Pathways to a net-zero economy in Canada

As Chief Executive Officer of BNP Paribas in Canada, Sonja Volpe is responsible for leading the Canadian client strategy, overseeing the Canadian Services Center and all aspects of regulatory and internal controls compliance. Sonja is a member of the CIB Americas Executive Committee, the CIB Americas Leadership Forum, the Global Banking Americas Executive Committee, and the BNP Paribas G100 (the Group’s top 100 executives).

Sonja first joined BNP Paribas in 2015 as Head of Financial Institutions Coverage in Canada. In this role, she was responsible for the firm’s global client relationships with the Canadian banks, insurance companies, pension plans and the government sector. She has been instrumental in building a strong client franchise across each client industry segment and establishing a high-performance coverage team.

Sonja has over 20 years of experience covering Canadian financial institutions and public sector clients. Prior to joining BNP Paribas, she was a Senior Banker at Citibank Canada where she covered a number of large global client relationships in the financial services sector.

Sonja is a member of the Advisory Board of the France Canada Chamber of Commerce of Ontario and the Dean’s Advisory Council for the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Honours Modern Languages and Linguistics and an MBA from McMaster University.

Aida Cipolla is OPG’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Corporate Services Officer. Aida and her team are responsible for providing OPG with strategic leadership and strategy for: business planning, financial reporting, treasury, taxation, fund management, and internal audit. Additionally, she oversees corporate services related to human resources, safety, technology, and ethics.

An experienced business executive, Aida joined OPG in March 2022 from Toronto Hydro, where she had worked since 2008, most recently as Executive Vice President and CFO. She supported critical initiatives such as electricity rate applications and successfully reshaped Toronto Hydro’s Finance function using transformational strategies that include automation, blending industry best practices, and practical business solutions to drive strong financial performance. She also led their Climate Action Plan financial strategy to support Toronto’s Transform TO initiative towards sustainability, and Toronto Hydro’s financial response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to joining Toronto Hydro, Aida worked for KPMG LLP in Toronto and Dublin, Ireland, leading audit and advisory engagements.

Aida is known as a forward-thinking thought leader and spokesperson for the electricity industry. She is the first woman to chair the Electricity Canada (formally Canadian Electricity Association) CFO committee. Aida is a mentor through formal mentorship programs and is a strong advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives. She was recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women in 2020 and as an Honoree in Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2019.

She is a Fellow Chartered Professional Accountant (FCPA, FCA), has received the Institute of Corporate Directors Designation and holds an Honors Bachelor of Commerce Diploma with a minor in Economics from McMaster University, Michael G. DeGroote School of Business. Aida sits on the Board of Directors of Laurentis Energy Partners, Women’s College Hospital and Women’s College Hospital Academic and Medical Services Group and is the Chair of the Quality, Academic, & Equity Committee of Women’s College Hospital.

Aida is a devoted wife and mother of two young children.

Connor Lyons is a Partner and Head of Strategic Initiatives and Sustainability at Power Sustainable and has been with the firm since 2021. He oversees sustainability, impact, and value creation activities across investment platforms, is involved in multiple key client and partner relationships, and sits on the firm’s Executive Committee. Previously, Connor worked at Power Corporation of Canada, where he supported value creation initiatives across its global financial services portfolio; and at Bain & Company, where he was a member of the Private Equity Group. Connor began his career in diplomatic, international trade, and development sector roles in Canada, the US, and Asia. Connor is also a David Rockefeller Fellow of the Trilateral Commission. He is a graduate of the University of Oxford’s School of Government, Ivey Business School, and Western University.

Dr. Dan Wicklum has spent more than 25 years performing and managing research, driving innovation, and fostering collaboration between industry, government, academia, and civil society. He is the CEO of the Transition Accelerator, a pan-Canadian charity that works with groups across the country to solve business and social challenges while building in net zero emission solutions. Dan was also the inaugural co-chair of Canada’s Net-Zero Advisory Body (NZAB), the statutory independent body that advises the federal government on setting interim emission reduction targets on the way to a netzero emission Canada by 2050 and on the most likely pathways to net zero.

Prior to joining the Transition Accelerator, Dan was the CEO of Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance, Executive Director of the Canadian Forest Innovation Council, and a senior manager at Environment and Climate Change Canada and at Natural Resources Canada. He was a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Montana and holds a PhD in Aquatic Ecology from the University of Montana. His initial career was in professional football, as a linebacker for the Calgary Stampeders and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

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Canada’s forestry sector has been a cornerstone in building our nation, and it will play an essential role in our journey to a economically competitive, net-zero future. The rise of mass timber offers an incredible opportunity to elevate Canada’s primary resources, position our industries on the global stage, address the housing crisis, and significantly reduce emissions in the building sector. Collaborating with FPAC on the Mass Timber Roadmap was an exciting and impactful experience, and we are deeply honored that the Transition Accelerator’s efforts have been recognized with FPAC’s 2024 Partnership Award.