Université de Sherbrooke
PA-8: Committee on Investor Responsibility

The Université de Sherbrooke’s Sustainable Investment Committee is an advisory and coordination committee that includes members from the University’s higher management, representatives from the University’s Pension Plan (RRUS), from the University’s Foundation (FUS), student representatives and two faculty experts. The committee’s mandates are to: Receive and study the concerns of the university community regarding sustainable investment (internal monitoring); Monitor trends and innovations in the field of sustainable investment and provide relevant and emerging information to the University’s Executives, to representatives from the University’s Pension Plan (RRUS) and to those from the University’s Foundation (FUS); Raise awareness among the university community on sustainable investment practices based on the committee's work and the expertise of researchers and students in the field; Act as a facilitator with the RRUS and FUS for the evaluation of sustainable investment approaches; Coordinate the implementation of the plan, ensure its follow-up and update it when required.

Members of the CIR are: Vice-President, Administration and Sustainable Development: Denyse Rémillard President, University’s Pension Plan (RRUS): Frédéric Gauvin Executive Director, University’s Foundation (FUS): Pascal Grégoire Executive Director, University’s Pension Plan (RRUS), Consultant, University’s Foundation (FUS): Catherine B. Bachand and Serge Germain Professor, Department of Philosophy and Applied Ethics: Allison Marchildon Professor, Finance and holder of the Desjardins Chair in Sustainable Finance: Frank Coggins Executive Director, University’s Master's and PhD students' group (REMDUS) Vice-President, Sustainable Development, University’s Student Federation (FEUS) Representatives, Solidarity against oil pipelines (SÉCO) Students, sustainable finance Sustainable Development Education Advisor: Véronique Bisaillon

The committee was officially established in the fall of 2017. The first year was essentially an opportunity to create a framework for dialogue and consultation around issues related to sustainable finance and the decarbonization of the University’s Foundation and the University’s Pension Plan portfolios. This collaborative work led to the adoption of the University’s Sustainable Investment Strategy, involving the University’s Foundation and the University’s Pension Plan. Here are some of the actions carried out to date: The development of a tool to measure the ESG performance of the University’s Foundation and the University’s Pension Plan portfolios; The adoption of an “ex-coal” benchmark; The University’s Foundation became a signatory to the PRI and presented its first report in April 2019; The ESG and carbon footprint dimensions are included in the portfolio managers’ evaluation and monitoring questionnaires; Conferences were held, including a two-day symposium on sustainable finance organized by a group of finance faculty members. Several committee members participated to the symposium.