Episode 29: Climate-Aligned Finance Act
Sustainability In Motion
In this episode, ED4S CEO Maria Maisuradze sits down with Senator Rosa Galvez, the leading voice behind the Climate-Aligned Finance Act (CAFA). As Canada faces increasing economic volatility, Senator Galvez explains why legislative "alignment" is the key to moving beyond disclosure toward real-world impact. The discussion explores how CAFA acts as a foundational pillar, harmonizing with existing frameworks like OSFI’s Guideline B-15 and ISSB S2 standards and upcoming taxonomy, illustrating how these regulations provide a clear roadmap for capital allocation. By creating a...
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Episode 28: Careers in Sustainability
Sustainability In Motion
What does it really take to build a career in corporate sustainability and sustainable finance in 2025? In this episode, Maria Maisuradze, Founder of ED4S, sits down with Nawar Alsaadi, Co-Founder of Kanata Q, for a candid, no-nonsense conversation about the realities behind ESG roles—beyond the buzzwords and glossy reports. Drawing on experiences across startups, NGOs, and institutional environments, Nawar shares how sustainability careers rarely follow a straight line—and why that’s often a strength rather than a weakness. Together, Maria and Nawar unpack whether a “typical”...
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Episode 27: Outcomes-Based ESG Data
Sustainability In Motion
In this episode, Maria Maisuradze is joined by a leading voice in global sustainability and governance, Pyarali Jamal. Pyarali has been in sustainability space for over 22 years. He is a member of ICAEW Sustainability Committee, advisor to Ivey Business School, and Smith School of Business. His career bridges finance, regulation, and ESG strategy. We begin with Pyarali’s personal journey: how he transitioned from traditional finance into sustainability long before ESG became mainstream, and what convinced him that ESG performance would shift from a CSR afterthought to a core financial...
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Episode 26: Business Case for Banks
Sustainability In Motion
In this episode, we sit down with Jason Taylor, founder of Climate Finance Advisors, who shares his remarkable journey building a profitable sustainability division within a major Canadian bank. What started as a one-person experiment quickly scaled into a full-fledged team, proving that banks aren’t embracing sustainability for philanthropy, but because it’s good business. Jason walks us through the economics behind green bond issuance, the skills financial professionals need to stay relevant in this fast-evolving field, and how the generational wealth transfer is...
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Episode 25: Advising with Purpose: Sustainability in Focus
Sustainability In Motion
We talk to Lorraine Wilson, founder of Blue Horizon and former CSO at Novata, and a board advisor to ED4S. We talk about the challenges facing financial advisors in providing sustainability advice and sustainable products to clients. We discuss the sustainability knowledge gaps in the advisor space and the state of sustainability training for advisors.
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Episode 24: The Blue Economy
Sustainability In Motion
We talk with Rolando Morillo, Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager of Thematic Investment Strategies at Rockefeller Capital Managment. We talk about how investors can value, and invest in the Blue Economy, and how this can help drive conservation of the Ocean. We discuss the metrics used to value the health of our oceans and how improving them can drive opportunity for both investment and ocean restoration. Disclosures: The information presented herein are for educational purposes only. The views and opinions are the views and opinions of the senior investment...
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Episode 23: Climate Risk in Asia
Sustainability In Motion
Wai-Shin Chan joins us to discuss the complexities of advancing sustainability and managing climate risk across Asia. As Sustainability Advisor to Metis ESG, Director of Research at Asia Research and Engagement, and former Global Head of ESG Research at HSBC, Wai-Shin brings deep expertise to the conversation. We explore: The challenges of sustainability in a region with diverse cultures, languages, and legal systems Where Asian markets are leading on climate action Key areas where progress is still needed Tune in for insights on ESG trends and climate risk in one of the world’s most...
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Episode 22: Greenwashing
Sustainability In Motion
We talked with Helen Neal, Founder and CEO of HN Communications, a sustainability communications company that helps companies effectively navigate a complicated sustainability landscape. We discuss greenwashing, greenhushing and how companies can best tell their sustainability story.
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Episode 21: Managing Sustainability Risks
Sustainability In Motion
In Episode 21 of Sustainability in Motion, Matt Orsagh and Maria Maisuradze speak with Jo Paisley, President of the GARP Risk Institute, about the evolving landscape of sustainability risk in the financial sector. With deep experience from the Bank of England to HSBC, Jo brings a unique lens on how financial professionals can better prepare for climate and nature-related challenges. We cover: Jo’s journey from economist and regulator to sustainability thought leader What GARP and the GARP Risk Institute are doing to advance risk literacy in sustainability Key findings from their...
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Episode 20: The Boardroom Illusion
Sustainability In Motion
In this eye-opening episode, we unpack the quiet crisis in corporate governance: how boardrooms are often shaped by personal networks over real skills, leaving major ESG blind spots at the top. Guest Matt Moscardi, Co-founder of Free Float Analytics, joins us to explore signals that companies send by backtracking on their commitment and why treating investment stewardship as a cost center may be a costly mistake. We dive into the DEI backlash, flip-flopping climate commitments, and how surface-level sustainability reports (complete with curated optics) reveal more about a company’s culture...
info_outlineSustainability in Motion Podcast – Episode 1: 2024 Outlook
Hosts:
- Matt Orsagh, Chief Content Officer at ED4S
- Maria Maisuradze, Founder and CEO at ED4S
- Nawar Alsaadi, CEO of Kanata Advisors, Chief Advisor to ED4S
Episode Focus:
In this inaugural episode, the ED4S team dives into their sustainability predictions for 2024, exploring regulatory impacts, the future of sustainability roles, the rise of biodiversity investments, and the evolving landscape of climate commitments.
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Key Takeaways:
1. Regulatory Push Intensifies
- As California and European regulations, including the CSRD, come into effect, companies will focus on implementation, impacting departments like finance and consulting. The move toward board accountability in Europe could drive deeper organizational change.
2. Rise in Biodiversity and Natural Capital Investments
- Following the TNFD’s release, interest in biodiversity-focused funds is expected to grow, similar to climate-focused funds in recent years. This shift highlights the need for comprehensive biodiversity data and thoughtful investment structures.
3. Evolving Role of CSOs
- The role of Chief Sustainability Officers may shift in 2024, with sustainability responsibilities diffusing across departments, such as finance. This could alleviate the overwhelming expectations on CSOs and embed sustainability more deeply within organizations.
4. AI’s Role in ESG Data Management
- AI could play a crucial role in managing ESG data bottlenecks, automating data analysis, and providing actionable insights for sustainability professionals, ultimately enhancing workflow and reducing workload.
5. COP 29 Expectations and the Future of Climate Summits
- The team predicts that COP 29 may face challenges, with possible economic downturns and political shifts potentially dampening progress. There is also speculation about whether COP events will continue to hold significance in the climate conversation.
Conclusion:
This episode sets the stage for a year of change in sustainability, with regulatory advancements, innovations in ESG data management, and evolving corporate structures shaping the field.
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