The SFU Beedie Sustainability Challenge received funding from the Student Social Innovation seed funding offered by RADIUS and Sustainable SFU; read more here about the SFU MBAs behind the challenge! This post comes to you from MBA candidate Margaret Ross. Follow the action this weekend via Twitter #SFUNetImpact15.
The SFU Beedie Sustainability Challenge will be held on April 18, 2015 at the SFU Segal building in downtown Vancouver. This case competition presents an opportunity for MBA students from across the country with an interest in sustainability to apply learned skills by diagnosing and presenting solutions to a business issue, obtaining feedback from a panel of industry judges and networking with like-minded individuals and industry leaders. Using a sustainability-focused business case students gain valuable experiences and a chance to win prize money for their team.
This competition is the only one of its kind on the West Coast. It will focus on skill development and knowledge application and put into practice presentation and academic skills. The event will provide the opportunity to draw more thought-leaders to the issues of sustainability and engage with the local business community.
The SFU Net Impact team is thrilled to be welcoming a panel of highly respected judges to the 2015 SFU Beedie Net Impact Sustainability Challenge. Competing teams will have the opportunity to have their case presentations judged by leaders in sustainability:
Tod Maffin – President of engageQ digital, Mr. Maffin is one of the country’s go-to commentators on the impact of accellaerated technological change and innovation on the business and economic environment.
Dr. Tim Hargrave – Dr. Hargrave is an organizational sociologist whose research focuses on the emergence and growth of green industries and processes of social and technical change.
Christie Stephenson – Ms. Stephenson has spent the past 15 years involved in impact investing and social enterprise as an investor, board member, mentor, and through her work in the socially responsible investing field.
Ned Georgy – Program Manager at FortisBC, Mr. Georgy currently manages a portfolio of energy efficiency and conservation programs specifically designed to aid low income customers lower their energy bills and their carbon footprint.
Colin Stansfield – Executive Director of Potluck Café, Mr. Stansfield has a passion for social justice, resilient local economies and the hard-fought right to party.
Dr. Stephanie Bertels – Dr. Bertels teaches courses in managing innovation and change; sustainable operations; and managing for sustainability in both the undergraduate and MBA programs. While actively working with firms in a range of industries, much of her work is focused on innovation for sustainability at the start of the value chain in extractive companies.
Following successful completion of the day’s event, a networking social will be held at Steamworks Brew Pub. Teams will be visiting Vancouver from across Canada, and the opportunity to network and share experiences with fellow MBAs will add to this exciting and memorable experience.
