Research Advisory Council

Dominique is the Chief Financial Officer and Head of Sustainability at Lithium Royalty Corp. Prior to this role, Dominique served as Head of Sustainability Advisory at CIBC Capital Markets. She joined the Capital Markets division after a ten-year tenure at CIBC Asset Management, where she was portfolio manager of several funds, including real estate and social responsible investing mandates. During that time, she also led CIBC Asset Management’s efforts to incorporate environmental, social, and governance factors into all investment processes. Dominique’s prior experience includes investment banking, research, institutional equity sales, audit, and corporate advisory services at several well-known, international financial institutions and accounting firms. Dominique has a Master’s of Business Administration in accounting from the University of Toronto and Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering (civil environmental) from Queen’s University. Dominique is also a CFA charter holder. Dominique is fluent in English and French.

Murat Basarir has been part of various international sustainable finance focused initiatives, such as launching UK’s first wireless charged electric bus and working at Canada’s first retail green bond issuer.

Prior to his work in sustainable finance, he has led a nationwide energy efficiency campaign that was voted by the UK public as the Best Campaign at the Climate Week Awards.

At TD, he works with teams across the enterprise to ideate, structure and move forward ESG initiatives that support TD’s Climate Action Plan.

Murat holds a BSc and MSc in Mechanical Engineering from Queen’s University and an MPhil in Engineering from Cambridge University and has completed the Ignite programme at Stanford’s Graduate Business School.

Patrick Bryden joined Scotiabank GBM in Calgary in 2010 and has worked in the securities industry since 1997.

Mr. Bryden became Head of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Research in 2020 and previously ranked first nine times in the annual Brendan Wood International and Greenwich Associates institutional surveys as an energy analyst.

Mr. Bryden served on the Natural Gas Expert Group for the Alberta Royalty Review and advised the Province of Alberta on the calibration of its Modernized Royalty Framework.

Mr. Bryden has raised more than $145,000 for the Movember Foundation and Ovarian Cancer Canada in his time at Scotiabank GBM. He has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree from the University of Calgary and was awarded the CFA designation in 2001.

Prior to joining COFI, Linda was the Executive Director of the Pembina Institute. Her other roles prior to that was Chief Sustainability Officer for Enbridge Inc., Vice-President of Sustainability for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Vice-President of the Pacific Region for World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Canada, and Vice-President of Environmental Affairs for the BC Coastal Group of Weyerhaeuser Canada.

Linda has also been a Distinguished Fellow at the Liu Institute for Global Issues at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and has taught corporate social responsibility at UBC’s Sauder School of Business. She has served on several advisory groups to different levels of government on climate and energy issues, including as a member of the City of Vancouver's 2009 "Greenest City" Task Force, the 2015 Advisory Panel to the Province of Alberta on Climate Leadership, and the 2018 Generation Energy Council to the Government of Canada. She was recently appointed to Canada’s Net-Zero Advisory Body, which provides independent advice to the federal government on meeting requirements under Canada’s new Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act.

Andrew is the Managing Director, Carbon Markets Advisory at TD Securities. In this role, he is responsible for advising clients on capital markets solutions related to participating in and exposure to global carbon markets.

Prior to this, he worked at TMX Group as the Director of Sustainable Finance where he was responsible for developing and executing TMX’s enterprise strategy for ESG products and carbon markets. Andrew began his career in foreign exchange at Lloyds Bank.

Andrew has a BSc, and an MBA in finance from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management.

Samantha Hill is a senior member of CPP Investments’ Sustainable Investing team, where she oversees activities to consider material environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters in engagements with public companies, primarily on climate change, water and human rights, and works alongside investment colleagues to integrate ESG matters into investment activities. This includes leading ESG diligence efforts globally for direct equity investments across asset classes. Samantha is also one of several individuals contributing to enhancing CPP Investments’ efforts to embed climate change-related considerations in investment and asset management activities and better understand the investment implications across the Fund.

