Basma Majerbi honoured with Canada Clean50 award for sustainability leadership
Basma Majerbi, associate professor at the 番茄社区’s (UVic) Gustavson School of Business, UVic Impact Investing Hub founder and director, and a lead investigator of the Accelerating Community Energy Transformation (ACET) project, has been . This prestigious award celebrates visionary leaders across Canada who have made significant strides in advancing sustainability and climate action.
Presented annually by Delta Management Group and the Clean50 organization, the Clean50 Awards highlight top individuals and teams from 16 different categories, who have done the most to contribute to the clean economy in Canada over the past two years.
“To receive this Clean50 award is truly indicative of nation-wide and personal leadership in the Education & Thought Leadership category,” says Gavin Pitchford, CEO of Delta Management Group.
This year, Majerbi stood out among more than 1,000 nominees, recognized for her exceptional contributions to the growing field of sustainable finance.
“[Basma’s contributions are] setting the stage for putting impact investing at the core of Canada’s clean energy future. Her work proves that impactful change begins with innovative education and collaborative research,” says Pitchford.
Transforming finance for climate action
As the visionary behind the , Majerbi has been a trailblazer in moving from ideas to action and merging finance with climate solutions. Launched in 2023, the Hub aims to bridge critical knowledge gaps by empowering students, businesses and community members to collaborate on financial strategies that address pressing local and global challenges.
“Situated at the intersection of climate action and impact investing, the Impact Investing Hub is poised to remove knowledge barriers and co-create innovative finance solutions to address climate change, biodiversity loss and rising inequalities,” says Pitchford.
The Hub provides hands-on education and experience, training over 100 students in impact investing. It also works with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to incorporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles into their business strategies and reporting. This helps attract ESG and impact-driven capital. The Hub is helping create the next generation of leaders equipped to navigate and drive sustainable finance innovations.
“We need to build capacity at all levels to unlock the potential of finance as a powerful tool for change, especially at a time when private capital is crucial in driving the global transition to a net-zero economy,” says Majerbi.
Expanding on the Hub’s mission to engage in cross-disciplinary and community-focused research, Majerbi is collaborating with other IESVic researchers on the Accelerating Community Energy Transformation (ACET) project. As one of the lead investigators, she supports ACET’s goal of facilitating local, place-based clean energy transitions. Supported by an $83.6 million federal grant, ACET integrates breakthrough renewable energy technologies and low-carbon financing models to help communities achieve net-zero goals.
As a Gustavson associate professor, Majerbi integrates these sustainable finance topics into her core finance courses in various programs including the MBA in Sustainable Innovation.
“I am deeply humbled and honored to receive the Clean50 Award,” says Majerbi. “This is far from being a personal milestone – it is a testament to the collective efforts of an incredible community. This achievement represents the hard work and dedication of the students, colleagues, community members, partners and advisors, who have all played a vital role in developing a shared vision for the UVic Impact Investing Hub. I am grateful to everyone who supported this journey and look forward to continuing our collaboration.”
A national leader in thought and action
Majerbi’s recognition as a Clean50 honouree underscores her status as one of Canada’s foremost thought leaders in sustainable finance. According to Delta Management Group, Majerbi was selected for her measurable accomplishments, her innovative approach and her ability to inspire others to take meaningful steps toward a more sustainable future.
“The individuals we chose for the Clean50 this year are true leaders and should be an inspiration for all Canadians,” says Pitchford.
On October 10, Majerbi joined over 140 past and incoming Clean50 honourees at the “Clean50 Summit 14.0” in Toronto to discuss solutions to some of Canada’s most pressing sustainability challenges.
“The Clean50 Summit offered an excellent opportunity to connect with many amazing leaders and creative minds from all disciplines and sectors,” says Majerbi. “The energy in the room was palpable throughout the day as we discussed many critical challenges of our time that can only be tackled through collaboration and partnerships. I came back inspired and really looking forward to building on the momentum to advance many unique initiatives at UVic, especially our ACET project, working closely with communities to accelerate the transition to a clean energy future.”
As she continues to push the boundaries of sustainable finance and impact investing, Majerbi’s leadership will play a crucial role in shaping the future of Canada’s clean energy transition.
Photo: Basma Majerbi receives a Clean50 award for 2025 at the "Clean50 Summit 14.0" in Toronto, Ontario, October 2024.