Climate change is the greatest challenge of our time.
Time is running out to reconcile economic development and green transition.
It's time to take action for a sustainable future.
Fighting climate change is the greatest challenge of our time. Cities and metropolises play a key role in this due to their high concentration of economic activity and population.
Companies, large and small, can make a difference. They have a key role to play. It's in this context that the Chamber and BMO have joined forces to roll out the convertgence initiative, aimed at helping urban businesses accelerate their green transition.
On March 21, a new edition of the convertgence Strategic Forum will take place. This key event attracted over 650 participants at its first edition in 2024.
A full day of conferences, panels and expert sessions is waiting for you. Whatever your company's stage of progress in the green transition, this day aims to guide you as best you can in your approach.
At this major mobilization event, you'll meet green transition specialists, ecosystem leaders, political figures and other companies and entrepreneurs committed to making their business practices more sustainable. An exhibition area will also allow you to meet organizations offering solutions to help you make the green transition.
The event will close with a networking cocktail, a privileged opportunity to create connections with key players.
Join us on March 21 for this must-attend event at the Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth.
Reserve your place now. Get on board and take action!
I register
A winning and productive strategy to accelerate your green transition strategy
An enriching experience: attend talks and panel discussions in the morning and take part in expert-led sessions in the afternoon.
A host of business opportunities
Take advantage of networking opportunities throughout the day, from breaks, meals and expert-led sessions to the closing networking cocktail hour.
Expo area
Explore our exhibition area, where organizations will be on hand to help you accelerate your transition.
Meet them: CERIEC, Énergir, Equans, the Government of Québec, Hydro-Québec, Investissement Québec, LG2, Mobilidée, the Ordre des comptables professionnels agréés du Québec (CPA) Public Services and Procurement Canada, SOFIAC, Synergie Montréal and Veolia.
Attend this forum to:
- Learn more about the new convertgence initiative, which invites the business community to rapidly integrate sustainable business practices;
- Better understand the benefits of taking action and the need to adapt to tomorrow's economy;
- Equip your company to initiate or accelerate its green transition by integrating environmentally friendly business practices;
- Be inspired by actual cases of transition and celebrate leaders who have demonstrated their positive impact;
- Network and meet ecosystem leaders – specialists in climate transition and sustainable business practices, organizations sharing a common interest in sustainable development, etc.
- Meet organizations in the exhibition area that will help you accelerate your transition: CERIEC, Énergir, Equans, the Government of Québec, Hydro-Québec, Investissement Québec, LG2, Mobilidée, the Ordre des comptables professionnels agréés du Québec (CPA), Public Services and Procurement Canada, SOFIAC, Synergie Montréal and Veolia.
- Take advantage of an exclusive 20-minute consultation with Hydro-Québec and Énergir experts. Get customized advice to optimize your energy consumption. Reserve your time HERE today!
Program for the day
7 a.m. – Reception of participants: breakfast, networking and visit to exhibitor booths
8 a.m. – Conferences begin
12 p.m. – Networking lunch and visit to exhibitor booths
1 p.m. – Panel sessions begin
2 p.m. – Main conference
3 p.m. – Closing speech and networking cocktail reception
5 p.m. – End of event
With the participation of :
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The Honourable Steven Guilbeault
Minister of Canadian Culture and Identity, Parks Canada
See biography
Our program and speakers
7 a.m. − Welcome: breakfast, networking and exhibitor visits
8:00 a.m. − Welcoming speech
Climate and business: understanding the impacts, overcoming the challenges and seizing new opportunities
A look at economic and ecological pressures, strategic choices and high-impact initiatives to ensure business resilience and growth.
BLOCK 1
BLOCK
1
ACCELERATE YOUR TRANSITION IN UNCERTAIN TIMES
How can companies navigate climate, political and economic uncertainties while meeting the growing expectations of their stakeholders – be they consumers, employees, partners, regulators or investors? Through exchanges with public decision-makers and private sector leaders, participants will discover political and economic levers, strategies for mastering risks, and concrete approaches for transforming the green transition into a sustainable competitive advantage.