Prior to joining CPP Investments in 2007, Samantha worked in multiple roles within CIBC’s Commercial Banking division related to senior debt financing for national accounts and real estate.

Samantha holds an MBA from Dalhousie University in Halifax, where she completed a double major in Finance and Environmental Management.

Pyarali is a London, UK based ESG and sustainable finance specialist with over 25 years of experience. Early in his career he worked at two Canadian banks before joining EY Corporate Finance Canada where he led the Renewable Energy and Cleantech practice and was a senior member of the Real Estate and Public Sector teams. He spent 10 years in the EY Transaction Advisory Services group in Canada, the EY Global offices and in the UK holding positions of VP, Global Network Coordinator, and COO & Director. Since leaving EY UK he has advised investors and operating businesses on governance, strategic planning, operations, ESG integration and transaction due diligence, and was CEO and COO of a London-based circular economy business. Pyarali also has fifteen years of experience on the boards of two UK impact investors. He's a member of the Sustainability Committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants for England and Wales and of the Advisory Council for the Centre for Building Sustainable Value at the Ivey Business School. Pyarali holds an MBA from the Ivey Business School, a master of international affairs from Columbia University, and several diplomas and certificates including in ESG investing, sustainability, clean energy, and impact monitoring and evaluation.

Andrew Karolyi is Professor of Finance and holder of the Harold Bierman Jr. Distinguished Professorship in Management at the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business. He currently serves as Dean of the College.

His research specializes in the area of investment management with a focus on the study of international financial markets. He has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals in Finance and Economics and has published several books and monographs. His book, Cracking the Emerging Markets Enigma, was published in 2015. The research has garnered a number of prizes and recognitions. He is a past recipient of the Michael Jensen Prize for Corporate Finance and Organizations, the Fama/DFA Prize for Capital Markets and Asset Pricing, and the William F. Sharpe Award for Scholarship in Finance. In 2017, he was elected as a Fellow of the Financial Management Association International.

Professor Karolyi served as Editor and then Executive Editor of the Review of Financial Studies from 2011 to 2018, one of the top tier journals in Finance. He is a past president of the Western Finance Association, past president and trustee of the Financial Management Association, and currently a member of board of directors of the American Finance Association. He also serves on several not-for-profit boards, including the Pacific Center for Asset Management, the Responsible Research in Business and Management Network, and the United Way of Tompkins County.

Professor Karolyi received his Bachelor of Arts (Honors) in Economics from McGill University in 1983 and worked at the Bank of Canada for several years in their Research Department. He subsequently studied for his MBA and PhD degrees in Finance at the Graduate School of Business of the University of Chicago.

Dr. Majerbi joined Gustavson School of Business in 2004 after completing her PhD in finance at McGill University. Her research interests include international asset pricing, financial crises, investments and risk management. Her recent work explores the benefits of financial system diversity for sustainable development and financial stability, impact investing and climate-related financial risks. Her research has been published in leading business journals and benefited from major research grants from national granting agencies.

Basma is passionate about sustainable finance and impact investing and integrates these themes into core finance courses in her graduate teaching at the MBA and MGB programs. Since 2009, she has overseen the calculation of the annual carbon footprint of Gustavson faculty, staff and students leading the way to her school becoming carbon neutral in 2017. She is a past recipient of the Gustavson Research Excellence Award, the MBA Best Professor of the Year Award, Gustavson Innovation Award, and the Gustvason Award for Excellence in Service.

Basma is also a Technical Advisor with the International Monetary Fund’s Institute for Capacity Development where she contributes to training of government officials in developing countries on topics related to financial development, financial inclusion, and other financial sector issues. She is a member the steering committee of the Canadian Sustainable Finance Network (CSFN) and is co-founder and co-chair of the International Workshop on Financial System Architecture and Stability (IWFSAS), an annual conference that focuses on topics related to sustainable finance.

Cathy Matthews, B. Comm '86; CPA, CA; Chair, Board of Directors, Queen's AMS '86. Former Managing Director, Investment Banking, TD Securities, Toronto, Vancouver, New York & London with industry specialization in renewable energy and project finance. Former Strategy Consultant, National Bank Financial.

