Julie Bernard

Dr. Julie Bernard is an Assistant Professor of Sustainable Finance at the School of Environment, Enterprise and Development, University of Waterloo. Her work focuses on integrating ESG criteria, proxy voting, and addressing climate change and biodiversity crises through finance. She previously held a postdoctoral position at Ivey Business School, Western University (2022–2024). Her research has been supported by organizations like Carbon Solutions @ Western and the Canadian Academic Accounting Association (CAAA).

• Education: PhD in Administrative Sciences (Université Laval, 2022), MAP (École nationale d’administration publique), BScSoc (University of Ottawa)

Her research interests span sustainable finance mechanisms, Indigenous community engagement in investment decisions, and the ethical dimensions of corporate sustainability reporting. Her work bridges finance, environmental science, and governance to advance nature-based carbon mitigation solutions.

Key publications explore proxy voting efficacy in promoting sustainability, Indigenous perspectives in responsible investment, and ethical assurance practices in sustainability reporting. Her innovative research on scaling Canadian nature-based financial products aims to address global environmental challenges.

• Awards: Bertram Scholar (2022), 12th PhD ARCS Academy (2021), #Thinklist Next21 (2021)

Dr. Bernard’s grants include funding for interdisciplinary sustainability research and collaborative initiatives with Indigenous communities. She actively contributes to initiatives like the 12th PhD ARCS Academy, fostering cross-disciplinary dialogue on sustainability.