Welcome to a very special edition of the TOCW newsletter — the events calendar is live, and we’re celebrating International Women’s Day (March 8) early!
Aligned with the IWD 2026 theme of #GiveToGain, this edition focuses on the power of generosity and collaboration within climate action. Working together is how progress gets made and helps us create a cleaner, brighter future. That’s the spirit of TOCW… we invite you to join us!
In this edition:
Changemaker Chat: International Women’s Day Q&A with Monika Patel, President & CEO of the Forest Stewardship Council® Canada
Partner Spotlight: SustainabilityX® Magazine’s Global 50 Women In Sustainability Awards™: nominations are now open!
Become a Sponsor: Partner with TOCW and help build an unforgettable climate week (deadline March 31; two flagship events have already sold out of sponsorship opportunities)
Join Our Team: Volunteer opportunities available
Dates to Note: Including event submission & general information webinar
International Women’s Day is a is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for advancing gender equality. So for this edition’s Changemaker Chat, we talked to Monika Patel, President and CEO of the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) Canada. Monika’s career spans 20 years at FSC, a global organization that promotes responsible forest management, ensuring forests are preserved and enhanced for future generations.
Q: What stands out to you in your experience as a woman in a leadership role?
A: Forestry is traditionally a male-dominated industry, and yet it’s certainly evolving. Many more events are happening that collaboratively bring together women who are working in wood or with forestry. It’s great to see young women beginning to explore these roles that were typically held by men, and to see career choices based on skills and who people are as individuals. It doesn’t need to be gender-based.
For myself as female leader, it’s a unique role. I stepped into the role as CEO as of January 2025. My counterpart in the United States started the year before I did. We are the first two female FSC leaders in our respective countries. Globally as an organization FSC is pretty even gender-wise, but for Canada and the US, it was a big deal because we always had male leadership in the past.
Q: Why do you love what you do at FSC?
A: The beauty of working for an organization like FSC is you’re constantly learning. You never get bored, ever. One day I’m talking about ecosystem services, verified impacts, and climate, and then the next day, I’m learning about cross-laminated timber, mass timber, and the evolution of wood products.
Getting to be part of a global team is also really neat. Our network is wide-reaching. I was just with my counterparts from Australia and New Zealand. They brought representatives from their Indigenous Working Group to Canada to meet with some members of the Indigenous Chamber [one of FSC Canada’s four governing chambers]. This exchange wouldn’t have happened on its own. Having that global lens shows how even between very different countries, with different contexts, sometimes things are very similar as well.
Q: What are some FSC projects you’re especially proud of?
A: We host an annual forest tour specifically for builders and architects, to educate them not just about where their wood comes from, but what goes into creating lumber. On a recent tour, we visited a saw mill in northern Ontario. They got to see all the steps from the forest where the tree was harvested to the sawmill where it was processed into a piece of lumber. Foresters also explained about soil conditions, waterways, pesticide use, talking to local communities about their development plans — important factors you don’t realize when you’re so far down the supply chain.
As a Formula One fan, I’m personally proud that we’ve had a partnership with Pirelli Tires for a few years now. Pirelli made a commitment to manufacture race car tires out of FSC-certified rubber from natural forests instead of synthetic materials. Most natural rubber is sourced from Southeast Asia, and as value chains are historically complex and difficult to track, the impact is felt most acutely at the local level. This puts at risk not only the ecosystems, but also the communities who typically own and manage these plantations.
A lot of these forests are family-owned, and making them sustainable and connecting them with buyers ensures the wealth gets passed on to future generations. Even in an industry that isn’t necessarily perceived as sustainable, one step can still mean a big difference.
Q: What’s giving you optimism in 2026?
A: We’re so used to doom and gloom in this space, so I’m happy to talk about a few things I see as rays of sunshine:
Indigenous leadership and knowledge are really starting to reshape the future of forests in Canada. There are over 630 First Nations communities in Canada, and many overlap with forest areas. Many of these communities also overlap with where active forest management is happening. At FSC, our standard for responsible forestry includes the respect for Indigenous rights and we’re looking at how to integrate more traditional ecological knowledge with science-based information, such as better mitigation of forest fires — using brushing technique, for example — and restoration after a fire.
