Episode 4.3: Sustainability through Philanthropy?
Join Dr. Peter Andrée as he explores the critical role of philanthropic organizations in advancing sustainability with two leading experts: Beth Hunter, Director at FoodBridge, and Lorne Johnson, Vice President at the IVEY Foundation. In this insightful conversation, Beth and Lorne share their expertise and experience, offering valuable insights for students, researchers, and anyone interested in the intersection of philanthropy and environmental responsibility.
Discover how successful philanthropic efforts can be aligned with ecological goals, such as promoting sustainable agriculture in Canada. Learn about the unique challenges and opportunities facing philanthropic organizations as they strive to create a more sustainable future for all.
Host
Peter Andrée
Professor, Department of Political Science, Carleton University
Host
Ryan M. Katz-Rosene
Assistant Professor, School of Political Studies, University of Ottawa
Beth Hunter
Additional Pedagogical Resources
Guest Bios
Beth Hunter
Beth is a seasoned bilingual food and agriculture innovator. Prior to founding FoodBridge in 2021, she was program director at the McConnell Foundation, leading the sustainable food systems initiative, including Nourish and working on the climate and Reconciliation programs. A co-founder of Équiterre and its community-supported agriculture network, she led Greenpeace Canada’s campaign on responsible seafood sourcing in supermarkets. She holds a Master’s degree in rural economics from Laval University and recently co-authored the Strategic Framework for Accelerating Sustainable Agriculture in Canada: Recommendations for Philanthropy.
Lorne Johnson
Lorne has over 20 years of experience in forging collaborative solutions to sustainability challenges in Canada. He has established a reputation as someone who brings enthusiasm, humour and a solid dose of pragmatism while getting things done.
Early in his career, Lorne played a leadership role in establishing the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) in Canada, including facilitating stakeholder negotiations for several regional standards processes, serving as a board member and chair, and acting as the Executive Director while overseeing the redesign of the organization’s business strategy and revenue model.
During his ten-year term with World Wildlife Fund Canada (1998 and 2007), Lorne established and led partnerships with several forest products companies. In his final years with WWF, he led the organization’s federal government relations efforts as their Ottawa Bureau Director, focusing on climate change and ocean conservation.
Lorne has served in various governance roles and was a founding director of the Clean Economy Fund (a focused collaborative of philanthropic foundations), the co-chair of the Cornerstone Standards Council and a member of the Governing Council of Efficiency Canada. He has headed up several organizations, including FSC Canada, Cornerstone Standards Council and the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement Secretariat.
Lorne lives in Ottawa with his wife, Nathalie Chalifour, and two children. He is an avid painter, angler, hunter and paddler. He aspires to spend less time on conference calls and more time outdoors.