CASIS - Uniting & Empowering Stakeholders in Net Zero Infrastructure
Innovative Collaboration, Empowering Education and Community Engagement at the Heart of CASIS
Jackie Duarte
An interview with Jackie Duarte, Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Association for Sustainable Infrastructure Services and Marie Cresswell, Editor, Net Zero Times.
Can you describe the mission and vision of CASIS and how it aligns with the goals of achieving net-zero emissions?
Our Vision
To be Canada’s most trusted and effective resource for the development of sustainable infrastructure investments.
Our Mission
To promote outcome-based infrastructure services that deliver sustainable solutions towards high performing infrastructure that reach beyond a net zero carbon economy.
Our Vision and Mission reflect our joint commitment to achieving sustainability in investments that are made in infrastructure to create a future that goes beyond net zero. Simply put, this means that our view of sustainable is that we deliver the ability to support and maintain the investment over time i.e. we are focused on supporting projects that consider through life investments that support, protect and enhance the capabilities of owners enabling communities to thrive.
Has there been any changes to the organization since previous name ESAC?
Our board underwent a significant restructuring and rebranding of the organization to focus on solutions that address customer, community and societal outcomes. This means that we are not an organization of only ESCOs, but one that promotes collaboration between all stakeholders working within the net zero industry.
We therefore champion innovative solutions and together, we drive transformative initiatives that will not only address our nation’s climate challenges but also pave the path towards a more prosperous and sustainable Canada, by being the driving force for a greener and more resilient tomorrow.
What specific initiatives or projects is CASIS currently undertaking to promote sustainability and reduce carbon footprints?
1. Procurement: (a tool to achieve an outcome rather than the outcome itself)
Sustainability of upfront investment in feasibility, planning and procurement through an improved process that attracts greater competition, greater efficiencies (costs vs benefit) and targets operational success.
Accelerate procurements through increased pipeline and shortened, less costly process.
2. Education:
Achieve aligned understanding across all stakeholders in the market (advisors, customers, ESCOs, etc.) of critical principles e.g. accounting, finance, performance guarantees, outcomes vs targets.
Increase membership levels for greater knowledge sharing of same core message. We have started this through internal training of ESCO BD teams to enable common messaging
3.Ethics
Accountability and transparency across Canada regarding upcoming procurements, procurement awards, collaborations etc.
This is a significant element of CASIS being a trusted industry voice – impartial and bringing forward the most up to date global and Canadian solutions.
How does CASIS engage with local communities and stakeholders to foster collaboration in achieving net-zero goals?
We use different channels to engage with the diverse stakeholder groups that we serve and create the forum for cross collaboration. For example:
We participate in member peer to peer events where we work with the operations staff from a vertical like education to address critical issues that they are facing.
Building the Workforce of the Future program – a collaboration with universities to promote real projects for real clients enabling PhD graduates to work with our members in a live project scenario.
Our Infrastructure Client Group is an exclusive group for public sector across Canada to share issues, concerns, lessons learned etc. The information gathered here is shared in a summary format to the industry and does not divulge client or project enabling a safe and confidential environment.
Procurement advice to active projects
What challenges have you faced in your efforts to promote CASIS and the great work that you do, and how have you overcome them?
We have embarked on a paradigm shift in approach to infrastructure investments and one that requires education and practical application. Factors such as terminology that is used to mean different things e.g. outcome based is often used synonymously with target based such as GHG percentage reduction, differing views on elements such as accounting treatment, finance, application of procurement rules are all impediments to accelerated implementation. CASIS is overcoming these challenges with a combination of education through project specific, client specific training and practical application through pilot projects.
Can you share any success stories or case studies that highlight the impact of CASIS’s work?
Our membership categories have significantly changed and we now have advisors, funders, insurance and component stakeholders included.
National and global collaborations that support and enhance CASIS mandate and contribute to CASIS being approached on various matters regarding projects.
We are being called at project planning stage to contribute thoughts to procurement.
How does CASIS measure the effectiveness of its programs and initiatives in contributing to net-zero objectives?
Better and more efficient procurements that supports our mandate of ensuring sustainable investments.
Increasing membership rates that support our target of increasing education and collaboration.
Increasing pipeline of projects that meets the decarbonization needs of Canada.
In your opinion, what role do policy changes play in advancing the goals of CASIS and the broader net-zero movement?
ESAC was heavily focused on achieving policy changes to advance the net zero movement and we learned that we were focusing on elements that we could not control and therefore pivoted to focus on capabilities that together can achieve change that is not reliant on policy changes.
Our mandate and success has been decoupled from policy changes to allow us to be agile and active in our approach to the market. Policies can be impacted by several factors such as government changes and we would therefore be in receiver mode. We have taken a proactive approach to advancing net zero goals.
What advice would you give to organizations looking to contribute to sustainability efforts in their own communities? Any particular measures that stand out?
Procurement is a tool and history has demonstrated that operational success is negatively impacted along with relationships damaged through procurement processes that drove:
Invest in a relationship not in a energy reduction measure
Look to prioritize capabilities over tools
Invest money that will deliver long term sustainability i.e. through life investments that does not mean that this needs to be within the scope of a project rather that the investment has regard to the long-term effects of implemented solution.
How does CASIS plan to adapt its strategies in response to emerging technologies and innovations in sustainability?
CASIS is in the enviable position of having some of the world’s largest technology providers on its board. As these companies evolve through global lessons CASIS adjusts to include these changes i.e. we leverage global benefits for local and national benefit. We are agnostic and can therefore present to the best out there.
What future initiatives or projects are you most excited about, and how do you see them shaping the path towards a net-zero future?
Critical Canadian and global collaborations that will enhance the reach of CASIS
Effecting changes in procurement that refocus on the protection and enhancement of capabilities
Alignment of understanding across Canada
Through its commitment to innovation and collaboration, CASIS is empowering communities and redefining the landscape of sustainable infrastructure in Canada, paving the way for a brighter, greener tomorrow.
Look for next month's CASIS member feature on Trane Technologies.
For more information about CASIS or to become a member of CASIS don't hesitate to get in touch with Jackie Duarte, Chief Executive Officer
Canadian Association for Sustainable Infrastructure Services
+1-647-407-4496
About Jackie Duarte
Jackie Duarte is a distinguished advisor, strategist, and leader, bringing over 25 years of expertise in infrastructure development and complex transition projects. With a wealth of experience across multiple global jurisdictions, she excels in high-stakes negotiations, performance contracting, and innovative procurement solutions. Jackie has successfully transformed distressed operational projects and shaped impactful policies, serving both public and private clients in Canada, Europe, the UK, South Africa, and the Middle East. Her profound understanding of intricate transactional issues empowers her to craft innovative business strategies that address complex and high-risk challenges, driving significant commercial outcomes. Jackie has held pivotal roles, including Partner at a Big 4 Accounting Firm and founder and CEO of a leading UK infrastructure advisory firm. A career highlight includes leading the development of the UK's prestigious housing PPP program, where she created sector-specific guidance and diverse delivery models, laying the groundwork for sustainable community solutions. Most recently, her work in the Middle East has transformed clients into high-performance enterprises, showcasing her ability to leverage a global network and current insights to facilitate meaningful dialogues within the industry. Jackie's exceptional leadership and strategic vision continue to influence and reshape the infrastructure landscape worldwide.