Our Namesake
At the VeriStell institute our name denotes our highest aspirations:
veritas (truth & justice)
+
stella (star)
Our mission is founded on the pillars of fairness, equity and excellence to help solve societal issues.
Dedicated to Corporate Purpose & ESG
The new frontier for Sustainability
Daring to Leap: Global Conversations on ESG & Corporate Purpose
We are delighted to launch our online global series called DARING TO LEAP. It is a set of conversations regarding the strategic duo of “ESG and Corporate Purpose” – as the new business essentials. We are speaking to thought leaders and corporations around the world about the emerging corporate imperative to consider both the interests of shareholders and society. Societal issues are now BOARDROOM issues and failure to act is a brand risk. Leaping is a COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE.
Who We Are
Global Research Institute
Pushing the boundaries of Corporate
Purpose & ESG
The VeriStell Institute is a globally focused Not-For-Profit Think Tank dedicated to MAINSTREAMING new Corporate frontiers for Sustainability and publishing consensus positions – recognized worldwide.
Corporations positively impacting society and driving Competitiveness.
The VeriStell Institute leads global projects that enable the adoption of the Sustainability agenda in the Corporate Sector – providing BLUEPRINTS for meaningful action in partnership with others.
A Not-For-Profit affiliated with Goodman
Sustainability Group
goodmansustainabilitygroup.com
We encourage organizations to adopt at least one of the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals – within the framework of their Corporate Purpose statements.
Board, Strategic Advisors & Experts
Derek Purchase
Chairman – VeriStell Institute, former Sr. Audit Partner EY, Chief Development Officer, Goodman Sustainability Group
Anuj Shah
Managing Director KKS Advisors, Project Partner and Collaborator with VeriStell institute
Faith Goodman
CEO Goodman Sustainability Group, Founder and Director VeriStell Institute, Founder and Director UTLC
Janet Ecker
President at Kilwaughter Consulting, Former Minister of Finance at the Government of Ontario, Former President and CEO of Toronto Financial Services Alliance
Paul A. Argenti
Professor of Corporate Communication, The Tuck School of Business At Dartmouth
Glen Hodgson
Former Chief Economist – Conference Board of Canada C.D. Howe Institute Fellow
Ioannis Ioannou
Associate Professor, Strategy & Entrepreneurship, London Business School UK
Robert Walker
Former Head of ESG Services at NEI Investments Chair - International Corporate Governance Network. Strategic Consultant at Millani
David Rutherford
Vice President, ESG Services at NEI Investments
Paul Richards
Office Managing Partner at HumanEdge Global
Andrew Chakhoyan
Founder and CEO, Strategic Narrative Consulting; Contributor, World Economic Forum
Jacqui Faclier
Marketing & Communications Executive, Former Managing Director at DDB Canada
Advisors
Geoffrey Rowan
Former Partner & Founding Managing Director, Ketchum Public Relations, Former Reporter, Globe and Mail
Sherry Zhao
Senior Business Consultant at the CIBC Leadership Institute
Aleem Punja
Chief Operating Officer at York Region Children’s Aid
Dinara Millington
Former VP Research, Canadian Energy Research Institute
Lisa Asbreuk
Partner, Cunningham Swan LLP
Dr. Renée Friedman
Former Managing Editor, Thought Leadership, Financial Services, EMEA, The Economist Intelligence Unit
What We Do
The VeriStell Institute is a global forum where CEOs, Board Directors and Leaders come to find leading thinking and foresight on the issues of ESG and Corporate Social Purpose.
We provide leadership in Research, Advocacy, Best Practices Development, Publications, Projects, Thought Leadership, Conferences, Media, Teaching and Outreach.
Our goal is to enable corporate entities to embrace ESG and Corporate Purpose (and its new incarnations over time) – aligned with the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Corporations will have the tools and protocols to concurrently deliver shareholder value and partner with civil society to address the world’s pressing societal issues.
Our Key Competencies
We work with multiple Stakeholders globally including businesses, governments, multilateral organizations, civil society, community groups, NGOs, academics, Indigenous Communities and charities.
Research and Data Analysis
Social Impact and benchmarking evaluation
models for successful enterprises.
Social Purpose Discovery Lab
In concert with others, we have engineered a unique and proven model to determine best
fit and align a company’s Social Purpose with
their organization’s DNA and might.
Outreach
Demonstrating how and why business
can and will become more competitive by
embracing ESG and Corporate Social
Purpose.
Competitive Advantage -
Leadership Networks
Forum for CEOs, Boards, Leaders to
network through events, education,
alliances, publications
Benchmarking and
Consensus Models
Convening leading academic, civil society
and business researchers/Thought Leaders
to develop and distribute consensus
protocols.
Sectoral Approach
Research and analysis on global Sector
specific protocols.
Social Purpose Athenaeum
ESG & Corporate Purpose curated library coming in 2021.
Events
February 1, 2021
Launch of Canadian Corporate Purpose Lab
Established to develop a globally recognized framework and protocol for Corporate Purpose (Partner announcements coming soon).
December 3, 2020
The Walrus & VeriStell Institute Present: Daring to Leap, Global Conversation on ESG & Corporate Purpose
Global CEO Summit hosted by VeriStell Institute
and The Walrus
VeriStell Institute and The Walrus are the first in the world to launch a global online forum about Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and Corporate Purpose as the new business essentials.
A global societal shift has been set in motion by the events of 2020. It is redefining the contract between businesses and their communities—from simply “being responsible” to creating real social value. Irrespective of where you are located in the world or the size of your firm, the “purpose of the organization”—within the context of broader society—is rapidly undergoing the most important sea change of our time.
Competitive advantage is founded in trust, and trust is at an all-time low. Ignoring ESG and your Corporate Purpose can erode your brand image and jeopardize long-term competitiveness. Failure to leap is your biggest risk. Courageously daring to leap is your biggest opportunity. People expect business to not only drive shareholder value but to concurrently create social value. Pinpointing and addressing a pressing societal issue that leverages your corporate DNA will enable long-term competitive advantage.
Our global forum will explore the competitive benefits of “Daring to Leap” and illuminate the complexities, challenges, and opportunities of this new “making society sustainable” journey. We plan to highlight the global brands that are in the midst of making the leap—and to explore their key learnings.