On Saturday, January 18, the Ivey Social Impact Club held the Harmony Conference, an event focused on sustainability and social impact, with the goal of inspiring the next generation of changemakers. The day-long conference at Ivey featured inspiring keynote speakers, panel discussions, and workshops covering topics such as Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing and consulting, sustainable finance, and social innovation. In her blog below, HBA student Lauren Meikle, Co-VP of Education and Advocacy for the Social Impact Club, summarizes key insights from the event.
The role of sustainable finance in the climate transition
Mitch McEwen, Senior Manager of Sustainable Finance and ESG at TD Bank, delivered the keynote presentation, emphasizing the vital role of sustainable finance in aligning capital flows with a balanced approach – integrating social equity, financial stability, and economically viable environmentalism. He highlighted that financial institutions, as central pillars of the economy, are uniquely positioned to drive the climate transition.
McEwen encouraged pursuing “10x opportunities” – projects that create the greatest impact. Discussing emissions assessment and climate-related financial disclosures, he reinforced the importance of balanced systems in fostering global resilience and long-term prosperity.
Mitch McEwen spoke at the event remotely
Navigating nuclear energy: Risks, public perception, and industry challenges
Gordon McBean, a climate scientist with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and a Western University Professor Emeritus, and Lucas Monzani, an assistant professor of Organizational Behaviour at Ivey, led the Nuclear Energy Workshop.
McBean discussed tail risks – low-probability but potentially catastrophic events – that shape public perceptions of nuclear energy as unsafe. He noted that high-profile nuclear incidents have received extensive media coverage, fostering widespread skepticism toward nuclear fission.
Monzani addressed the growing influence of disinformation on social media and fear-mongering by organizations, both of which are driven by a general lack of public education on nuclear fission technology. He highlighted how public resistance to nuclear energy hinders public-sector nuclear projects, shifting the responsibility for normalizing nuclear power to the private sector. Additionally, he cautioned against allowing the nuclear energy industry to self-regulate.
The Nuclear Energy Workshop speakers, Gordon McBean (left) and Lucas Monzani (right)
Impact investing bridges financial performance and community benefit
Garth Davis, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at New Market Funds, led the Impact Investing Workshop, sharing insights on his career journey, key experiences, and perspectives on ESG and impact investing. New Market Funds is a specialized fund manager focused on real estate and affordable housing, managing over $110 million in capital across Canada.
During the discussion, Davis emphasized the distinction between ESG and impact investing. He also highlighted the uncertainty surrounding ESG in the U.S., where fluctuating political stances impact climate leadership. Additionally, he stressed the importance of forming one’s own opinions through diverse sources, including mentors, academic literature, and personal experience.
Biodiversity + Design: sustainable innovation and community empowerment
Hosted by Claire Messenger, Sustainability Associate, and Eldrin Banares, Creative Designer from TEALEAVES, the Biodiversity + Design workshop introduced three key principles to guide decision-making processes: BEYOND-HUMAN (acknowledging that human well-being is linked to the health of biodiversity), BEYOND-SELF (collaborative creativity and shared ownership of the design process), and BEYOND-TIME (responsibility for the legacy we leave for future generations).
The workshop explored a case study on a partnership between the UN Development Program, TEALEAVES, and Tergar Charity Nepal, aimed at increasing economic opportunities for Samaguan women in Nepal while preserving their historic agro-pastoral way of life. These women hand-pick and sun-dry gob-chi berries to produce Wild Himalayan Mountain Tea, with profits reinvested into community development and infrastructure.
In alignment with the Beyond-Self Principle – which promotes harmony with natural ecosystems –TEALEAVES integrates yaks for natural fertilization instead of using commercial fertilizers. In recognition of this initiative, Tergar Charity Nepal was awarded the 2023 UN Equator Prize for its contributions to sustainable development.
Exploring careers at the intersection of sustainability and business
This panel discussion featured Ivey alumni and student speakers, including:
- Amy Gibbons, MBA ’08, Assistant Vice President of Client Impact and Sustainability at Equitable;
- Sydney Atkinson and Nikola Lapenna, both MBA ’25 candidates; and,
- Shubham Dandawate, MSc ’25, graduate research assistant with Ivey’s Sustainable Finance Lab.
With their diverse backgrounds in finance, engineering, technology, consulting, and insurance, they shared insights into career opportunities at the intersection of sustainability and business. The panel provided an in-depth exploration of how sustainability is shaping various industries, the skills needed to succeed in this evolving landscape, and practical advice for students seeking impactful careers.
“Sustainability is no longer a niche topic,” said Gibbons, emphasizing its growing significance in the business world and its integration into decision-making across industries. She highlighted the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration, noting that sustainability challenges require expertise from multiple sectors.
Atkinson shared her journey from a STEM background into Ivey and discussed how her experience at Thermal Energy International, a company specializing in smart energy monitoring, sparked her interest in sustainability.
Dandawate, who has an engineering background, provided an Indian perspective on sustainability and impact consulting, emphasizing the unique challenges and opportunities in emerging markets.
Lapenna explored the intersection of finance and sustainability, highlighting the increasing role of ESG factors in financial decision-making and the growing demand for professionals who understand the financial implications of sustainability initiatives.
Amy Gibbons speaking to students
A special thank you to the Social Impact Club team
A big thank you to the SIC team for making this conference possible! And, of course, thank you to everyone who attended – we hope you found it valuable and insightful.
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