8:25 a.m. - Economic and geopolitical context: Minimizing the impact on your transition
In an environment marked by growing economic and geopolitical uncertainties, how can companies navigate through the challenges and seize the opportunities to ensure a sustainable green transition? Discover the adaptation and investment strategies implemented by economic players in the light of market fluctuations, new regulations and competitive pressures.
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Raymond Bachand
Strategic Advisor
Norton Rose Fulbright
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Gladys Caron
Senior Vice-President, Strategies and External Communications
Investissement Québec
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Catherine Simard
Managing Director, Sustainable Investing
CDPQ
8:45 a.m. − Accelerating the city's decarbonization: Keeping on track with our climate commitments
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Daniel Charron
Vice-President, Engagement, Sustainability and Public Affairs
Fondaction
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Karel Mayrand
President and Chief Executive Officer
Foundation of Greater Montréal
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Stéphanie Trudeau
Executive Vice President, Québec
Énergir
9:05 a.m. − Risk management and climate adaptation – How to prepare for the unpredictable
Climate change is creating more complicated risks for businesses, from natural disasters to supply chain disruptions and increased regulatory requirements. Discover innovative approaches to managing these risks, climate adaptation strategies and levers for building more robust infrastructures and business models.
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Alain Fortin
Senior Vice President
Intact Insurance, Quebec
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Olivier Joyal
Executive Vice President, Client Program, and ESG Leader & Québec Regional Leader
WSP Canada
BLOCK 2
BLOCK
2
MAKING TRANSITION A LEVER FOR CORPORATE GROWTH
Discover concrete ways for companies to take advantage of the green transition to create sustainable value and remain competitive. From the circular economy to decarbonization, digital innovations and local initiatives, explore proven strategies and exemplary projects. This block will answer key questions: where and how to invest? What are the short- and medium-term priorities? Who can accompany this transformation to maximize its benefits?
9:20 a.m. − An exclusive exchange with Sasha Luccioni – Artificial intelligence: ally or enemy when it comes to the climate crisis?
In this exchange, AI and climate expert, Sasha Luccioni will explore the opportunities and challenges of AI in the fight against climate change. Find out how digital innovation can improve our environmental practices, but also what precautions need to be taken to minimize our carbon footprint.
9:40 a.m. − From audacity to impact: How clean technologies are changing the game
This panel will highlight local initiatives that have demonstrated their effectiveness in generating concrete results, and explore the opportunities offered by clean technologies to sustainably transform our economy.
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Isabelle Dubé-Côté
President and Chief Executive Officer,
Écotech Québec
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Olivier Dufresne CEO & Co-founder
Exterra Carbon
10:00 a.m. − Networking break
10:30 a.m. − Looking to the future: overcoming the challenges and seizing the opportunities of a transforming economy
10:40 a.m. − Less waste, more value: Energy performance for your business
Energy efficiency is an essential lever for cost reduction, boosting competitiveness and affirming a company's commitment to the environment.
Come and discover the best practices for optimizing energy performance, assessing and tracking progress on an ongoing basis, and exploiting financing and support opportunities to enhance your company's value.
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Nicolas Lacroix
Director, Energy Transition
Equans Services
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Josyane Fortin Senior Director – Customer Energy Offerings and Rates
Hydro-Québec
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Patrick Beauger
Vice President, Strategy, Development and Marketing
Veolia North America, Canada
11 a.m. − Decarbonization in action: mobilize, unite and transform − The example of Montréal airport
ADM and SOFIAC are taking action with an ambitious project to reduce their GHG emissions. Find out how they are optimizing their energy consumption and financing their transition.
Keys to action! Get inspired by this initiative and leave with concrete tools to apply these strategies to your company.