Recently, Queen's University Council Trustee, Queen's Board of Trustees; Queen's Capital Assets and Finance Committee, Queen's Climate Change Action Task Force; Queen's Chancellor's Search Advisory Committee; and, Queen's University Council Executive Committee. Past Volunteer Board Member; Council for Human Development, Camp Oochigeas & New Haven Learning Centre. Executive Education: Harvard; London Business School & Wharton.

As Vice-President of Research, Guidance and Support, Rosemary leads CPA Canada’s research and thought leadership strategy, ensuring the Canadian CPA profession is well-equipped to respond to challenges and to meet evolving business and societal needs. Rosemary oversees a team of professionals who explore emerging issues, champion innovation, and produce insights that guide future directions for the profession. She engages with Canadian and international stakeholders, such as policymakers, standards setters, regulators, and global accountancy bodies, on issues impacting the public interest. Key areas of focus include the path to net-zero emissions; environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues; and data and technology. Previously, Rosemary held the role of director, Research, Guidance and Support. During this time, she managed research and thought leadership initiatives related to external reporting and capital markets.

Rosemary has significant expertise in sustainability reporting and sustainable finance issues and has delivered presentations to the International Sustainability Standards Board, Canadian Accounting Standards Board, Canadian Securities Administrators, and the federal government’s Expert Panel on Sustainable Finance and Sustainable Finance Action Council. Throughout her career, she has also garnered extensive public accounting experience. She spent seven years in PwC’s National Accounting Consulting Services group advising clients on regulatory matters and complex accounting and financial reporting matters under International Financial Reporting Standards and U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

Jon Mitchell is the Chief Sustainability Officer at Suncor where he leads a team accountable for the development, stewardship, and integration of sustainability into Suncor’s strategy. He is responsible for driving Suncor’s sustainability performance, managing strategic sustainability issues, advancing collaboration, and developing leading environment, social and governance (ESG) practices.

Jon has lectured on sustainability and climate issues, regularly speaks on the energy transition, and is a member of several Advisory Boards, including the implementation committee of the Canadian Sustainability Standards Board (CSSB) and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Net Zero Council. Throughout his career Jon has had the privilege of advising industry and government on how to establish and sustain climate leadership among energy-producing jurisdictions; how to steward air, land, and water resources; best practices on ESG disclosure; and where to invest in clean innovation.

Jon holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree from The University of Guelph and a Master of Environmental Design (Environmental Science) from The University of Calgary. He has worked in the environment, climate, and sustainability fields for over 25 years.

Deborah Ng is the Head of ESG and Sustainability at Grantham, Mayo, van Otterloo (GMO). Deborah is responsible for leading and accelerating the firm’s ESG and sustainability-related initiatives. Specific areas of focus include working closely with the firm’s investment teams as they conduct innovative research and further integrate material ESG factors into their processes; partnering with the Investment Stewardship Group to expand issuer engagement activities and advancing the firm’s own sustainability goals.

Prior to joining GMO in May 2022. Deborah was Head of Responsible Investing at the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan. She was responsible for key deliverables across a number of pillars, including: ESG and climate change thought leadership and innovation, ESG integration frameworks and tools, and corporate engagement. Prior to this Deborah was part of the Strategy and Asset Mix team where she focused on the research, evaluation, and introduction of innovative asset allocation strategies that are designed to help meet the Plan’s long-term liability objectives.

Deborah sits on the Investment Committee of the United Church of Canada Pension Plan, and on the Research Advisory Board for the Institute of Sustainable Finance, Queen’s University.

Deborah has a Master of Finance degree from the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, where she received the Director’s Award. She is also a CFA charter holder.

Chad Park is the Vice President, Sustainability & Citizenship for The Co-operators. In this role he leads the co-operative’s efforts to embed and integrate sustainability principles throughout the organization, including in its investment strategy and underwriting practices.

He also oversees The Co-operators nation-wide community investment and partnership programs, including the Cooperators Community Funds.

