TOCW Flagship Event - Carbon Solutions: Canada’s Competitive Edge
Hosted in collaboration with Carbon Removal Canada and Mast Reforestation, this Toronto Climate Week Flagship Event will explore how carbon removal and broader carbon management are emerging as pillars of Canada’s competitive edge in global markets.
Under the theme Canada’s Competitive Advantage, the program will convene leaders from government, philanthropy, industry, and finance to demystify the carbon solutions landscape and surface investable pathways. Sessions will move from policy signals and regulatory clarity to market activation - examining how demand creation, catalytic capital, procurement commitments, and blended finance structures can accelerate deployment.
Carbon Solutions: Canada's Competitive Edge Agenda
1:30
Check-in opens
2:00 - 2:15
Canada's Role in Carbon Solutions Leadership
Welcome remarks by Sarah Clayton (Head of Operations at Toronto Climate Week) and Introduction by Na'im Merchant (Executive Director of Carbon Removal Canada)
2:15 - 2:30
Lawson Climate Institute + Smart CDR Challenge
Presented by Shatha Qaqish-Clavering from the Lawson Climate Institute
2:30 - 3:10
Panel-Understanding Carbon Solutions: Why Canada?
Brady Paron, SVP Carbon Market Partnerships, Mast Reforestation
Lesley Matthews, Lead Regulatory and Stakeholder Engagement, Climeworks
Peggy Sue Deaven, General Manager, UNDO
Moderator: Justin Reist, Founder, Climate Tech Canada
3:10 - 3:20
Break
Check-in closes
3:20 - 3:50
Panel- Policy & Practice: From Signals to Action
Chris Lindberg, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
Vidya Anderson, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation & Parks
Chris Neidl, Strategic Advisor, City CDR Initiative
Moderator: Melissa Hillier, Associate Director of Policy, Carbon Business Council
3:50 - 4:15
Keynote-Jocelyn Butler, CEO, Orchestra Marketing
4:15-4:45
Fireside Chat- Market Activation
Omar Sana, Senior Manager, Carbon Direct
Megan Hunold, Head of Partnerships, ClimeFi
Moderator- Sandra Odendahl, Strategic Advisor, Toronto Climate Week/Catalyst Climate Capital
4:45- 5:10
Key Takeaways & Forward Signals
Na'im Merchant, Executive Director, Carbon Removal Canada
Brady Paron, SVP Carbon Market Partnerships, Mast
Chris Neidl, Strategic Advisor, City CDR Initiative
Moderator: Michelle Li, Founder & CEO, Clever Carbon/ Women and Climate
5:10 - 6:00
Closing & Networking Reception
This event is sponsored by:
Climeworks, a leading high-quality carbon removal provider, combining decades of expertise in Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology with holistic carbon removal solutions.
ThisRock, helps businesses meet sustainability requirements like EcoVadis, CDP, CSRD and SBTi while measuring emissions and building real programs.
Registrations will be accepted on a rolling basis.
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