 p.m.Break and Networking
2:10 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.Closing Keynote

Dark Waters: The Story Behind the Environmental Legal Battle Exposing Corporate Coverup

The New York Times called Robert Bilott, “The lawyer who became DuPont’s worst nightmare.” Bilott, a distinguished environmental attorney, shares the unsettling story of his epic legal battle against DuPont and how he exposed corporate coverup and massive chemical contamination of unprecedented scale and scope, now impacting virtually every living thing on this planet. Drawing from his book, Exposure: Poisoned Water, Corporate Greed, and One Lawyer’s Twenty-Year Battle Against Dupont, Bilott takes audiences through the unforgettable legal drama about malice, manipulation, and perseverance against the failings of environmental regulation.

Speaker: Robert Bilott
3:00 p.m. – 3:10 a.m.Closing Remarks
  

PLATFORM

This event will be hosted on the Hopin platform. For a better conference experience, watch this short video prior to the event.

WHO WILL BENEFIT

CPAs and professionals who are looking to enhance their financial strategies and mitigate risk posed by ESG factors. Anyone responsible for implementing an ESG reporting program within their organization and working toward a sustainable future.

PRICING

$189.00 Personal Passport

$189.00 Organization Passport

$199.00 Member

$199.00 Student

$199.00 Public

Status: Registration closed on Oct 31, 2022

LOCATION

Online

SPEAKER(S) BIO

HOST

Portrait of Aziz GarubaAbdul-Aziz Garuba Jr., CPA, CMA, is a seasoned finance professional and inspirational leader. He has a passion for community and is the host and creator of the podcast Made to Lead, which tells the personal and professional stories of amazing leaders of African descent. Aziz is a dynamic finance and management consulting professional with experience driving change and delivering improvements to business performance, management reporting, financial forecasting, planning and analysis (FP&A), and strategy.

GUESTS

Portrait of Blake PhillipsBlake Phillips is the Director of the School of Accounting and Finance at the University of Waterloo and Co-Director of the Bachelor of Sustainability and Financial Management jointly offered by the School and the Faculty of Environment. Blake received a Bachelor of Science from the University of British Columbia, a Master of Forestry and Master of Business Administration from the University of Alberta, and a PhD in Finance also from the University of Alberta.

Portrait of Doctor Leanne KeddieDr. Leanne Keddie, CPA, CMA, has worked in various industry sectors for over a decade, including commercial finance, private company business valuation and accounting education. She holds a PhD in Accounting from Concordia University’s John Molson School of Business and her current research examines the use of corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance-based incentives in executive compensation contracts. Her work has been published in Advances in Environmental Accounting & Management and Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal.

Portrait of Connie E. CarrrasConnie E. Carras, CPA, CA, GCB.D, CCB.D, is the founder and president of CEC Enterprises Consulting, a trusted Board Leader and Executive who focuses on leading and shaping “Innovation for Good”. Experienced working across Canada, the US and the UK and leading strategic change and innovation using the levers of technology and ESG, Connie brings together ideas, partnerships, and capital that strategically accelerates innovation and transforms markets. Passionate about climate and the environment, the future of housing, and DE&I at the governance level, she speaks regularly and consults on how businesses can better address ESG in their strategy and governance agendas—especially to see beyond risk management and to target opportunity.

Portrait of Ani Hotoyan-JolyAni Hotoyan-Joly, FCPA, FCA, ICD.D, GCB.D, CCB.D, is an independent Corporate Director with experience in chairing committees for public, crown and not-for-profit organizations with special skills in ESG and climate change risks. She is on the Board of Directors at organizations including the Friends of Canadian Broadcasting and the Armenian Relief Society of Canada.

Portrait of Sarah KeyesSarah Keyes, CPA, CA, is an ESG and climate change expert with over a decade of work experience as a thought leader, consultant, facilitator, and auditor. She regularly presents to Executive teams and Boards of Directors on the link between ESG and climate change with financial and operational performance and long-term value. Sarah helps her clients establish ESG and climate change strategies that align with strategic priorities, enabling effective integration with existing risk and strategy processes.

Portrait of Katie Blum Katie Blum, CPA, is the Director of Climate Solutions at Persefoni, a leading Climate Management & Carbon Accounting Platform. Much of her role involves supporting customers by way of her technical knowledge across the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHGP), Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF) standards and broader sustainability topics.

Portrait of Robert BilottRobert Bilott is a prominent environmental attorney, author of the critically acclaimed book, Exposure, the inspiration behind the film Dark Waters, starring Mark Ruffalo, and lecturer at Yale School of Public Health. To date, as a partner at Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, Robert has helped secure over $1 billion in benefits for his clients exposed to contaminated drinking water. He was selected as one of the best lawyers in America for several years running and in 2017 received the Right Livelihood Award, commonly known as the “Alternative Nobel Prize.”

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

This CPA Ontario PD event is live webinar hosted on the innovative Hopin platform. A link to join the event on the Hopin platform will be sent closer to the date. We recommend you join five minutes prior to the scheduled start time.

For a better conference experience, watch this short video prior to the event.