7th ANNUAL SUMMIT
FOR THE CREDIT UNION INDUSTRY

#UIS2024

Join Us
Wed. 23 Oct
and
Thurs. 24 Oct

09:00 – 16:00
New York time
RSVP for Virtual Attendance

What you will learn

Attend In-Person or Virtually

United Nations Headquarters

405 East 45th Street New York, NY 10017

UN Tour

Wed. 23 Oct, 16:30-17:30

Reception

Wed. 23 Oct, 18:00-20:00

United Nations Headquarters
General Assembly Building Atrium

Panel Discussions

Innovative Idea-Sharing

Research Findings

With community focus, credit unions are taking collective action against climate change* and socio-economic inequalities. Their impact has defined a movement. Join the conversation at the United in Sustainability (UIS) Summit on achieving operational efficiencies and growth, while making a positive difference in society:

LEARN  how to incorporate values-based Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) into your strategy and reporting.

OBTAIN resources and insight on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) programs, green products/services, and the clean energy transition

CONNECT with global experts and peers on best practices in climate risk mitigation

Whether starting or accelerating your sustainability journey, attendees will find useful information, practical application, and fresh ideas at the Summit.

Event Logistics

Entering the UN Building 

Meet us at the United Nations Visitors Entrance (46th Street and 1st Avenue), to obtain your Special Event ticket outside the building.
Please be sure to bring a valid government-issued photo ID, which will allow you to gain access.

Activities 

Complimentary Breakfast, 09:00-09:45, UN Vienna Café
Special themed tour of the UN on the Sustainable Development Goals.

Reception 

Join us for networking and celebratory fare on the eve of the
UN’s 79th Anniversary. Complimentary event.

Where to Stay

Fitzpatrick Grand Central

141 E 44th St, New York, NY 10017

Westgate New York Grand Central

304 East 42nd Street, New York, New York, United States, 10017

Sponsorship Opportunities

Interested in becoing an event sponor?

Check out previous United in Sustainability Summits

The annual United in Sustainability (UIS) Summit was established in 2018. It serves as a platform for credit unions and industry thought leaders to share information, tools and resources related to sustainability, diversity and corporate social responsibility.

2023 UIS Summit

The 6th Annual UIS Credit Union Summit was held on Monday 30 November 2023 at the Organization of American States (OAS) Main Building in Washington, DC. Learn how to start or advance your credit union’s sustainability journey and how to combat climate change and socio-economic disparity.

2022 UIS Summit

The 5th Annual UIS Credit Union Summit was held on Monday 14 November 2022 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. Learn how to start or advance your credit union’s sustainability journey and how to combat climate change and socio-economic disparity.

2021 UIS Summit

The 4th annual summit with topics including Impact Investing for Economic and Social Good, Updates from COP26, Bringing New Green Products and Services to Market and Beyond Diversity – the Impact of Business Resources Groups on Staff Development and Employee Retention, and more!

Spread the word. Join the movement!

Have questions? Contact  info@uisnetwork.org

United in Sustainability is committed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

PROGRAM AGENDA

Summit Day One – 23 October

9:00 ET

Breakfast and networking

10:00 ET

Welcome remarks – Setting the stage, MC Patrick Siler

10:05 ET

Interview in conversation with UNFCU Leadership John Lewis, President & CEO, and Pamela Agnone, EVP, on insights and best practices in moving the sustainable journey forward; moderated by Yma Gordon, FVP, Global Impact & Inclusion and Executive Director, UNFCU Foundation

10:30 ET

Presentation – State of the planet: climate adaptation with the latest research on digital payments, with Dr. Lisa Allyn Dale, Columbia University – Director, M.A. in Climate and Society, Columbia Climate School

11:00 ET

Keynote – United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at their Midpoint: credit unions as catalysts for positive change, with Jamil Ahmad, Director, United Nations Environment Programme, NY

11:30 ET

Fireside chat – The Importance of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging: challenges and credit union opportunities with Miguel Polanco, Director of the Office of Minority and Women Inclusion, National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), Angela Russell, Chief Diversity Officer, TruStage; and Emma Hayes, Chief Culture Officer, NCSECU; moderated by Carlene Alexander, VP, DEIB, Global Diversity Officer, UNFCU

12:15 ET

Networking break

12:30 ET

Spotlight – Climate Resilience: the next frontier for Community Development in the Critical Climate Decade with Joyce Coffee, President, Climate Resiliency Consulting

