Nature x Carbon: catalyzing tools for nature-based climate solutions

This virtual event is part of WWF-Canada’s Nature X Carbon Tech Challenge and supported by Microsoft Canada and RBC Tech for Nature. Discussions will identify the need for conservation technologies and the role innovators and businesses can play in developing and supporting these technologies for nature-based climate solutions.

Interested in taking part in the Nature X Carbon Tech Challenge? Apply now or contact us with any questions.

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Sessions:

1:00 p.m. EDT: Opening with Megan Leslie, president & CEO, WWF-Canada

1:15 p.m. EDT: Setting the scene: Why we need the Nature X Carbon Tech Challenge with James Snider, VP - Science, Knowledge & Innovation, WWF-Canada; Angela Kane, CEO of Secwepemcùl’ecw Restoration and Stewardship Society

2:00 p.m. EDT: Corporate sustainability and tech: Opportunities for impact with Megan Leslie, WWF-Canada; Michelle Lancaster, Global Director of Sustainability, Microsoft & Andrew Craig, Senior Director, Climate Change for RBC

2:45 p.m. EDT: Closing remarks

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Meet the speakers:

Megan Leslie, president and CEO, WWF-Canada

Megan Leslie is the president and CEO of World Wildlife Fund Canada. Prior to joining WWF-Canada, Megan was a Member of Parliament and represented Halifax for two terms. As a passionate environmentalist, she was proud to assume the roles of environment critic for the Official Opposition, and vice-chair of the government committee on environment and sustainable development.

James Snider, vice president of Science, Knowledge and Innovation, WWF-Canada

James leads WWF-Canada’s Science, Knowledge and Innovation team and has led key science and research projects through collaborative partnerships with academia, industry and government institutions.

Michelle Lancaster, global director of Sustainability, Microsoft

Michelle Lancaster is Director of Sustainability Solutions and Partnership at Microsoft, where she leads the company’s sustainability-focused product, customer engagement, and external stakeholder engagement strategies. Prior to this role, she led the company’s sustainability and corporate responsibility communications. Before joining Microsoft, she led public affairs campaigns for Fortune 500 companies at public relations agencies and was a staffer for the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee.

Andrew Craig, senior director, Climate Change, RBC.

Andrew is a key member of the newly formed Climate Strategy and Governance (CS&G) team within RBC Enterprise Strategy. The CS&G team’s mandate is to accelerate RBC’s climate ambitions, targets and stakeholder engagement and ensure full RBC alignment and coordination on our climate strategy and actions, globally. In his previous role, Andrew led the RBC Sustainability Group, the centre of expertise for the integration of sustainability into RBC’s business and functional units and recent work has focused on supporting business units in the development of sustainable products and services, sustainability bonds, science-based targets, responsible procurement, human rights, modern slavery, and climate-related disclosures.

Before joining RBC in 2008, Andrew worked as a consultant for Deloitte in the Environment and Sustainability practice helping clients develop sustainability strategies and project managed GHG emission inventory audits. He also worked as an Air Quality Scientist for Jacques Whitford Environment (now Stantec) preparing air emission inventories for industrial clients, conducting ambient air quality monitoring programs and preparing regulatory submissions to the Ministry of the Environment. Andrew holds a BSc. from the University of Guelph in Natural Resources Management, an MSc. in Environmental Technologies from Imperial College in London, UK and has a Masters in Business Administration from the Schulich School of Business in Toronto.

Angela Kane, CEO of Secwepemcùl’ecw Restoration and Stewardship Society

Angela Kane is a professional with over 30 years of experience working in the accounting and business industry. Ms. Kane has spent the last 20 years working with First Nation’s communities to help them transition from band to corporate frameworks for business development within their communities. She is currently CEO of the Secwepmecul’ewc Restoration and Stewardship Society, where she collaborates and advocates for the rehabilitation and restoration of first nations' traditional territory in partnership with the SRSS’s communities and the Elephant Hill Wildfire Joint Leadership Council.

Garrett Whitworth, Director, AIB Innovation

Garrett Whitworth co-founded AIB Innovation Ltd. and leads the research and development work that is currently focused on improving sustainability in the forestry and agriculture industries. Recently Garrett has worked with the Secwepemcùl’ecw Restoration and Stewardship Society focusing on increasing soil and biomass carbon sequestration through the rehabilitation of areas damaged by wildfires.

WWF-Canada’s Nature X Carbon Tech Challenge, supported by RBC Tech for Nature and Microsoft Canada, catalyzes the development of user-friendly and innovative technologies to support community-led measurement of carbon in nature. techhub.wwf.ca