Prior to joining The Co-operators in June 2020, Chad played a leadership role with several sustainability-focused organizations and initiatives. He served for five years as the Founding Director and Lead Animator of the Energy Futures Lab, a diverse coalition of innovators and partner organizations working together to advance solutions for a transformative energy vision for Canada.

He has also served as Executive Director of The Natural Step Canada, a founding Board-member for the Future Fit Foundation in the United Kingdom, and a Board member of the Canadian Energy and Climate Nexus. Chad earned his masters degree as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar at the International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics at Lund University in Sweden and completed the Oxford Social Finance Programme at Oxford University’s Saïd School of Business.

Dr. Janis Sarra served as UBC Presidential Distinguished Professor from 2014 to 2019, an appointment by the President to recognize a faculty member that has made outstanding contributions as a scholar and academic leader. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Sarra served as Director of the Wall Institute for Advanced Studies at UBC. Dr. Sarra is Professor of Law at the Peter A. Allard School of Law and founding Director of the National Centre for Business Law. She served as Associate Dean of the Allard School of Law until 2007, with oversight of development, strategic planning, alumni relations and communications. Dr. Sarra is the Principal Co-investigator of the Canada Climate Law Initiative, a research collaboration between UBC and York University and is Canadian investigator of the Commonwealth Climate and Law Initiative at Oxford University.

Dr. Sarra’s research and teaching interests are in the areas of corporate finance, climate-related financial risk and corporate governance, banking law, securities law, contracts, commercial insolvency law and law and economics. In 2004, she was awarded the title of Distinguished University Scholar for her scholarship in corporate and securities law. She has published ten books and more than one hundred refereed articles in climate governance, corporate finance, corporate governance and management, securities law and commercial insolvency law.

Dr. Sarra also served as Senator of the University of British Columbia from 2003 to 2008. She is a board member of the International Insolvency Institute and a director of Assuris. She was previously Director of the Canadian Insolvency Foundation, a director of the Canadian Insolvency and Restructuring Professionals Association and on the board of the British Columbia Law Institute. For more than twelve years, Dr. Sarra served as a commercial arbitrator and labour mediator/arbitrator.

Dr. Sarra’s contributions to public policy development include: member of the Canadian delegation of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Working Group V, 2008-2020, Vienna and New York; World Bank Insolvency and Creditors Rights Task Force, Working Group on Insolvency of Non-Bank Financial Institutions, 2009, Washington, DC; Experts Committee, Expert Witness, Senate Committee on Banking Trade and Commerce, Review of Insolvency Legislation, February, 2008, Ottawa; Member, Ontario Attorney General's Interministerial Task Force on Administrative Tribunals.

Hillary Thatcher is Senior Director, Project Development, Indigenous Infrastructure. Hillary leads the CIB’s Indigenous relationships and opportunities to engage with Indigenous communities. She is part of the team offering advice and making investments consistent in CIB’s priority initiatives.

Previously Director General of Innovation and Services at Indigenous Services Canada, Hillary spent 15 years with the Ontario government in senior roles across Indigenous Affairs, Energy and Infrastructure, and Natural Resources. Hillary has a proven track record of building linkages among government, industry, and Indigenous interests.

Hillary is Métis and has been an active member of the urban Indigenous community of Toronto through her volunteer roles at the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto, Red Sky Performance, and the Downie Wenjak Fund. Hillary graduated from Concordia University in Montreal and the University of Victoria.

Richard Talbot is Chief Operating Officer, Investments at iA Investment Management, an asset manager with $100 billion under management. In this role, he is responsible for leading the implementation of a new strategic vision for an investment department where Responsible Investment is a key priority. Previously, Richard had a variety of senior leadership roles at RBC Capital Markets, a top-10 global investment bank including Chief Operating Officer, Co-Head of Global Research and Managing Director, Telecom Services Research.