13:00 ET

Lunch and networking at the West Terrace, UN HQ

14:30 ET

Breakout sessions

Beginner track – Making the business case for sustainability from the member perspective with Carlos Calderon, President & CEO, Organization of American States FCU; Steve Baker, Director, Facilities and Sustainability, Your Neighborhood CU, and Garrett Chappell, Founder, Pasqueflower Consulting, moderated by Erin O’Hern, International Advocacy and Regulatory Counsel, World Council of Credit Unions

Advanced track – Communicating your impact to members and community: a toolkit on accountability and transparency with Matthew Rusk, Head of GRI North America, Daniela Lepinsk Romio, Sustainability and Cooperativism Manager at Sicredi; Danielle Teixeira, Project Manager, Fenasbac; moderated by Layalee Ramahi, Regional Lead North America, UNEP Finance Initiative

15:15 ET

Breakout sessions

Beginner workshop – Charting your Green Member Experience; learn how to pinpoint key environmental priorities, conduct a materiality assessment and avoid greenwashing with Monika Kumar, Sustainability Strategist, ImpactARC, and Dr. Natasha Rivers, Director of Sustainability and Measurement, BECU, moderated by Gavin Landless, VP, Risk Management, Empower Federal Credit Union

Advanced workshop – Implementing your sustainability strategy; how to effectively measure portfolio emissions and set targets with Sasha Matovic, Managing Consultant at Guidehouse, Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials ( PCAF) North America; Andrea Harris, VP of Impact Strategy, Vancity; and Jérôme Pitigny, Climate Change, Biodiversity, and ESG Data, Desjardins, moderated by Sofia Villarreal, Manager, Global Sustainability Program, UNFCU

16:30 ET

UN Tour “SDGs in Action”

18:00 – 20:00 ET

Reception – UN HQ, Northeast Atrium, General Assembly Building

Summit Day Two – 24 October – Marking UN Day at the United Nations

9:00 ET

Breakfast and networking

10:00 ET

Panel discussion spotlight – Financing a Resilient Future: Navigating the Clean Energy Transition with Terri Mickelsen, CEO, Clean Energy Credit Union, Robin Romano, CEO, Marisol Credit Union, and Tucker Bartlett, EVP, Self-Help Ventures Fund, moderated by Neda Arabshahi, SVP of the Inclusiv Center for Resiliency and Clean Energy

11:00 ET

Case study presentation – Financial Inclusion: an update on social innovation solutions tackling racial disparity and helping refugee communities with Dr. Jeffrey Robinson, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor at Rutgers University—Newark, and Lead Fellow at the Center of Excellence for Innovation & Incubation Center, Filene Research Institute; Angela Weekley, Manager of Community Inclusion, Veridian Credit Union, and Hazelmae Overturf, Chief Impact Officer, Kaua‘i Federal Credit Union

12:15 ET

Breakout session: Engaging your Supply Chain on diversity and other sustainability wins with Anna Falth, UN Women, Head, Women’s Empowerment Principles Secretariat; Yolanda Saito, Co-CEO & Director, Partnerships & Innovation of Impacti: Rasmus Hansen, Sustainable Supply Chains Team, UNOPS, moderated by Tom Kurian, FVP, Enterprise Information Security , UNFCU

Breakout session: Creating Shared Value through Climate Action: Equipping Credit Unions with a Starter Pack with Ben Janzen, Senior Manager, ESG and Sustainability Reporting, Meridian Credit Union; Dennis Cunningham, Manager of Environmental Sustainability Assiniboine Credit Union; Liz Arkinstall, Manager, Purpose Integration, Libro Credit Union, and Garrett Jones, Senior Director and Service Area Lead for Corporate Sustainability at Delphi, moderated by Bolu Omidiji, Manager, Community Impact & ESG Policy, Canadian Credit Union Association

13:00 ET

Lunch and networking at the Vienna Café, UN HQ

14:30 ET

Panel of Experts – Latest trends and developments in climate risk mitigation, adaptation, insurance, and social impact – international credit unions share best practices with Cathie Mahon, President/CEO, Inclusiv; Damaris Carroll, Lead DEI & Employee Experience Partner, Velera, Badeel Janjua, Americas Sustainability, Head for Financial Institutions at S&P Global Market Intelligence; Andrea Harris, VP of Strategy, Vancity; Charlotte Jewer, Community Engagement Specialist, East Coast CU, moderated by Sofia Villarreal, Manager, Global Sustainability Program, UNFCU

15:30 ET

Activity – Leveraging 2025 the International Year of Cooperatives with Andrew Allimadi, Officer and Lead on Cooperatives, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs; and Douglas O’Brien, President and CEO, National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA) and Board Director International Cooperative Alliance

15:45 ET

Recap – Summary of event highlights and your next steps with Prasad Surapaneni, SVP & CIO, UNFCU

16:00 ET

Summit concludes