Sustainable Investing - Virtual

“Enjoyed being a student again in completing the Sustainable Investing program offered by the Smith School of Business at Queen's University. … I recommend the course to others interested in a good overview of key concepts and issues in the emerging field of sustainable investing. Relevant to asset managers, issuers and also board members given the increasing importance of this field in the allocation of capital in the market.”

Robert McFarlane
Board Member
Definity Financial and HSBC Bank Canada

Personal Benefits

This program will enhance your effectiveness in your professional role by enhancing:

• Knowledge of the latest sustainable finance best practices
• Understanding of ESG information and how to apply it in the investment process
• Understanding of investor expectations for ESG considerations
• Ability to analyze investment opportunities and performance through an ESG lens
• Understanding of approaches to integrating ESG considerations into the portfolio management process
• Understanding of the importance of engagement

Organizational Benefits

Organizations will benefit from their employees improving:

• Expertise in latest sustainable investing concepts and frameworks
• ESG analysis and assessment ability
• Understanding of ESG integration in analysis and portfolio management
• Capacity in stewardship and engagement

Content

The program covers the following topics:

• The major sustainable investing approaches
• Discussions addressing important sources of ESG information, and how to apply it in the investment process
• How to integrate and assess ESG information in investment consideration, risk analysis and credit analysis
• Integrating ESG information in the portfolio management process including asset allocation, security selection, risk management, and performance evaluation
• Evolving expectations for institutional investors in stewardship and engagement
• Stewardship best practices including goal-setting, progress monitoring, and reporting
• Strategies for proxy voting related to ESG considerations
• The role of collective engagement initiatives such as Climate Action 100+
• Working with case studies to bring concepts and strategies to life in practical application

Dynamic Virtual Classroom

Participate in the program from anywhere. Our online learning platform combines live, interactive video instruction with breakout sessions, panel discussions, and expert Q&A.

Our learning platform is fully encrypted, allowing you to connect securely from home, office or anywhere in between.

Virtual programs are designed to fit within your schedule, allowing you to learn new skills and immediately put them to work.

Session Leaders

Session leaders include senior professors from Smith School of Business and knowledgeable experts from industry. These outstanding teachers are constantly in touch with today's business world through real-world business experience, Board memberships and their own consulting practices.

Sean Cleary

Finance
Smith School of Business

Dr. Sean Cleary is a Professor of Finance at Smith School of Business, Queen’s University. He is the founder and Academic Director of the Master of Finance program. He holds a PhD in finance from the University of Toronto and is a CFA charter holder. He is a current member of the CFA Society Toronto Advisory Council, and is a former member of the Board of Directors for the Toronto CFA Society and the Atlantic Canada CFA Society (where he served as President).

Dr. Cleary has authored 14 finance textbooks and has published more than 30 research articles, including several in top tier finance journals. His publications have been cited over 4,400 times and he has received several major research grants. His most recent research and educational interests focus on the field of sustainable finance. He is an Associate Editor for two finance journals and frequently serves as a reviewer for many of the top finance journals. Dr. Cleary regularly serves as an expert witness on cost of capital and capital markets.

Michelle de Cordova

ESG Global Advisors

Michelle has played a prominent role in Canadian responsible investment for over ten years and has more than twenty years’ experience in sustainability. As a Principal at ESG Global Advisors, she works to bridge the gap between companies and investors on environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) factors: assisting companies and boards of directors to develop ESG strategies that generate long-term value and respond to emerging capital markets expectations and assisting investors to integrate ESG to their investment processes.

 

Prior to joining ESG Global in 2019, for eight years she was Director of Corporate Engagement at NEI Investments, leading the firm’s well-regarded program of dialogue with portfolio companies, engaged proxy voting, and public policy work on corporate regulations and standards. Before moving to Canada, she worked for ten years as a staff member and consultant for environment and social development non-profits in Europe, Asia, and Africa, including Oxfam and WWF, and earlier she served for six years in the U.K. Diplomatic Service. She holds a Master of Science degree in the management of integrated conservation and social development. Michelle is Vice-Chair of the Canadian Coalition for Good Governance Environmental and Social Committee and has played a leading role in numerous industry leading ESG collaborations at the Canadian Responsible Investment Association, the U.S. Interfaith Center for Corporate Responsibility, and globally through the Principles for Responsible Investment and the Investor Alliance for Human Rights. She is also a member of the British Columbia Securities Commission's Corporate Finance Stakeholder Forum advisory group. In 2020, Michelle received a Clean50 award for her leadership in advancing sustainability and clean capitalism in Canada.