Daniel Fuentes

Background

About Daniel Fuentes

I'm the Administrative Director of Climate Engagement Canada (or CEC: https://climateengagement.ca/), the first-of-its-kind in the world national Net-Zero engagement mechanism that is working with 36+ institutional investors, collectively managing +$4T in assets, who engage with 40 Toronto Stock Exchange listed companies (from the energy sector, utilities, transportation, etc.) to accelerate Canada’s transition to Net Zero. I am responsible for creating the reporting protocols, benchmarking, and progress of the program, and leading engagement with the program stakeholders, including senior executives of institutional investing firms that are part of the governance bodies of the program; experts in the field; media; and key actors of the public sector and international investor networks such as Ceres and the Principles for Responsible Investment. I designed one of Canada’s first blended finance mechanisms for conservation impact (Deshkan Ziibi Conservation Impact Bond [CIB] & t=1269s), recently recognized by Finance for the Future Awards as a Climate Leader and considered "a Canadian example of [conservation impact] leadership"(Ref: Rally Asset 2020). My model is also featured in a detailed research report evaluating the CIB model and its preliminary outcomes (https://online.flippingbook.com/view/751128259/5/) and in Ivey Business School's "Roadmap for reconciliation for the Canadian Responsible Investment industry" as "an innovative place-based financial product to fund the natural conservation efforts."(Ref: Before CEC, I was involved in economic development initiatives in emerging and frontier markets in partnership with bilateral agencies, multilaterals, and development financial institutions. For example, please listen to this interview I did with Peggy Van de Plassche (impact investor thought leader) and David Steuerman from Global Affairs Canada, on one of Canada's flagship blended finance partnerships, Trading Up: https://drive.google.com/file/d/15QHuGnFGgjeaWqTnw_psKv9PTc_thRL0/view). I also managed Social Enterprise Southwestern Ontario a regional partnership of business support service providers implementing professional development programs, coaching services for social entrepreneurs, and connections to investors for enterprises interested in achieving social or environmental outcomes.