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Michel Méthot
Executive VP, Projects and Operations
SOFIAC
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Jerome Conraud
Associate Vice-President, Strategy and Governance, Airport Planning
Aéroports de Montréal
11:15 a.m. − Political exchange
BLOCK 3
BLOCK
3
INTERNAL TRANSFORMATIONS: SOLUTIONS WITHIN REACH FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
Come and listen to this final block, which will highlight the internal transformations essential for a successful green transition, from employee involvement and training needs to strategic collaboration with external partners. Discussions will focus on strategies for mobilizing teams, aligning business models and building effective partnerships to amplify environmental results.
11:35 a.m. − Creating value differently: The circular economy as a competitive advantage
The circular economy is much more than an environmental approach: it represents a powerful lever for competitiveness and innovation for companies. How can we rethink our business models to create value differently? How can we mobilize our employees to adopt these new practices and ensure an effective transition?
11:50 a.m. − Employees at the heart of the transition: Winning strategies and success stories
Your company is evolving, but how do you involve your teams in this transformation? How can you reinforce their skills and make these changes an integral part of your organizational culture?
This panel will provide you with concrete strategies for mobilizing your employees, stimulating innovation and integrating responsible practices into your day-to-day business.
Get inspired! Come away with concrete ideas and tools to engage your teams and accelerate your transformation.
12 p.m. – Morning wrap-up
12 p.m. – 1 p.m. – Lunch and networking
1:15 p.m. – Panel sessions begin
Choose from a range of expert sessions based on your objectives and sector of activity and work with a small group on concrete elements of your strategy.
Work in small groups on concrete elements of your strategy during our expert sessions.
Everyone agrees that it is essential for business leaders to integrate sustainability considerations into their strategy, decisions and operations. There are significant opportunities to be seized, as well as risks to be mitigated.
However, it can be difficult to know where to start, which issues to prioritize and, above all, how to translate these risks and opportunities into financial terms. This session aims to help you identify the financial and intangible levers that will enable you to build the financial case for a sustainable development initiative.
Your experts
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Fannie Pelletier
Consulting Partner
Addendum and ESG Ambassador for the Ordre des CPA
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Sophie Théberge
Consulting Partner, Strategy and Responsible Digital Transformation
Addendum
Much more than a marketing trend, ESG is a condition for long-term success for organizations. In this panel session, we will explain why it's necessary to deliver on your commitments, and how tomorrow's leaders will lead the way in their markets, creating value for their brands and their customers.
Your experts:
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Marc-André Fafard
Partner, Vice-President, Strategy
LG2
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Laetitia Prido
Strategy Director
LG2
Whether you're paying tariffs or not, gaining sustainable productivity and diversifying your markets are two levers for increasing your prosperity and boosting your resilience in the face of uncertain economic conditions. By taking part in this expert session, you'll discover Investissement Québec's Grand V and Panorama solutions, and leave with concrete actions you can take to achieve your productivity and market diversification goals. The FRONTIÈRES and Chantier productivité programs will also be discussed.
Your experts:
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Audrey Bonin Director, Innovation Business Development
Investissement Québec
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Carl Gravel Director, Export Services, U.S. Markets
Investissement Québec
The acceleration towards energy transition is more topical than ever. How to engage your ecosystem and find solutions to the challenges together? A session between different actors of change who will tackle subjects as exciting as they are urgent, notably the importance of working hand-in-hand with indigenous peoples and reconciliation through action, but also the role of partnerships, opening up to eco-responsible solutions.
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Maya Colombani Chief Sustainability & Human Rights Officer
L'Oréal Canada
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Nicole Hurtubise Chief Executive Officer
Tree Canada
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Julie Jodoin Director
Espace pour la vie
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Nadia Robertson Co-creator of Women Leadership program
First Nations Executive Education (FNEE)
2 p.m. - Closing conference
Investing for a sustainable and competitive economy: opportunities and strategies for companies, decoded by two experts
3 p.m. – Closing speech and networking cocktail reception
5 p.m. – End of event
Thanks to our committed partners, we're delighted to be able to offer exceptionally accessible prices, encouraging massive participation from a wide range of players at this must-attend, full-day event that includes conferences, activities and networking cocktails. Join us for a unique experience where accessibility meets excellence!