Sustainability Night

Sustainability Night consists of an evening of speakers open to UM students, staff, faculty and external partners. Presentations aim to inspire participants to Take Action to advance sustainability at UM. The event is hosted by the Office of Sustainability and is held annually to celebrate innovative ideas, research and actions to create a more sustainable future. 

Sustainability Night 2024 presentations

Sustainability Night 2026: Business Models with Social Impact

Sustainability Night 26 Dennis Cunningham
Photo Credit: Mike Latschislaw
Sustainability Night 26 Somia Sadiq
Photo credit: Mike Latschislaw
Sustainability Night 26 Reception
Photo credit: Mike Latschislaw
Christie Nairn Sustainability Night 26
Photo credit: Mike Latschislaw
Raman Dhaliwal Sustainability Night 26
Photo credit: Mike Latschislaw

On March 10, the Office of Sustainability and the Asper School of Business co-hosted an intimate conversation with business leaders in our community who leverage the power of commerce to create a more sustainable, just future in Manitoba. The panel discussion featured leaders in business, social enterprise, credit union and co-op models who are demonstrating how enterprises can play a powerful role in shaping our future world and advancing equity and sustainability goals. 

Panelists included:

  • Amanda Wolfe, Compost Winnipeg

    Amanda Wolfe

    Amanda is the General Manager of Compost Winnipeg, a social enterprise of the Green Action Centre. As a social enterprise, Compost Winnipeg invests the majority of its profits to maximize the environmental and social mission. Amanda is a professional engineer with 20 years of experience in the environmental field, including work in the public and private sectors in water treatment, waste reduction and organic waste management.

  • Dennis Cunningham Assiniboine Credit Union

    Dennis Cunningham

    Dennis has been Manager of Environmental Sustainability at Assiniboine Credit Union since 2010. He engages with employees and ACU members to develop and deliver programs supporting the credit union’s environmental performance goals, its B Corp commitments, and work on climate related risk disclosure and the measurement of financed emissions. Dennis also co-chairs the Canadian Credit Union Association’s Climate Action Working Group.

  • Somia Sadiq Narratives

    Somia Sadiq

    Somia is an award-winning entrepreneur, global peace negotiator, and visionary leader in conflict transformation strategies. As the founder of Narratives, Kahanee, and Ravayat, she pioneers storytelling-driven solutions for change. A sought-after keynote speaker and conflict readiness strategist, she blends business acumen with cultural wisdom. Gajarah, her debut novel, is a powerful testament to the power of storytelling in fostering resilience rooted in identity, and ancestral strength.

  • Peter Hill headshot

    Peter Hill

    Peter is the Food Hub Organizational Strategist and Sales & Delivery Coordinator for Fireweed Food Co-op in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Fireweed is a nonprofit community services multi-stakeholder co-operative comprising of producer and community members. Peter began working at Fireweed in 2022, and is drawn to the collaborative aspects of the co-op, and the co-operative model as an alternative economic approach that can address the challenges of our food system.