As Earth Day reminds us of our collective responsibility to the planet, we’re honoured to work with a remarkable group of people at the forefront of environmental action and advocacy. Their diverse approaches share a common thread: translating urgency into impact. From Indigenous climate leadership to corporate accountability, from environmental education to policy reform, these leaders aren’t just raising awareness — they’re sharing solutions.
Offering both inspiration and practical pathways forward, they demonstrate that meaningful progress happens when we combine traditional wisdom with innovation, personal commitment with systemic change, and bold vision with pragmatic action. Meet these inspiring leaders below and discover how they’re driving meaningful progress toward a more sustainable world.
Climate Leaders Driving Meaningful Change
In a time of climate uncertainty, these visionary leaders offer both inspiration and practical pathways forward. Together, they remind us that the solutions to our environmental crisis already exist — what we need is the courage to implement them at scale.
Sheila Watt-Cloutier: Shaping Future Climate Leaders
Nobel Peace Prize-nominee Sheila Watt-Cloutier continues to be one of the most powerful voices connecting human rights with climate change. The bestselling author of The Right to Be Cold, she was recently appointed the inaugural Indigenous Climate Fellow at the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS), where she’s focused on growing a new generation of climate-conscious leaders.
“We are living in an era of unprecedented and rapid climate change,” Sheila said in a press release with PICS. “As the Arctic Sea ice and glaciers melt, the impacts are felt worldwide from floods, fires, and droughts. It becomes clear that Indigenous wisdom is the medicine the world seeks in addressing sustainability issues.”
Through this fellowship, announced in June 2024, Sheila and PICS have committed to work together, in the spirit of reconciliation, towards increasing Indigenous leadership in climate change research, education, and policy. During her term, she is spending time working with students, researching policy approaches, and engaging in networks that foster Indigenous-led climate solutions.
Sheila’s approach to environmentalism bridges scientific understanding with Indigenous wisdom. “It’s about building trusting allies and partnerships — across ways of knowing and across all of humanity — so that we advance reconciliation, human rights, and climate action as a shared goal with intention.”
Simon Jackson: Promoting Environmental Literacy
At the age of 13, Simon Jackson founded Spirit Bear Youth Coalition, leading a network of six million people in over 85 countries to save Canada’s endangered white Kermode, or spirit bear. Today, he’s focused on building environmental literacy through the Ghost Bear Institute and its signature project, Nature Labs. This virtual, storytelling-driven high school textbook aims to build the critical thinking skills necessary to create a more thoughtful citizenry and a more creative workforce — one that strives to find a better balance between the needs of people and nature.
Simon also led the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity’s leadership program, Hope Decoded, and brought together diverse voices for ALT/Now, a social residency focused on market-based solutions to economic inequality. He was also the driving force behind telling the story and mobilizing the public for the BC government’s Year of Science education program and has helped launch new movements, including CoalitionWILD, a mentorship-focused environmental innovation incubator.
Through these initiatives, Simon continues to create innovative pathways for youth environmental engagement and education.
The Hon. Catherine McKenna: Driving Climate Accountability and Action
After serving as Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, the Honourable Catherine McKenna continues to be a formidable force in climate policy. She now works at the intersection of business, government, and civil society as the founder and CEO of Climate and Nature Solutions, helping to scale practical climate and nature-based solutions.
Catherine is a fierce critic of greenwashing, pushing organizations to move beyond empty promises to measurable action. As chair of the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Expert Group on Net-Zero Commitments of Non-State Entities, she spearheaded its 2022 report, “Integrity Matters”. Outlining criteria for net-zero commitments of business, financial institutions, cities, and regions, it transformed how organizations approach climate pledges.
Catherine’s unflinching advocacy continues to set new standards for corporate and governmental climate action. She is the founder of Women Leading on Climate, a powerful global network of female environmental leaders, as well as a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at Columbia Climate School and a Visiting Professor in Practice at the Grantham Research Institute at the London School of Economics, where she is helping to shape the next generation of climate policy experts.
Chief Perry Bellegarde: Championing Indigenous Knowledge
The former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Perry Bellegarde brings a powerful perspective to global sustainability efforts. He is currently a special advisor to King Charles III’s Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI), a global network of CEOs working together to build prosperous and sustainable economies. In this influential role, Perry highlights the critical role Indigenous communities play in ecosystem management and climate resilience, emphasizing how Indigenous knowledge systems offer invaluable insights for addressing climate challenges and building a world where the economy and environment can thrive together in harmony.
On the international stage, Perry actively participates in high-level climate forums such as COP28 in Dubai, where he advocated for faster implementation of climate goals and greater recognition of Indigenous-led solutions. During these global gatherings, he consistently emphasizes that Indigenous peoples are not merely stakeholders but rights-holders whose consent and collaboration are essential for effective climate action.
A celebrated leader, Perry consistently demonstrates how government, industry, and the financial sector can partner with Indigenous communities to create an environmentally responsible and economically prosperous future that honours our collective responsibility to the planet.
Severn Cullis-Suzuki: Leading Systemic Environmental Change
From her groundbreaking speech at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit to her current work, Severn Cullis-Suzuki has been an active advocate for intergenerational equity — justice for future generations — in environmental action. Today, she is the Executive Director of the David Suzuki Foundation, taking over from her father, David Suzuki, in driving initiatives to conserve and protect the natural environment, and help create a sustainable Canada.
Severn’s work spans lobbying for effective environmental policies and mobilizing public engagement through grassroots initiatives like the Future Ground Network, which empowers communities to organize local climate actions. She places significant emphasis on Indigenous leadership in climate resilience, advocating for the implementation of UNDRIP (United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples) and centering Indigenous knowledge in environmental solutions.
Severn continues to speak globally on intergenerational justice, urging immediate climate action while shifting narratives from despair to solutions-focused resilience.
We have forgotten our most ancient and tested survival strategy — to act with the future in mind.
Severn Cullis-Suzuki
Ziya Tong: Bridging Science and Public Understanding
Science broadcaster and author Ziya Tong applies her talent for making complex scientific concepts accessible to advance public understanding of both environmental challenges and technological solutions.
Best known for her decade-long role as co-host of Discovery Channel’s Daily Planet, Ziya continues to create compelling documentary work that explores the intersection of science, technology, and environmental issues. Her most recent documentary, Plastic People, investigates the pervasive impact of plastics on our environment and health, bringing critical attention to one of our most pressing pollution crises. It premiered at SXSW 2024 and has received widespread acclaim for its unflinching exploration of the plastic industry.
Ziya’s unique contribution lies in her ability to bridge scientific understanding with broader cultural conversations about our relationship with nature and technology. Known for her “doom and bloom” approach, she helps audiences navigate the ethical dimensions of environmental technologies while building scientific literacy around climate issues.
Transformative Voices for a Sustainable Future
Organizations and individuals today face unprecedented environmental challenges that demand innovative thinking and bold action. Our speakers deliver powerful insights that bridge corporate sustainability goals with personal environmental values. They offer practical strategies for businesses to reduce their ecological footprint while improving performance and inspire individuals to make meaningful changes in their own lives.
Whether addressing executives seeking competitive advantage through sustainability, employees looking to drive change from within, or communities working toward collective action, these environmental leaders provide the vision and practical guidance needed to navigate our complex climate reality.
Contact us today to learn more and to book an environmental keynote speaker for your next event.
