The world of investing is seeing a seismic, generational shift. A new breed of investor has emerged – one who’s looking to generate returns that go beyond financial gain.
Sustainable investing, impact investing – however you define it – is investing that takes environmental and social considerations into account, as well as financial goals.
It’s a rapidly evolving area of expertise, requiring finance and corporate professionals to have a new set of investment and risk management skills.
That’s where the SIPC comes in. As the field of sustainable investing quickly evolves, the SIPC has been updated to not only keep pace but to place our certified professionals well ahead of the game.
The John Molson School of Business in cooperation with the Finance and Sustainability Initiative (FSI) Montreal created the SIPC program.
Overview
The SIPC program is offered online and self-paced.
Online self-paced
It’s online, self-paced*, and self-study. Instructors mark assignments, and provide guidance.
You will learn to make informed choices regarding investment opportunities based on key ESG factors, and become knowledgeable about sustainability initiatives in the business world.
Graduates are awarded the Sustainable Investment Professional Certificate and join the SIPC network of certified alumni.
*You still need to respect the time limits for each course.
Who Should Attend?
The SIPC is designed for those who have a keen desire to learn and implement sustainability programs. Ideally, applicants should have some knowledge of accounting, finance and/or investments.
Program structure – online self-paced
The SIPC is made up of three online courses. Each consists of readings, training sessions and quizzes or case-study assignments. They’re designed to provide you with context and help you understand concepts of environmental, social, financial and ethical sustainability in real-world settings.
Courses
JMEC 581—INTRO TO SUSTAINABLE INVESTING
JMEC 582—ESG CONCEPTS
Environment module
Social module
Governance module
JMEC 583—SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT CERTIFICATION
Important information
The program duration is estimated at approximately 100 hours of study time.
You need to pass the quiz or assignment at the end of each course to have access to the following course and complete the program.
JMEC 581: Quiz
JMEC 582 — Module E: Assignment
JMEC 582 — Module S: Assignment
JMEC 582 — Module G: Assignment
JMEC 583: Certification assignment
You complete the certification when you pass JMEC 583—SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT CERTIFICATION.
All quizzes and assignments are submitted online.
Your instructor will grade assignments and provide feedback.
Dates and fee
Online self-paced
DATES
You can start the program at anytime. SIPC courses are self-paced. From the date of registration to each course, you will have:
three (3) months to complete JMEC 581
nine (9) months to complete JMEC 582
six (6) months to complete JMEC 583
LOCATION
Online self-paced
LANGUAGE
English
FORMAT
Varies
FEE
JMEC 581
$485 CAD*
JMEC 582
$980 CAD*
JMEC 583
$485 CAD*
*The program fees cover tuition, digital materials, a guidebook, access to the eLearning platform and a Smart Certificate.
This program qualifies for the tuition tax credit (Federal T2202 and Provincial Relevé 8).
Experienced, passionate, innovative. The SIPC's faculty team members are leaders in their field.
Stefanie D. Kibsey Sustainability Expert
JMEC 582 — Social module
Stéfanie specializes in advancing sustainability policy, research, education, and industry best practices. Her interests and areas of expertise include risk management of harmful chemicals, water issues, ESG, environmental protection and pollution prevention, and the science-practice-policy interface.
Stéfanie is a Physical Scientist in Risk Management Strategies, Chemicals Management Division of Environment and Climate Change Canada (Government of Canada). She has also worked as a Policy Analyst and played a role in creating a new Canada Water Agency (Government of Canada). Previously, she managed McGill University's Trottier Institute for Sustainability in Engineering and Design (TISED). At Concordia University's John Molson School of Business, Stéfanie coordinated the sustainability programs, activities, and research projects of the David O’Brien Centre for Sustainable Enterprise, and shaped the new curriculum for the Sustainable Investment Professional Certification (SIPC) program. She continues to lead the Social module of the SIPC program. While working in responsible investing at La Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, Stéfanie adapted water, climate change and sustainability approaches to risk management practices.
Stéfanie is a published author and editor on the topics of sustainable investing, sustainable financial systems and meeting the sustainable development goals, and sustainable real estate.
She holds a Bachelor degree from McGill University and a Master of Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo.
Cary Krosinsky Lecturer, Sustainable Finance
JMEC 582 — Governance module
Cary Krosinsky is a leading global educator, author and advisor teaching popular classes at leading academic institutions such as Brown, Yale and NYU.
He was a member of the NY State Common Decarbonization Advisory Panel appointed by Governor Cuomo and Comptroller DiNapoli which during 2018-19 informed the fund’s June 2019 Climate Action Plan, which is actively implementing his suggestion of minimum standards.
His latest, 7th book, Modern China, calls for better relations between China and the West for the sake of solving climate change, produced with the Sustainable Finance Institute where he is co-founder and which seeks to bring Western methods of sustainable finance to Asia among other ongoing projects. His earlier books are considered seminal, helping steer the sustainable investing industry from negative to more positive approaches starting in the mid-2000s.
He is also author/co-author of numerous papers on the intersection of finance and the ongoing low carbon transition, and is co-founder of Real Impact Tracker, the Carbon Tracker Initiative and acts as an advisor in numerous other capacities including to The Metals Company which merged into a SPAC at a valuation of US$2.8B.
Stephen Kibsey Sustainability Expert
JMEC 583
Stephen has over thirty years of experience as an investment professional. Though now retired, he worked for 21 years at the Caisse Depot et Placement du Quebec as analyst, portfolio manager, business unit risk manager, and more recently as a vice-president in the Investment Stewardship group. During his career he also held the position of vice-president of Canadian equities during his ten years at Bimcor (Bell Canada pension fund affiliate). He currently does consulting work with both the SAIFI Learning Center and Millani Consultants in Montreal.
Stephen has for many years been at the forefront of responsible investment through his involvement with the creation of the Sustainable Investment Professional Certificate at Concordia University. He currently lectures at the Goodman Institute on risk management and teaches Sustainability at McGill and Queen’s Universities. He has a seat on the Investment Committee and Risk Subcommittee of the McConnell Foundation in Montreal.
SIPC founding partners
Program contact
Contact us if you wish to receive detailed outlines for the courses covered in this program.