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As part of the Annual Grand Challenge on Sustainability, powered by Gildan, this moderated panel brings together experts working at the intersection of climate resilience, coastal systems, supply chains, infrastructure, governance, and community adaptation. The discussion will be moderated by Leila Beaudoin, a Canadian journalist currently working with CBC.

The panel is designed to explore practical questions around how coastal communities and port cities are adapting to increasing climate risk, and what resilience looks like in practice for trade, supply chains, and critical infrastructure. It will examine the tensions and trade‑offs between economic continuity, environmental protection, and social equity, while also highlighting where cross‑sector collaboration is essential for progress—and where such collaboration remains challenging.

Date:ÌýMarch 18, 2026
Time:Ìý1:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Location: Armstrong building, Room 370
SPOTS ARE LIMITED

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Meet the panelists

Claudine Couture-Trudel is a seasoned executive, lawyer, M.Fisc., and MBA, recognized for her mobilizing leadership and strategic approach. She serves as Vice President, ESG Policy & Future Initiatives at QSL. In this role, she contributes to corporate strategy, ESG policies, public affairs, and governance, while sitting on several boards of directors, including Green Marine International, St.Lawrence Economic Development Council, CargoM, and the Ontario Marine Council. Guided by integrity and a collaborative mindset, she excels at addressing complex issues and engaging stakeholders to deliver sustainable outcomes that benefit the organizations she supports.

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Mitch McEwen (he/him) is the Director of Sustainability, Climate Resilience & Community Impact at Wawanesa Insurance, leading its sustainability strategy, climate resilience, and community investment across Canada. He brings financial sector experience developing and executing large-scale sustainable finance initiatives, including a multi-hundred-billion-dollar sustainable finance target, commercial opportunities, and a sustainable bonds program. Mitch holds a Master of Management in Finance from ɬÀï·¬.

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Sophie Mauzerolle is a municipal councillor in L’Île‑Verte, in the Bas‑Saint‑Laurent region, and a former elected official in the City of Montreal, where she drove major metropolitan mobility initiatives as a member of the executive committee. A former co‑chair of Cargo M’s Sustainable Logistics and Transport initiative and a specialist in transportation, urban planning, and governance, she works to boost the environmental and economic resilience of communities—from the largest to the smallest island along the St. Lawrence River.

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Sarah Favel is a sustainability and communications practitioner with experience in the energy industry, public sector, and non-profit space. She specializes in integrating sustainability into business decisions while navigating the external landscape. At CN, she oversees the company’s sustainability disclosures, including the sustainability report, data supplement, and CDP report. Prior to joining CN, she was responsible for sustainability reporting, government engagement, community investment, and employee giving. With a background in strategic communications, the sustainability reporting she has led won Best ESG Reporting by the IR Awards in 2025.

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Leila Beaudoin left the daily newsbeat to live by the sea. She returned to her coastal home post-pandemic to focus on climate change, oceans, and fisheries. Her work is told through rural witnesses, coastal communities, and nature. She lives in a tiny home on the Northwest Atlantic. When she’s not there she’s working with CBC Newfoundland and Labrador.