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Climate change is a complex topic and one filled with many challenges for individuals and corporations. Boards of directors are uniquely positioned to help their companies navigate the complexities of climate change due to their long-term thinking and guidance. But what are actionable items in the short term when it comes to climate change based on industry, collaborative opportunities, and a company’s bottom line? What should boards of directors consider as they navigate such a difficult and uncertain challenge? Join this SVDX session as we discuss how board members should engage around the systemic risk of climate change and the various considerations for long term success and sustainability.

SPEAKERS

LISA EDWARDS

Lisa Edwards is President and COO of Diligent Corporation, the largest governance, risk and compliance (“GRC”) SaaS provider serving over 25,000 organizations around the globe. Named one of the fastest growing private companies in Deloitte’s “Fast500”, the company’s software is used by over 65% of the Fortune 100, 90% of the FTSE 100 and 83% of the ASX 200 to improve their governance, monitor and mitigate risk, and keep pace with stakeholder expectations.

Lisa assumed her role in October 2020 and is responsible for commercial growth and performance, including global sales, marketing, customer success, services, partners & alliances, and worldwide support. She ensures that these teams build meaningful relationships with clients while helping them derive value from Diligent’s modern GRC platform which provides a holistic view of risk, audit, information security, ethics and compliance across organizations including the board room.

Lisa joined Diligent from Salesforce where she was most recently EVP of Strategic Business Operations, after running Global Corporate Services. Prior to Salesforce, Lisa led global strategic partnerships for Visa, Inc. as SVP/Head of Global Strategic Alliances and Global IP Strategy, and earlier served in an operations role as Head of Global Corporate Services.

Earlier in her career, Lisa was a serial entrepreneur, serving as CEO of KnowledgeX, a database startup that she led in a sale to IBM. She also co-founded Valubond, an online fixed income exchange and subscription service, serving as President, COO, and head of the ATS (Alternative Trading System) prior to the company’s acquisition by Knight Capital.

Lisa received a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. She serves on the Board of Directors of Colgate-Palmolive Company, and is deeply involved in two non-profits where she previously served on the board: Playworks and the Presidio YMCA. 

THOMAS GARCIA

Thomas Garcia is Chief Administrative Officer at Deckers Brands. Mr. Garcia joined Deckers Brands in 2009. In his current position as Chief Administrative Officer he oversees Legal, ESG/DEI, Strategy and Communications. He was promoted to his position in 2021 after spending more than 12 years in multiple roles including SVP, Senior Counsel, and Compliance Officer. From 2003 to 2009, Mr. Garcia was assistant general counsel at Mentor Corporation, a medical device company acquired by Johnson & Johnson. Previously, he was an associate attorney at the law firms of Hatch and Parent, as well as Buchanan Ingersoll. Mr. Garcia earned his B.S. in Biology from Lehigh University, Masters in Public Health from The University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and J.D. from The George Washington University Law School.

HEATHER PALMER

Heather Palmer is a Partner at Sidley Austin. She has extensive experience advising clients in the oil and gas, refining, chemicals, manufacturing, power and renewables sectors on environmental compliance and the allocation of environmental liabilities in mergers and acquisitions. Heather also leads the Sidley Environmental group’s work in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) matters.

Heather’s practice focuses on environmental law, counseling clients on regulatory requirements, assisting them in the evaluation and negotiation of corporate and real estate transactions, supporting them in the development of environmental management systems (EMS), and advising them on ESG issues and environmental disclosure requirements. Her energy industry experience includes onshore and offshore oil and gas regulation, permitting and operation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities, hydraulic fracturing, solid and hazardous wastes, oil and gas wastes, environmental remediation, water quality, water rights, wetlands, endangered species and compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). She also advises clients on the environmental aspects of bankruptcy matters, including the transfer of assets through Section 363 sales. 

Heather plays a strategic role in advising clients on a broad range of ESG issues and related risks, including the disclosure of climate change risks in SEC filings, the review of shareholder proposals relating to ESG topics, the development of corporate ESG programs and goals, the establishment of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets, the preparation of sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports, and the sustainable sourcing of products and raw materials.

Heather has been acknowledged in numerous industry publications. She was recognized in Chambers Crisis & Risk Management for Global-wide Environmental, Social & Governance Risk (2021). She was featured in Chambers USA for Texas Environment (2006–2012, 2016–2020). The Legal 500 United States recognized her for Energy: Transactional (2015–2016) and Environment: Litigation (2014) and in Best Lawyers for Environmental Law (2009–2022). She was featured in Texas Super Lawyers (2010–2015, 2019-2020) and named a “Rising Star” (2006–2008). Heather was recognized as a leading lawyer by Lawdragon 3000 Leading Lawyers in the United States (2010–2011). She was named a “Houston Top Lawyer” by H Texas in 2007. She was also named to the 2021 National Association of Corporate Directors Directorship 100 in recognition of her significant impact on boardroom practices and performance.

Clients describe Heather as “a very thoughtful environmental lawyer and a good partner to have on tough deals” and commend her as “a true expert” who “understands the regulatory complexities of the oil and gas industry while also having the ability to put that into a strategic vision.” Chambers USA for Texas Environment (2020).

JOSEPH TALMADGE, moderator

Joe Talmadge is Senior Vice President and Technology Practice Lead at Heffernan Insurance Brokers. Joe has been a lead broker for high growth, pre-IPO companies since 2001 and specializes in D&O and global risk management strategies. His experience includes working with hundreds of high profile, venture backed and publicly traded companies across various industries including technology, biotech, healthcare, food, energy, media/entertainment, real estate and transportation companies.