The Sustainability Management Student Association (SUMASA) is proud to present our 5th Annual Perspectives Symposium, Driving Sustainability: Who’s Responsible?

Limited resources, rapid urbanization, and social accountability are a few of the many challenges faced in private and public sectors, as well as in major cities. Driving Sustainability will ignite enthusiasm and accelerate solutions to our society’s most pressing environmental concerns.

Join us as industry leaders illustrate how sustainability is integrated into our society and how associated challenges are addressed through a combination of ideas, best practices, and strategic planning. Our expert panels and featured presentations will provide a dynamic venue for exploring sustainability opportunities and showcase innovative initiatives to achieve environmental objectives within our communities using multidisciplinary approaches.

High Impact:

• An intriguing format ensuring valuable content and interaction between speakers and attendees.
• A stellar cast of keynote speakers and presenters engaging discussions about our shared future and responsibilities to drive change.
• An expert panel focused on “Reshaping Corporate Innovation” highlighting organizations and municipalities participating in regional sustainability performance initiatives.
• An expert panel focused on “Advancing Resilient Cities” sharing bold new ideas designed to motivate, challenge and develop reliable infrastructure.

SPEAKERS
For their detailed bios, please visit sumasa.org/speakers

• Steve Cohen, Executive Director, Columbia University’s Earth Institute (Opening Remarks)
• Nilda Mesa, Director, NYC Mayor’s Office of Sustainability (Keynote Speaker)
• Matthew Ketschke, VP Distributed Resource Integration, Con Edison (Featured Speaker)
• Sharyn O’Halloran, Senior Vice Dean & Chief Academic Officer, Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies (Closing Remarks)
• Brian E. Wennersten, Director of Project Management & Design and Global Real Estate, NBCUniversal Media (Master of Ceremony)

Reshaping Corporate Innovation – Panel

• Celine Ruben-Salama, Corporate Sustainability Consultant, CBRE (Moderator)
• Ralph Bianculli Jr., Managing Director, Emerald Brand
• Marisa Buchanan, Executive Director of Sustainable Finance, JPMorgan Chase & Co
• Ellen Kondracki, Senior Director of Global Sustainability, BD
• Peter Smith, Vice President of Delos Solutions, Delos Living

Advancing Resilient Cities – Panel

• Steven Clemons, Editor-at-Large, The Atlantic; Editor-in-Chief, AtlanticLIVE (Moderator)
• Collette Ericsson, Chief Sustainability Officer & Enterprise Asset Management Lead, MTA-Bus Operations
• Allen Hershkowitz, President, Green Sports Alliance
• Miguel Sossa, Co-lead Smart Cities NA, Accenture
• Amanda Stevens, Manager of Environmental Research Program, NYSERDA

SCHEDULE

11:00 — Networking & Registration
11:30 — Welcoming Remarks
11:35 — Opening Remarks
11:50 — Keynote Speaker
12:20 — Reshaping Corporate Innovation Panel
1:20 — Intermission & Networking
1:35 — Featured Speaker
2:00 — Advancing Resilient Cities Panel
3:00 — Closing Remarks
3:10 — Reception with Speakers
3:45 — Relocation to Networking Venue

For more information about the symposium, please visit here.

ABOUT THE SYMPOSIUM

Driving Sustainability is the 5th Annual Sustainable Perspective Symposium; an annual student-organized symposium by the Sustainability Management Student Association (SUMASA) of The Earth Institute and the School of Professional Studies at Columbia University.

Light refreshments will be served.