Experts explore sustainability at launch of North America's first environment-development enterprise school

WATERLOO - A high-profile panel will explore through a 'green lens' global trends in enterprise and development, marking the launch next month at the University of Waterloo of North America's first school focusing on environmentally responsible business and development.

The School of Environment, Enterprise and Development (SEED), centered in Waterloo's faculty of environment, presents a provocative, day-long symposium on Friday, Nov. 6 entitled: Business Not As Usual. The event hosts panel debates by notable industry leaders who will explore two topics: Is Green Enough? and Local Versus Global.

Canada's Industry Minister Tony Clement will open the symposium at 8:45 a.m. in Federation Hall on the Waterloo campus. The closing plenary speaker will be Dr. Stuart L. Smith, former chair of Canada's National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy.

"This symposium will examine the questions and challenges that industry leaders face everyday," said Clement. "Today's dialogue will be beneficial to Canadian businesses as they move forward and develop their own green strategies."

Panelists include Toby Heaps, president and editor of Corporate Knights magazine; Olaf Weber, University of Waterloo EDC Chair in Environmental Finance; Frank Frantisak, former senior vice-president, Noranda Inc.; and Sandra Odendahl, director, corporate environmental affairs, RBC Royal Bank of Canada.

"We will provide a closer examination of 'green' business trends and practices and their impact on our environmental future," said Steven Young, interim director of SEED. "Businesses - especially global companies - increasingly respond to environmental challenges, but is it good enough? During the symposium, we will examine the boundaries of responsibility for business today and address the risks and rewards, drawbacks and benefits of globalization."

Over last 40 years, Waterloo's faculty of environment has taken a leadership role in dealing with difficult resource, ecosystem, policy and sustainability issues. The faculty's innovative programs have been widely cited as a model for how the environment and business should be integrated in an academic setting.

SEED, which offers education, research and training in environmentally responsible business and development, is the first of its kind in North America and the most comprehensive institution of its type in the world. The new school will provide sustainable solutions to key local and global environmental, social and developmental challenges.

By 2012, SEED will be the largest institution to offer a fully integrated curriculum at all levels - with more than 800 students and 15 to 20 dedicated core faculty members. The school will produce the largest number of graduates with combined business, development and environmental expertise of any school in North America. For further information, go to http://www.seed.uwaterloo.ca/.