Educate. Engage. Exchange
April 26, 2012
Taking the three R’s of the environment to another level at the SNC-Lavalin O&M Building Sustainability Forum.
SNC-Lavalin O&M is taking the issue of sustainability to a new level by introducing its own three E’s: Educate, Engage, Exchange. Educating and engaging clients and employees is a central part of SNC-Lavalin’s WE CARE principles and its sustainability mandate. Collaboration and cross-functional work, integral to sustainability, require exchange of ideas and solutions, and this is exactly what SNC-Lavalin O&M’s annual Building Sustainability Forum aims to do.
SNC-Lavalin O&M’s clients, senior management and sustainability industry leaders will gather on May 23, 2012 at the Toronto Botanical Garden, a LEED Silver certified building, to Educate, Engage and Exchange. The Building Sustainability Forum will showcase how to effectively manage sustainability throughout an organization, how marketing and a corporate culture are becoming intertwined in the sustainability era, the power of partnering with environmental NGOs, and much more.
The day will start with addresses from two sustainability thought leaders: Jed Goldberg, president of Earth Day Canada, who will share his experience of working with companies that are building greater brand value by engaging employees to achieve corporate sustainability objectives; and Michael Jantzi, President and CEO of Sustainalytics, who will discuss the benefits of evaluating sustainability performance from the standpoint of external investors and internal management.
During the afternoon panel discussions, participants will have a chance to debate sector-specific questions and best practices related to smart building, water security and conservation, the link between asset management, zero-energy buildings and lifecycle approaches. Participants will also have the opportunity to learn interactively about the power of connecting with employees and how leveraging their passion can help create a sustainability culture based on shared values.
Some of our moderators and panelists include: Anthony Watanabe, President and CEO of Innovolve Group; Don Barry, Associate Partner at IBM Global Business Services; Nadine Gudz, Director, Sustainability Strategy at InterfaceFLOR; Rene Drolet, Director, Policy and Research at National Round table on the Environment and the Economy, Barb Steel, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Network for Business Sustainability.
The Forum will be organized as a ‘towards zero waste’ event. It will be bullfrog-powered with 100% carbon-free green power and our guests’ travel GHG emissions will be mitigated through the purchase of Gold Standard carbon offsets. SNC-Lavalin O&M will also work with the Toronto Botanical Gardens to eliminate the residual waste receptacles and ensure recycling and composting bins are present. Moreover, Sequel, the vent caterer, a committed market partner of Local Food Plus and member of Green Enterprise Ontario, has leveraged their strong relationship with local Ontario farmers, to design a menu based solely on local, seasonal and/or organic ingredients, while committing to eliminating the event’s catering waste almost entirely (including a donation of food leftovers to a charitable organization).
Throughout the day, participants will have ample time to connect with and learn from green building industry representatives about the most innovative products and services showcased at the display tables, and discover the latest trends to support sustainability initiatives in buildings and communities.
SNC-Lavalin O&M and its guests will be in for a day of inspirational sustainability leadership lessons and networking with environment and business leaders.
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