BDC Appoints Sandra Odendahl as Chief of Sustainability and Diversity Strategy and Programs

The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), has announced the appointment of Sandra Odendahl to the newly created position of Senior Vice President and Head, Sustainability and Diversity.

Sandra has over 25 years of experience in environmental research, social innovation, and responsible finance. She will be responsible for all aspects of BDC's ESG strategy and programmes, including the bank's renewed and enhanced focus on the environment and its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategy.

She is a respected and well-known voice in promoting sustainability and clean capitalism in Canada. Sandra will assist in leading a new transformation cycle at BDC and integrate ESG and DEI into all aspects of the company.

Sandra was Vice President and Global Head of Sustainability at Scotiabank before joining BDC, where she was responsible for corporate sustainability and social impact programmes, ESG reporting, and climate change strategy. She also co-chaired the Control Functions Diversity and Inclusion Committee and served on the bank's Global Inclusion Council.

Sandra worked with RBC from 2007 to 2016, developing and leading enterprise-wide environmental sustainability and social finance strategies and programmes. She was President and CEO of Carbon Management Canada, a non-profit environmental technology and innovation organisation, from 2017 to 2019, where she headed a team that accelerated the adoption of new carbon-reducing technologies and strategies for the industry.

Sandra has worked on the boards of the Canadian Climate Institute, the Transition Accelerator, and NEXT Canada, among others. She is a certified professional engineer and a CFA charter holder with a Master's degree in chemical engineering.

Source: BDC