All Awards candidates must be members of the RIA for at least one year as of January 1, 2021. Awards candidates must be RIA members in good standing on the date they enter their submission, and on June 7, 2021 when the Awards are presented. Awards are available for both Organizational and Individual RIA Membership categories.
Award Categories
The RIA Leadership Awards are an opportunity to earn national recognition for your contributions to responsible investment in Canada. Each award will recognize the leadership and excellence of an RIA member for their work in one of the following five categories: Market Education, Integration, Stewardship, Service Leadership or Individual Leadership. Drawn from the RIA’s Strategic Priorities, these categories represent the critical work being done to advance responsible investment in Canada. An award will be granted in each category, for a total of 5 Awards. Meet the 2020 winners here.
Market Education: Driving Awareness and Demand for RI
Recognizing RIA members who seek to bridge the gap between knowledge about and demand for RI by engaging and educating market participants, raising awareness of responsible investment and developing and promoting tools, resources and research related to RI.
Integration: Developing the RI Capacity of Investment Professionals
Recognizing RIA members who further the adoption and development of responsible investment practices among investment professionals by enabling the development of RI literacy and expertise, and implementing and enhancing RI policies, processes and principles.
Stewardship: Advancing Practices and Policies to Support RI
Recognizing Organizational RIA members who exemplify leading stewardship practices by leveraging their influence as investors to advance the widespread implementation of ESG practices, standards and policies/regulations that support RI objectives.
Service Leadership: Advancing Market Practices to Support RI
Recognizing Organizational RIA members who, as ESG/RI service providers, further the adoption and implementation of best practices, standards and policies/regulations that support ESG/RI objectives.
Individual Leadership: Driving Awareness and Demand for RI
Recognizing Individual RIA members who seek to improve their knowledge about RI, raise awareness about RI with clients, and integrate RI strategies within their organization or practice.
Award Eligibility
To be eligible for a 2021 RIA Leadership
Award, submissions must meet the following criteria:
RIA Membership
Collaborative Projects
Collaborative Projects may be submitted, so long as at least 50% of the project’s participants are RIA members, or RIA members actively contributed at least 50% of the effort for the project.
- Simply sponsoring a project will not be eligible.
- All participants must agree to take part in the Awards before sending in their submission.
- Multiple submissions for one collaborative project will not be permitted; if multiple submissions are received, the RIA will encourage the participants to submit a single Collaborative submission.
Project Time Frame
The activities described in the submission must have taken place or been implemented during the calendar year 2020. The Awards are open to both ongoing and completed projects. While activities might have been initiated prior to 2020, or may conclude after 2020, the submission will be evaluated on the basis of its reported results during calendar year 2020.
Submission Timeline
Enter a Submission or Nomination
The Submission/Nomination period will be open from February 12, 2021 to April 14, 2021 . All Awards candidates must be members of the RIA for at least one year as of January 1, 2021. Awards candidates must be RIA members in good standing on the date they enter their submission, and on June 7, 2021 when the Awards are presented.
An Individual or Organization can be nominated by another RIA member. The RIA will advise the Nominee of their nomination, and the Nominee will then be responsible for submitting their own Entry.
Additional information:
- Submissions must be on behalf of an Organizational RIA Member or an Individual RIA Member.
- Collaborative projects are welcome for either Submission type (further instructions available on the Submission Form).
- There is a limit of 1 submission per Organization/Individual per category and a limit of 2 submissions per Organization overall.
- Submissions, supporting documents and links can all be submitted in either official language.
Judging the RIA Leadership Awards
The Judges’ Panel is made up of 11 Volunteers with expertise in responsible investment in Canada. The Panel’s composition considers factors such as geography, gender, and racial diversity, consistent with the RIA Board’s Diversity Policy, and balanced representation from the following sectors:
- Academics
- Advisors
- Asset Managers
- Asset Owners
- Business/Consulting/Service Provider
- Financial Institutions (Banks & Credit Unions)
- Media
- RI Organizations
Meet the 2021 Judges!
Learn More about the Judging Process
Amr Addas
Adjunct Professor and Director of the Van Berkom Investment Management Program, John Molson School of Business, Concordia University
Amr Addas is an Adjunct Professor and Director of the Van Berkom Investment Management Program and Van Berkom Small Cap Case Competition at the John Molson School of Business, Concordia University. Learn More.
Patti Dolan
Portfolio Manager, Mission Wealth Advisors of Raymond James Ltd.
