GIGS Professional Development Day: Foundations of ESG & Sustainability
JOURNÉE DE DÉVELOPPEMENT PROFESSIONNEL:
Fondements de l'ESG et du développement durable
Ce programme de formation et de développement professionnel approfondira l'intersection critique de la transformation numérique et des facteurs environnementaux, sociaux et de gouvernance (ESG) et la durabilite. Des experts de premier plan exploreront comment les technologies numériques peuvent être exploitées non seulement pour favoriser la réussite commerciale, mais aussi pour promouvoir la durabilité, la responsabilité sociale et les pratiques éthiques. Un certificat sera délivré à l'issue de ce programme de formation et de développement professionnel.
Our Sponsors
9:00 - 9:15 | Opening Remarks & Welcome
9:15 - 10:45 | GIGS - ESG Certified Director: A Foundation
Foundations of Sustainability
Dr. Amna Chalwati
Associate Professor of Accounting, Saint Mary’s University
Prof. Samir Trabelsi
CPA Ontario Distinguished Scholar and Professor of Accounting and Governance, Goodman School of Business at Brock University
Green Finance & Financial Inclusion
Prof. Robert Wood
Consultant and Professor of Behavioural Decision Making, Macquarie Business School
Prof. Nadia Massoud
Endowed Professor of Finance, University of Melbourne
Sustainability & Risk Management
Prof. Ines Chaieb
Professor of Finance, Swiss Finance Institute & University of Geneva
Prof. Hatem Ben Ameur
Professor of Decision Science, HEC Montréal
10:45 - 11:00 | Networking Coffee Break
11:00 - 11:45 | Keynote Address: Global Sustainability Reporting: Materiality, Standards and Geopolitics
Prof. Charles H. Cho
Professor of Sustainability Accounting
Erivan K. Haub Chair in Business & Sustainability, Schulich School of Business, York University
11:45 - 12:30 | Panel I: AI & ESG Risk Management
Neila Benzina
Chief Executive Officer, Wimbee Technology
Prof. Charles H. Cho
Professor of Sustainability Accounting, York University, Toronto, Canada
Prof. Samir Trabelsi
CPA Ontario Distinguished Scholar of Accounting and Governance, Brock University
As ESG expectations grow more complex and scrutiny intensifies, organizations are turning to Artificial Intelligence (AI) to strengthen their risk management strategies. This panel brings together ESG leaders, data scientists, and risk practitioners to explore how AI is reshaping the way companies identify, assess, and manage ESG-related risks, from climate exposure and supply chain vulnerabilities to social impact and governance integrity.
Panelists will share real-world applications, discuss the potential and limits of AI in ESG analytics, and tackle key questions around data quality, bias, regulatory compliance, and transparency. Attendees will gain practical insights into how AI tools can enhance ESG oversight, not replace it, while aligning innovation with accountability and long-term value creation.
12:30 - 13:15 | Panel II: ESG in Action: Driving Long-Term Value Through Responsible Business
Ahmed Karam
Chairman of the Board, Tunisia Leasing and Factoring
Kawther Mekni
K-SustaiNova Consulting
Nejla Gharbi
CEO, La Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations
Manel Zammouri
Partner – Head of Strategy & Deal Advisory – KPMG Tunisia & Libya
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles have moved from aspiration to action—and are now central to long-term business performance and resilience. This panel brings together business leaders and ESG practitioners to share how organizations are embedding ESG into strategy, operations, and decision-making to create real, measurable value.
Through practical case studies and open dialogue, panelists will discuss what it takes to move beyond box-checking, tackling challenges like ESG data integration, stakeholder engagement, regulatory shifts, and performance tracking. Whether it’s navigating climate risk, building inclusive cultures, or strengthening governance frameworks, this session will highlight what responsible business looks like in practice, and how it can drive innovation, trust, and competitive advantage.