Richard is the Co-Chair and Co-Founder of the Industry Standards Reporting Research Council, which works to create international standards for the reporting of alternative performance measures, a gap that is not covered by audited GAAP financial information. Within the local community, Richard is a board member of Second Harvest Food Rescue – an organization which is expanding beyond the greater Toronto area to become a national food rescue organization. He is also a board governor and Treasurer of Royal St. George’s College in Toronto.

Richard is a past director of RBC subsidiary companies, the CFA Society Toronto and currently chairs CFAST’s Advisory Council. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant with an FCPA, FCA designation and a Chartered Financial Analyst. Richard holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in business administration from the Ivey Business School.

Myha Truong-Regan is the Head of Climate Research at RBC’s Climate Action Institute. Prior to joining RBC, Myha was a senior economist with the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC), where her work was focused on regulatory strategy and research. Myha also had careers as an urban planner, where her focus was on environmental and social policy, and a strategy and marketing consultant, where her focus was on real estate development and consumer packaged goods.

Myha holds an MBA from the Rotman School of Management, at the University of Toronto, and Bachelor of Environmental Studies degree from the University of Waterloo.

John Uhren is Head, Sustainable Finance, Products and Strategy, at BMO. He leads product development and strategic initiatives across the enterprise, including raising capital and providing sustainable finance opportunities to clients. John is also a member of BMO’s Energy Transition Group and the CSA Group’s Transition and Sustainable Finance Technical Committee.

Prior to joining the Sustainable Finance team, John was Senior Counsel and Director in Capital Markets Legal at BMO. John was co-head of BMO’s Pro Bono Committee, and in 2017 won Lexpert’s Rising Star Award as a top Canadian lawyer under 40.

John founded Feet Forward Organization in 2013, a Canadian registered charity that partners with NGO agencies in South Africa to assist refugees, asylum-seekers and newly landed immigrants. He is currently a board member of Dress for Success Toronto.

As the CFO, Davinder is responsible for ensuring Peel remains financially sustainable while continuing to deliver a suite of cost-effective and responsive business services to support the organization.

Davinder has worked at the executive leadership level since 2006. She comes to Peel Region from the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada where she was the Executive Director, Accounting for Sustainability (A4S) Canada and Director, Strategy, Risk and Performance Management. In this role, she led a team to conduct technical research on emerging and current issues related to the disruptors of technology, economy, sustainability, finance, strategy and risk and their impact on society, business and governments. Davinder also managed large private and public CFOs to incorporate sustainability into everyday decision-making and led the A4S network of CFOs in Canada and abroad to address global finance challenges. Davinder's past roles include Director, Global Infrastructure Advisory, KPMG LLP, and Director, Strategic Oversight and Partnership Management and Director of Strategic Planning and Stakeholder Relations, Ontario Power Generation.

A Chartered Professional Accountant, Davinder holds an Honours Co-op Bachelor of Arts in Chartered Accountancy from the University of Waterloo and the Executive Leadership Program diploma from the Schulich School of Business. She actively contributes to several boards and organizations including the Institute for Sustainable Finance, the Women in Energy Transformation Series, Capitals Hubs Canada and BGC Canada.

Erica Wieder is Manager of Investor Relations at the Ontario Financing Authority (OFA), the crown agency tasked with conducting borrowing, investment and financial risk management for the Province of Ontario.

At the OFA, Erica develops multi-faceted strategies to drive investor engagement to promote Ontario’s bonds to institutional fixed income investors domestically and abroad. Erica has been involved in Ontario’s Green Bond program, currently the largest in Canada, since its inauguration in 2014. She leads the Province’s Impact Reporting through the publication of an annual Green Bond newsletter, helping advance the program and distinguish Ontario as a leader in impact reporting with wide recognition in Canada and abroad.

Erica also spearheads the Green Bonds dedicated space on the OFA website, which is well recognized throughout the industry, and other marketing initiatives. Previously, Erica worked in policy development at the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), the industry association representing the property and casualty insurance industry in Canada, and an investment bank in Argentina. Erica holds an M.A. in Economics from Western University (UWO), and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Buenos Aires.