By Terry Barclay
With more than 25 affinity groups for professional women in Michigan, Inforum launched its newest affinity group around sustainability and environmental work Tuesday, March 23, 202. The goal of this group is to provide learning and inspiration about work in this area being done in Michigan–but the lessons transcend state borders.
The world is already seeing increasing impacts of a changing climate and one important means of mitigating these impacts is through natural climate solutions (NCS), through land management practices in forests, farmlands, grasslands or wetlands that reduce or remove greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, NCS could deliver more than one-third of the emission reductions required by 2030 to keep global warming below two degrees Celsius. In Michigan, working lands used for large-scale land-based economic activity, such as forestry and agriculture, provide much of this NCS potential, and an opportunity for collaboration between the public and private sectors and organizations like The Nature Conservancy—especially as we witness more and more corporate and public sector commitments to achieve a net-zero carbon footprint.
Helen Taylor, the State Director for The Nature Conservancy in Michigan, will shard insights on this burgeoning area of opportunity for win-win across environmental, economic and social outcomes in this session.
About Inforum
Inforum combines strategic connections, proven professional development programs, a respected forum for new ideas, and original research to accelerate careers for women and boost talent initiatives for companies.
Inforum’s research-based leadership development programs have been widely used by automotive companies for current and future women leaders. Those include “Ascending to the C-Suite,” a collaboration with the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan that helps senior-level women acquire the specialized knowledge whose mastery is critical for C-suite executives. Inforum also publishes the biennial Michigan Women’s Leadership Report, which tracks women’s leadership in the state’s publicly traded companies.
About The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, they create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to the world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. They are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. Working in 72 countries and territories: 38 by direct conservation impact and 34 through partners, they use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit www.nature.org or follow @nature_press on Twitter.
About Terry Barclay
Terry Barclay is a leader in building gender-balanced businesses with over 35 years’ experience working with top management teams of some of the world’s best-known companies to capture the benefits of inclusive work environments. As president and CEO of Inforum, Terry oversees the only professional organization in Michigan – and one of only a few in the country –that combines strategic connections, proven professional development programs, a respected forum for new ideas, and original research to accelerate careers for women and boost talent initiatives for companies. Under Terry’s leadership, Inforum has become a trusted ally and sought-after resource in helping companies advance gender diversity to find and develop future talent.
Terry is the co-editor of a best-selling book, The Road to the Top is Not on the Map: Conversations with Top Women of the Automotive Industry, which was one of nine books selected to be featured at Gary’s Book Club 2020, a part of the Consumer Electronics Show, the world’s gathering place for the consumer electronic industry.
Detroit Skyline/Detroit River Photo: Rikin Katyal on Unsplash