Patti Dolan is portfolio manager with Mission Wealth Advisors of Raymond James Ltd., based in Calgary. Patti has been in the investment industry for over 30 years and has practiced Responsible Investing (RI) since 1995. Learn More.
Pablo Fuchs
Globe Advisor Editor, The Globe and Mail
Pablo Fuchs is editor of Globe Advisor at The Globe and Mail, a position he has held since January 2019. He oversees the editorial direction and manages the production of daily content for the Globe’s direct-to-advisor offering. Learn More.
Christian Hansen
Compliance and Revenue Manager, The Real Estate Foundation of BC
Christian has worked for the past 11 years at the Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia where he oversees the revenue streams and investments of the Foundation. Learn More.
Emily Lawrence
Director, Sustainable Investing, Northern Trust Asset Management
Emily Lawrence is Director of Sustainable Investing at Northern Trust Asset Management where she is responsible for client engagement and partnership regarding Northern Trusts’ sustainable investing capabilities. Learn More.
Michelle McCulloch
Director, Research Products, Sustainalytics
Michelle leads the Thematic Research Team within Research Products at Sustainalytics and is also a leader on the Enhanced Research Team. She has been a sector manager leading both the Financials research team and the Extractives research team. Learn More.
Jean-Philippe Renaut
CEO, Aequo
Jean-Philippe Renaut joined Æquo in 2016 and a year later became its CEO. He is responsible for client relations, business development and operations, and leads specific dialogues with companies on behalf of Æquo’s clients. Learn More.
Mark Sevestre
President, National Aboriginal Trust Officers Association
In 2006, Mark became one of three founding members of the National Aboriginal Trust Officers Association. Serving in several roles, including Board Member, Committee Chairman and President, Mark is currently serving as Founder and Senior Advisor to NATOA. Learn More.
Melissa Shin
Editorial Director, Advisor’s Edge and Investment Executive
Melissa Shin is the Editorial Director at Advisor’s Edge and Investment Executive with Newcom Media Inc. As an award-winning journalist and the editorial director of four national financial services publications, Melissa turns technical subject matter into accessible content for sophisticated audiences. Learn More.
Sarah Takaki
Senior Director, Sustainable Investing, Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP)
Sarah Takaki is the Senior Director, Sustainable Investing at the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP), where she leads the Sustainable Investing program. Learn More.
Stephen Whipp
Director of Responsible Asset Management, Leede Jones Gable Inc.
Stephen Whipp is an activist and a passionate guy. He believes that individuals working together really can change the world for the better. With a background in journalism and non-profit management that includes aboriginal governance, and more than 20 years as a successful investment advisor, Steve brings a potent combination of experience, knowledge and connections to the table. Learn More.
Winners
Winner: BMO Global Asset Management
Market Education (Institutional Investors & Financial Institutions)
Project: MyESG Campaign: Aligning Beliefs and Investments. Learn More.
Winner: British Columbia Investment Management Corporation
Integration (Institutional Investors)
Project: BCI's ESG Risk and Opportunities Framework. Learn More.
Winner: BMO Global Asset Management
Stewardship (Institutional Investors)
Project: Diversity and inclusion (D&I) engagement in Canada: moving beyond gender. Learn More.
Winner: SHARE & Atkinson Foundation
Service Leadership (Service Providers)
Project: Valuing Decent Work (Collaborative Submission). Learn More.
Winner: Dr. Edward T. Jackson
Individual Leadership (Financial Advisors and Professionals)
Project: Assessing Ecosystem Building: The Evaluation of the Convergence Blended Finance Platform. Learn More.
Finalist: Desjardins
Market Education (Institutional Investors & Financial Institutions)
Project: The RI Certification Program: Empowering advisors to integrate RI into their practice and to educate their clients. Learn More.
Finalist: Inspirit Foundation
Integration (Institutional Investors)
Project: 100% Impact Portfolio. Learn More.
Finalist: British Columbia Investment Management Corporation
Stewardship (Institutional Investors)
Project: BCI's Leading Stewardship in Board Governance and Climate-related Disclosure Practices. Learn More.
Finalist: MSCI
Service Leadership (Service Providers)
Project: Advancing Climate Investing in Canada: Equipping Institutional Investors with Critical Climate Tools. Learn More.
Finalist: Tony Pringle
Individual (Financial Advisors and Professionals)
Project: Supporting ESG Leadership Among Canadian Alternative Investors. Learn More.