Nature Based Solutions in Business

Location details: This event will be hosted in the Calgary City Center Building (215 2 St SW, Calgary, AB T2P 0H7) at the Plus 15 Level Conference Center.

This panel event connects professionals in the sustainability industry, discussing the integration of nature considerations and nature-based solutions into business, decision making, and making net-zero commitments.

This panel session will begin with an introduction by Shannon Young, VP Sustainability and External Affairs, PETRONAS Canada. It will be moderated by Jayrin Yue, Sr. Sustainability Advisor, PETRONAS Canada.

Panelists include:

Amy Zell, Technical Director, Voluntary Carbon Markets, International Emissions Trading Association (IETA)

Amy has been a leader in carbon markets since 2018 where she has worked on offset project development, strategic Net Zero advisory, and market intelligence. Her passion for balancing economic imperatives with environmental realities has led to her current role as Technical Director, Voluntary Carbon Markets with IETA. Amy is a professional engineer registered with APEGA and is the Founder and Lead Consultant of Outset Carbon Consulting.

Dani Urton, Director, Energy Transition & Climate Change, Vertex Resource Group

Dani Urton is a director with Vertex Professional Services, a leading provider of environmental services for the North American energy industry. Dani oversees Vertex’s Emissions Management and Emissions Assurance service lines, as well as developing and implementing growth strategies related to energy transition and climate change initiatives across the organization to support the energy industry in meeting ambitious targets for sustainability. She has over ten years’ experience in the environmental sector of the energy industry including experience in environmental regulatory compliance, liability management, greenhouse gas emissions management and carbon markets, and strategic development of emerging growth opportunities. Dani is a Fellow with the Energy Futures Lab and holds a bachelor’s degree in Commerce from the University of Victoria as well as a master’s degree in Environment and Business from the University of Waterloo.

Andrew Hall, Managing Director, Head of Carbon Markets Advisory, TD Securities

Andrew joined the ESG Solutions team as a Managing Director in July 2022. Based in Calgary, he has over 15 years of experience in environmental commodities, helping build out successful businesses within the financial services and energy sectors. Andrew joined TD from the TMX Group where he was the Director of Sustainable Finance, responsible for ESG and carbon markets. Prior to this, he built and ran the North American carbon and environmental commodities trading business at Capital Power.

Sahil Sharma, Engineering Services Lead, Senior Engineer, MAGNA Engineering Services

In 2019, Sahil was hired as one of MAGNA’s OGs as a Stormwater Engineering Lead. With several years of experience in the stormwater industry, Sahil was integral in helping establish the stormwater management program and explore new and emerging opportunities in wastewater, natural treatment, and green, sustainable infrastructure. He is now leading the Engineering Services Team.

Sahil looks for opportunities to explore disruptive ideas in his work and encourages his team to do the same. A creative thinker who believes in the power of collaboration to achieve goals, he understands and appreciates how each individual’s uniqueness contributes to the team’s overall success. His unorthodox outlook on engineering and leadership has placed him as an industry leader amongst his peers in stormwater management. When not leading MAGNA, Sahil leads the next generation of engineers through several mentorship programs, including the U of C’s Mentor Link, Scholar’s Academy, and Civil Engineering Undergraduate Society (CEUS).

Denise Chang-Yen, Manager, Nature Based Solutions, Shell

Denise Chang-Yen is the Development Manager, Nature Based Solutions (NBS) at Shell. She is part of

Shell’s global team that is focused on identifying, developing, and investing in projects that protect,

enhance and restore natural ecosystems. Located in Calgary, Alberta, Denise is particularly focused on

NBS opportunities in Canada.

Denise is an engineer by training with extensive experience in energy, sustainable development, climate

change and carbon markets. She has held a variety of leadership and business development roles

related to renewable energy, carbon markets, and sustainable development at Shell. In these roles, she

has integrated commercial, technical, environmental and social perspectives in business decision

making.