Climate resilience is becoming more of a talking point compared to when I started in this field 20 years ago. Climate change was more like a warning back then, and we knew we needed to do something. Now people are really crying out for transformation. There’s better accountability on the company side for providing data about sustainability initiatives, and more pressure on organizations to contribute to meeting government commitments. In Canada, we have our goal to reach protection of 30% of land and water by 2030.
Canada’s anti-greenwashing legislation is so significant because people are finally saying, “We want to see the proof of sustainable actions, and we want to know the verifiable impact.” FSC’s Verified Impact program pairs forest managers with businesses that help them access data to prove their positive impact from forests’ ecosystem services.
Q: What draws you to support TOCW?
A: When I walked into the room in October, I bumped into a few people I met 20 years ago. We started out as a small group, and now here we are in this huge room, surrounded by people who are aligned with the way we work and how we want to see the world evolve.
TOCW lets us see what others are doing and where different programs and projects can complement each other. We may be taking different laneways, but we’re all on the same path. Working collectively and collaboratively is how we make a bigger change at the end of the day, because we won’t be able to do it individually.
As someone said to me in October, it’s nice to have more company — it’s not just the same people from 20 years ago, in the same room, having tiny conversations.
Now entering its 10th anniversary year, SustainabilityX® Magazine is inviting nominations for its Global 50 Women In Sustainability Awards™, a globally recognized initiative celebrating women whose leadership is advancing sustainable, just, and inclusive futures across sectors and regions.
Celebrating extraordinary women whose leadership is shaping sustainable, just, and inclusive futures — even in a world facing resistance and complex challenges — this year’s theme, “Leading in an Age of Resistance: Moving Forward in a World Moving Backwards,” honours women who drive impact across environmental stewardship, economic prosperity, social inclusion, and just governance.
From community advocates to corporate changemakers, these honourees showcase how courageous leadership is essential for progress today.
✨ Rolling Awards Model
In recognition of the diverse and ongoing nature of women’s leadership, the Awards operate on a rolling nominations model.
Nominations received by August 31, 2026 will be considered for the 2026 Global 50 Women In Sustainability Awards™
Nominations received after August 31, 2026 will automatically roll forward and be considered for the 2027 Awards cycle
This approach allows organizations, institutions, and communities to nominate outstanding women throughout the year, while ensuring thoughtful and rigorous review.
📌 Nominations are open globally and across all sectors — including business, academia, policy, science, engineering, finance, community leadership, and social innovation. Self-nominations are welcome.
🔗 Nominate a leader: https://forms.gle/H4JjCGGffYaXKcfcA
👉 Learn more: https://www.sustainabilityx.co/awards
Help amplify women who are shaping the future — not despite resistance, but because they lead through it.
In 2025, we exceeded our goals by 5×. In 2026, we’re set to double last year’s attendance and scale the event even further — and your brand can be part of this momentum.
Sponsor TOCW and connect with leaders across business, policy, science, and culture who are driving real climate solutions. Together, we are positioning Toronto and Canada as globally recognized climate hubs.
What are the benefits?
Unmatched Visibility — Gain premium brand exposure across TOCW’s platforms, touchpoints, events, and communications.
Strategic Alignment — Strengthen your brand’s leadership in climate by supporting Canada’s fastest-growing climate event.
Ecosystem Impact — Directly power 200+ events and activations, enabling the operations and partnerships that make them possible.
Two flagship events have already sold out of sponsorship opportunities. Don’t miss your chance to secure a spot — learn more and get involved here.
(Deadline: March 31)
Volunteering for TOCW helps you build your skills, your network, and your impact. Every contribution counts, from professional expertise to simply a desire to get involved.
We’re currently looking for support across several areas, including Contracts, Community Outreach, Data Analyst, Personal Assistant, and Accountant/ Bookkeeper.
You can learn more about all open roles and apply here.
Next General Information Webinar — March 11, 2026; register on Luma
Deadline for sponsorships and partnerships — March 31, 2026; submit your interest here
Deadline to have events public on Luma with details finalized — May 15, 2026
With gratitude,
The TOCW Team
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