Creating a circular economy will be the focus of discussion at a Brock University symposium on Friday, Nov. 3.

The circular economy movement helps to create a more sustainable and resilient economy with the goal of prioritizing reusing, repairing, sharing, remanufacturing, redesigning and reducing.

Hosted by the Goodman School of Business’ CPA Ontario Centre for Public Policy and Innovation in Accounting, the event hopes to educate and engage the community in the circular economy movement.

“We believe that the accounting profession has a role to play in driving these changes in business,” said Kareen Brown, Professor of Accounting and Director of the CPA Ontario Centre for Public Policy and Innovation in Accounting. “What businesses cannot measure adequately, they cannot change or improve.”

The symposium will bring together researchers, students, local chartered professional accountants (CPAs), business leaders and local government officials to explore ways to drive change in this area.

“Accounting can help firms achieve circular economy metrics because our job is measurement,” Brown said. “We want to encourage our students to take the lead in helping to create a more sustainable future.”

The keynote presentation will be given by Assistant Professor Leanne Keddie from the Sprott School of Business at Carleton University and will focus on the role of accounting in helping companies move towards a circular economy.

Other sessions include:

• The importance of a circular economy with Goodman Associate Dean, Undergraduate Programs and Professor of Accounting Jennifer Li
• Insights from the renewable resources industry with Paul Smith, Vice-President of Finance at Walker Industries
• How accounting adds value to ESG reporting with Ramsha Ahmed, Manager of ESG Sustainability and Climate Change at KPMG
• Climate risk and asymmetric cost behaviour with Brock Associate Professor of Accounting Sohyng Kim and Professor of Accounting Cheol Lee from Wayne State University
• Sustainability and a circular economy with Brock Professor of Biological Sciences Liette Vasseur, who holds the UNESCO Chair on Community Sustainability: from Local to Global

The day will end with a panel discussion on creating a circular economy in Niagara in the Goodman Atrium from 3:15 to 4 p.m. that includes Mishka Balsom, CEO of the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce; Gary Zalepa, Lord Mayor of Niagara-on-the-Lake; Mani Siddiqui founder of Jitto, as well as event speakers Smith and Ahmed.

“The Niagara region has a unique environmental and geographical significance for Canada,” Brown said. “The Niagara Escarpment Biosphere is one of four UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in Ontario and must be protected by citizens, businesses and government officials. We hope that this event will increase awareness of this issue.”

While registration for the symposium is closed, those interested in attending the panel discussion can contact Claire Adam at cadam@brocku.ca to reserve a seat.

To generate interest in the circular economy among students, the Centre hosted a video competition. Michael Mongelluzzo and Jorden Preuss from Denis Morris Catholic High School won the high school contest while second-year Accounting students Trevor Mak and Louis Li won the Brock student contest, with each team taking home a $1,000 prize.