Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainability

Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainability

Panel Discussion organized by the Engineers and Geoscientists BC Climate Change and Sustainability Advisory Group

Each year, Engineers and Geoscientists BC, in collaboration with our Climate Change and Sustainability Advisory Group, hosts a Sustainability Panel event that is focused on challenges and opportunities in integrating sustainability into professional practice. At this event, we bring together panelists who can focus on some of the initiatives being led across BC and share with us their approaches to creating a sustainable future through local action. The theme for this year is:

Embracing innovation, adaptive approaches, and continuous learning in a changing climate

During this event, a diverse group of panelists will share their insights into: 

• Ways organizations can make space for thoughtful risk-taking supported by professional judgement;
• Managing liability issues when developing innovative and sustainable solutions;
• How equity, diversity, inclusion and reconciliation, can be included in addressing climate change;
• The importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing climate challenges.  

The panelists will focus on some of the initiatives they are currently involved in and share with us their approaches in creating a sustainable future through local action. Please join us on November 27, 2025 to gain a greater understanding on the various sustainability initiatives taking place in BC to foster innovation, adaptive approaches and continuous learning . The event will include content on Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s current climate change and sustainability initiatives.  

Panelists

Dr. Lindsay Cole

Social Innovation Researcher in Residence at the Zero Emissions Innovation Center (ZEIC) and Research Associate at UBC Faculty of Education 

Dr. Cole is a public and social innovation practitioner, an applied and action researcher, an educator and author currently working as Research Associate with the University of British Columbia Department of Educational Studies, and as a self-employed consultant. After a 25+ year career in the private and public sectors working toward sustainability in a variety of ways, she is now focused on community-engaged and applied research and teaching to find creative, systemic, collaborative, and respectful solutions to some of the most complex and entangled social and ecological challenges that we are currently facing. As the Social Innovation Researcher in Residence with ZEIC, she brought practices of social innovation, systemic design, and equity-centeredness in service of their climate action goals. She designed and taught university and professional courses focused on social innovation, designing for transformation, and education for sustainability. Dr. Cole is also the founder of the Solutions Lab at the City of Vancouver – a place where breakthrough, transformative solutions to some of the city’s most complex social and ecological challenges are being sought.  

Dr. Carol Liao

Associate Professor & UBC Sauder Distinguished Fellow, Chair at the Canada Climate Law Initiative and Co-Director at UBC Centre for Climate Justice 

Dr. Carol Liao is an Associate Professor at Allard Law and the UBC Sauder Distinguished Fellow of the Peter P. Dhillon Centre for Business Ethics at the UBC Sauder School of Business. Her research focuses on corporate law and sustainability, climate governance, and social justice. She is the Co-Director (Academic) of the UBC Centre for Climate Justice and the Chair and Principal Co-Investigator of the Canada Climate Law Initiative, dedicated to advancing director knowledge on the latest in climate risks and fiduciary obligations. Dr. Liao is Principal Investigator of a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Insight Grant-funded empirical study on sustainable corporate governance and a UBC research excellence cluster member of the Future Minerals Initiative and Decision Insights for Business & Society. At UBC, Dr. Liao is a member of the Steering Committee of the Climate Solutions Research Collective and the Advisory Board of The Phil Lind Initiative. She is also a Research Associate at the UVic Centre for Asia-Pacific Initiatives. Dr. Liao is the recipient of the Influential Women in Business Award, BC Business Women of the Year Award, TELUS Community Service Award, Canada's Clean50 Award, and was named as one of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women and Canada's Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers. 

Janice Fingler, P.Geo

Entrepreneur and BC Yukon Innovation Lead, MICA Network at UBC BRIMM 

Janice is a life-long explorer – with a diverse career by design. She is currently a member of the UBC BRIMM team (Bradshaw Research Institute for Minerals and Mining), as the BC & Yukon Innovation Lead for the pan-Canadian MICA (Mining Innovation Commercialization Accelerator) Network. BRIMM is one of 6 partner organizations that supports small-medium businesses that are creating technology solutions for challenges experienced across the mining value chain. She has previously dedicated more than 30 years to mineral exploration in B.C. and across Canada as a professional geoscientist, leading project teams, and providing strategic and operational advice to the C-suite. As a specialist in bridging silos, she has fostered collaboration among diverse team members, consultants, service providers, and executives to advance projects. Some of these ventures became producing mines, while others navigated through the peaks and valleys of market conditions, towards successful pivots. Known for persistence and creativity in overcoming challenges, Janice received the AME Association of Mineral Exploration’s David Barr Award for leadership and innovation excellence in exploration safety, and currently supports AME as a volunteer member of the board of directors.

Panel Moderator

Kookai Chaimahawong

Executive Director, Centre for Climate & Business Solutions at UBC Sauder 

Kookai is the Executive Director of the Centre for Climate and Business Solutions at UBC Sauder School of Business, recognized for her leadership in advancing business innovation for sustainability. She has led investments in sustainable ventures through Venture Capital and Private Equity funds, built SDG partnerships at the United Nations, and launched a successful startup. She is recognized for applying sustainable business, impact investing, ESG strategy, and climate innovation to accelerate real-world climate solutions. 

A regular speaker and mentor, she supports global climate-tech startups and responsible investment communities in navigating solutions for the climate economy. She is also an active leader in the community as a board member and past Chair of the Vancouver Entrepreneurs Forum, a moderator for the Creative Destruction Lab Climate stream, and a former council member to the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development, and Innovation on ESG. 

Kookai is a recipient of the Top 25 Women of Influence Award and the Globe and Mail’s Changemakers Award, recognizing her leadership in driving business solutions for climate action.