Description

"From Vision to Practice: Vancity's People-Centred Path To Net-Zero Financed Emissions"

The academic community was among the first and most vocal in sounding the alarm about the present climate emergency. Addressing this global crisis means achieving a net-zero economy, and in recent months many business organizations have finally stepped and committed to a net zero path.

But how do we translate this talk into action and impact? Vancity, Canada’s largest credit union, has long been a climate leader among financial institutions in Canada and North America. Vancity’s President & CEO, Christine Bergeron, and Vancity’s Director of Climate and Performance, Alison Coates, will discuss Vancity’s path to net-zero, the actions it is taking and the challenges it is facing, and its broader vision for a transformed net-zero economy that protects the earth and guarantees equity for all. 

Christine Bergeron As President and Chief Executive Officer of Vancity, Canada's largest community credit union, Christine believes that banking plays a vital role in developing a healthy society - building the well-being of people and, at the same time, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the communities in which they live and work.  Christine is also the CEO of Vancity’s federally chartered bank, Vancity Community Investment Bank (VCIB). 

Prior to becoming CEO, Christine held several senior leadership roles within Vancity. Prior to joining the credit union, she spent her career working in early-stage venture capital, public markets and broadly with entrepreneurs; financing innovative companies and building financial firms – all focused within the cleantech, sustainability and impact investing sectors.

Christine's achievements in fostering community impact, social justice and environmental sustainability have earned her accolades from Business in Vancouver magazine as a previous Top 40 under 40 winner, a 2021 most influential business leader, and a 2022 Influential Women in Business Award winner.  She has also received several awards as an influential woman in finance, including the 2017 Clean50 award for her dedication to sustainability.

Christine chairs the board of InBC Investment Corp., and currently represents North America on the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative’s Banking Board. She is a member of the Government of Canada’s Sustainable Finance Action Council. She serves on the board of Aviso Wealth and the Board of Governors for the BC Business Council. 

All sessions are in Vancouver, Canada time (PST). Please use this Time Zone Convertor to assist you. 

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84855913197?pwd=SW41TmRFTnlsb0FDbmlpYnhQaVM0UT09

Meeting ID: 848 5591 3197

Passcode: C22