Carole Saab
Panelist
Carole is the CEO of Canada’s national municipal association, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), representing more than 2,100 member municipalities. FCM is home to the Big City Mayors’ Caucus and administers a suite of national and international programs. This includes the thriving Green Municipal Fund, which manages approximately $2.4 billion in programs that provide funding, resources and tools to help communities bring sustainability projects to life across Canada.
Carole is a tireless champion for cities and communities, driving an ambitious vision for local government leadership in building a more sustainable, prosperous and inclusive Canada. An accomplished strategist with over a decade of experience in federal and municipal advocacy, Carole has been a driving force behind watershed achievements for municipalities, securing unprecedented investment and progress for cities and communities. Carole’s leadership has positioned FCM as one of the most respected and effective advocacy organizations in Canada.
Niilo Edwards
Panelist
Niilo Edwards is the Chief Executive Officer of the First Nations Major Project Coalition. He is also the Chief Executive Officer of the FNMPC Advisory Centre, the revenue generating arm of FNMPC.
At FNMPC, Niilo is responsible for operational strategy which includes business capacity services to First Nations on project portfolio worth over $55 billion in capital cost. Niilo’s interests lie in business strategy, catalyzing business opportunity, and risk mitigation. His strengths include dealing with unique, complex, and challenging projects.
Niilo has spent the last 15 + years working with organizations to advance Indigenous business capacity and participation in major project development. Niilo has served as an advisor to national organizations including the First Nations Financial Management Board and the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples in the Senate of Canada.
Niilo is a board member of the Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships and a corporate trustee for a First Nations-owned corporation. He also serves on various advisory councils including the New Economy Canada, Sustainable Finance Action Council’s Net Zero Capital Allocation Working Group, Electrifying Canada, and the University of Ottawa’s Positive Energy Initiative. Niilo is a holder of the Institute of Corporate Directors Director Designation (ICD.D)
Niilo is a kidney transplant recipient and an advocate for organ donation.
Ehren Cory
Panelist
Ehren Cory is the CEO of the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB), an impact investor deploying capital to develop the next generation of infrastructure Canadians need. He is a recognized leader in sustainable finance and infrastructure investing in Canada.
Ehren joined the CIB in 2020, bringing his infrastructure expertise and track record of delivering results by partnering with the private and public sectors. He is focused on the CIB's strategic direction to accelerate infrastructure investment in Canada, and building the CIB as a sustainable, results-oriented organization.
Prior to joining the CIB, Ehren was the CEO of Infrastructure Ontario, a Provincial Crown Agency responsible for financing, building and increasing the value of the province's infrastructure and real estate assets. He became CEO in 2017 after spending four years in executive roles in the organization. Between 2001 and 2012, Ehren was a partner at McKinsey & Company in Toronto, where he was a leader in the Public Sector and Capital Projects practices, advising clients in both the private and public sectors.
Ehren is involved in a number of Canadian and international organizations tackling sustainability in relation to financing infrastructure, including the Institute for Sustainable Finance at Queen's University and the Sustainable Finance Action Council. He also serves on the boards of the Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships and Unity Health Toronto.
Ehren graduated with distinction from the MBA program at INSEAD, in Fontainebleau, France. He also received an Honours degree in Business Administration from the University of Western Ontario.
