Community Outlook with Susan Aglukark - Climate Action for Businesses

Description

Join us on November 28 for Community Outlook with Susan Aglukark, co-presented with London Environmental Network. 

Be inspired by Susan Aglukark’s keynote presentation, Nomad: Correcting the Narrative. This captivating 60-minute multimedia presentation weaves together music and storytelling to shed light on thousands of years of Canadian Inuit history, brought to life by the renowned Inuk singer/songwriter, Susan Aglukark, O.C.

After Susan’s presentation, a panel discussion facilitated by Katie Wilhelm will focus on the urgent climate challenges facing businesses today, offering practical solutions. Panelists will share their experiences and strategies for addressing these critical issues. 

Panelists:

• Marianne Griffith - Executive Director, London Environmental Network
• Andrew Hrymak - Project Leader for Carbon Solutions, Western University
• Jay Stanford - Director, Climate Change, Environment & Waste Management, Environment & Infrastructure Service Area, City of London
• Sadaf Taimur - Director of Sustainability & Circularity, Goodwill Industries Ontario Great Lakes

Susan Aglukark is Canada’s first Inuk artist to win a Juno (total of 4), a Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for lifetime artistic achievement, and she is an officer of the Order of Canada. Susan holds several Honorary Doctorate degrees and has held command performances.
During a career that has spanned more than 30 years, Susan’s journey as a singer-songwriter has led her to reflect on who she is, where she comes from and the importance of discovery – discovery of history, culture, and self, this time of reflection, writing and songwriting has Susan coming back to one area of profound knowing, the Inuit are an extraordinary people deeply grounded in a culture forged by their Ancestors, their journey is what shaped them.

ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS

Katie Wilhelm - Facilitator
Katie Wilhelm, RGD (she/her) is an award-winning Indigenous designer and consultant based in London, Ontario. Katie is a proud Indigenous woman from the Chippewas of Nawash First Nation at Neyaashiinigmiing. Prior to founding her own design practice, Katie spent more than ten years specializing in corporate communications, specifically in local economic development. Katie is a leader in the local arts and culture community, having worked in London’s creative industry since 2009. 

Marianne Griffith is a solution-based leader that prioritizes strategic partnerships and impact-driven results. She is a member of the Association of Energy Engineers, a Certified Energy Auditor, and holds certificates in Renewable Energy Project Management and Professional Writing. She began her career as a Project Manager for a net-zero architecture firm, working on sustainable developments in Indigenous communities in many countries. She still works closely with First Nations communities in Ontario and sits on the Chippewas of The Thames Energy Committee working to increase access to clean energy sources and sustainable, affordable housing. Marianne serves on the City of London's Environmental Stewardship and Community Action Advisory Committee, The London Community Foundation's Grants Committee and the London District Renewable Energy Coop's Board of Directors. Marianne received the Mayor's Honour Roll Award for the Environment in 2021.

Andrew Hrymak is the project leader for Carbon Solutions @ Western, a Western University Strategic Priority Fund research initiative to address greenhouse mitigation using sustainable approaches. He served as Provost and Vice-President Academic and Dean of Engineering at Western University,  He is currently Professor of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering and Director of the Fraunhofer Innovation Platform for Composites Research at Western University.  Andy also serves as Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors for London Hydro.

Jay Stanford is the Director of Climate Change, Environment, and Waste Management for the City of London. In this role, he oversees initiatives and programs related to environmental sustainability, climate action, waste management, and community engagement. His work  focuses on making London more resilient and environmentally conscious. He joined the City in 1995 and has been a Director in the Environment & Infrastructure Service Area since 2012. Prior to joining the City, Jay worked for 8 years for an environmental and engineering consulting firm in Toronto, Ontario.

Dr. Sadaf Taimur epitomizes bold leadership in the field of sustainability, demonstrating a dynamic and visionary approach across diverse sectors and platforms. As a Sustainability Scientist and the Director of Sustainability &; Circularity at Goodwill Industries, Ontario Great Lakes, Canada, she develops and implements strategies, policies, and programs aimed at promoting sustainability and circularity to mitigate environmental impacts.

A passionate advocate for social and environmental justice, Sadaf integrates co-creation and community-driven solutions to address profound systemic inequalities and environmental degradation. She is a fellow at the Salzburg Global Seminar and serves as an advisor on B-Lab’s Standards Advisory Committee (US & Canada), championing ethical business practices. Sadaf has also consulted on a research project at the University of Montreal, where she explored the intersection of AI and ESG investments. Her previous experience includes serving as a Senior ESG Specialist at Mondetta, Canada, and holding postdoctoral research positions at McGill University, Canada under the PIVOT project and the University of Tokyo, Japan under the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) project. With a doctorate in Sustainability Science, Sadaf specializes in facilitating individual and organizational transformations for achieving sustainability. As a G20 Global Changer, she played a pivotal role in contributing to recommendations on systems transformation for sustainable development at the 2017 G20 Summit in Germany. She has been recognized for her contributions with multiple accolades, including the GESS Outstanding Contribution in Education Award (2016), the Green Talents Award (2020) from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research for her groundbreaking research in sustainability science, and the Global 50 Women in Sustainability Award (2024) for making bold strides in sustainability and driving positive change.

Photography and Video Disclaimer: The London Chamber of Commerce reserves the right to photograph, record, and live stream this event.  These photos and videos may be used in publications, posters and/or graphics. By registering for this event, you understand and acknowledge that your photograph and videos with you in them may be taken and used, per the discretion of the London Chamber of Commerce.