Skyline Partners: Shaping the Future of Environmental Practices
New Member Feature
Source: Patricia Faucher | · DEC · | September, 2024
In the evolving landscape of sustainability, Stephanie Gagnon stands out with over 25 years of experience in strategic collaborations and innovative solutions. As the founder of Skyline Partners, she helps clients navigate the complexities of sustainability goals and climate resilience.
Gagnon’s journey into sustainability began during her Master of Planning program at the University of Calgary, where she developed her own approach to environmental, social, and financial frameworks. This laid the foundation for her subsequent roles, including a position as a Municipal Leader for the City of Calgary’s Office of Sustainability.
With certifications in Consensus Decision Making, Facilitation, Conflict Management, and Coaching, Gagnon has built a multidisciplinary foundation that drives her business approach. Her passion for sustainability and problem-solving has been the cornerstone of her career, leading her to create a business that integrates these elements.
“Skyline Partners supports DEC members focused on sustainable development, decarbonization, and climate resilience.”
“Our expertise helps decentralised energy businesses clarify their ESG goals, identify the best solutions, and build partnerships. A high demand service we provide is facilitating collaborations when addressing challenges like Scope 3 emissions.”
- Stephanie Gagnon, Skyline Partners Founder
A Career Dedicated to Sustainability
Gagnon’s experience as a consultant for larger firms and a municipal leader in Calgary led her to establish her own business, where she could focus on the aspects that interested her most. “As a small business owner, it’s important to follow the market and pursue ambitious projects, but I want to do it in a way that is appropriate, providing clients with solutions that make sense and are not driven by external mandates,” says Gagnon. Skyline Partners, though only a year old, is an extension of Gagnon’s previous venture, Maven Strategy, which she co-founded in 2018. Much of Skyline Partners’ work focuses on developing strategies and fostering collaborations within the sustainability and ESG climate space. "I really like working with my clients to craft synergistic relationships, allowing me to be hands-on and deeply involved,” Gagnon adds.
Diverse Partnerships for a Sustainable Future
Skyline Partners’ clientele includes a diverse array of municipalities, utilities, airports, and businesses within the renewables and sustainability fields.
Gagnon’s expertise lies in helping these organizations develop robust strategies to achieve their sustainable development goals. "A lot of my clients are DEC members or organizations focused on sustainable development, decarbonization, and climate resilience. While they often have technical solutions, they may need help developing the strategy or ESG reporting. Their projects typically involve complex, multi-party partnerships, which is where my expertise comes in. I help them clarify their goals, explore their options, and identify the best solutions, including the right partnerships. My work involves a lot of consensus and partnership building, especially when addressing challenges like Scope 3 emissions,” explains Gagnon.
Navigating the Complexities of ESG Reporting
Scope 3 emissions, which encompass a wide range of indirect emissions from a company’s entire value chain, are among the most challenging to manage. These emissions are difficult to track due to the need for data from multiple sources and the lack of direct control over them. While Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions are mandatory for many regulations and industry standards, Scope 3 emissions are becoming increasingly important, although they remain difficult to quantify and reduce. Gagnon's expertise is often sought for projects where companies face uncertainty in addressing Scope 3 emissions. “I get brought into projects that haven’t been done before, where we’re trying to figure out how to navigate the gray space of ‘we know we want to do X, but we don’t know how to get there,’” she explains.
Collaborative Efforts for Net Zero: Institutional Case Study
Skyline Partners has been working with a major institution over the past 18 months, helping them with their Net Zero strategy. Skyline Partners transformed their technical report into a consumable Net Zero strategy for their senior leadership and led the development of a scope 3 collaboration with 100 of their value chain partners. During working sessions, Skyline Partners worked with the partners to identify the highest priorities and set up MOUs and partnership terms to facilitate implementation.
Adapting to ESG Changes: The Impact of Bill C-59 on Corporate Sustainability
The rising importance of ESG factors is driven by increasing consumer demand for corporate responsibility and transparency.
Bill C-59 (which received Royal Assent on June 20, 2024), informally known as the greenwashing bill, aims to combat misleading environmental claims and enhance corporate transparency. “The trajectory is towards continuing to do this type of work and has been throughout my career. I expect to see more of that over time,” Gagnon says. “Businesses should view these regulatory changes as opportunities to demonstrate genuine commitment to sustainability. By transparently articulating and substantiating their environmental goals, companies can navigate these new requirements effectively,” Gagnon emphasizes.
“One of the things I find amazing about DEC is that it’s not just an industry networking hub—it’s an enabler for real projects. Most members are genuinely motivated by the end results of sustainability strategies. When DEC members get together, I love that DEC is really focused on building collaborative projects.” - Gagnon
Expanding Connections and Seeking Strategic Partnerships
When asked why she joined DEC, Gagnon replies, “To make connections with other DEC members. I have a strong belief in businesses, particularly technical and/or product developers; they’re the true doers of this work, and I like to partner with those types of individuals to help them achieve their goals
“I see us as strong partners for these businesses.” Companies engage with Gagnon when they need support articulating and proving their sustainability claims, especially given new regulations like Bill-C59. “One of the things I find amazing about DEC is that it’s not just an industry group or an information hub—it’s about making connections so that you can work on real-world projects together and move things forward,” Gagnon says.
Skyline Partners is in a growth phase, seeking both a new intermediate hire and strategic partners. “My goal is to connect with professionals in a wide range of expertise including GHG modeling and risk assessments," informs Gagnon.
Committed to a Sustainable Future
Gagnon's work through Skyline Partners highlights her dedication to advancing sustainability and ESG practices. With extensive experience in developing sustainability frameworks and leading innovative projects, Skyline Partners is wellpositioned to address the environmental challenges businesses face today. Her strategic approach, passion for lifelong learning, and focus on collaboration make her a key player in shaping the future of environmental practices.
To get in touch with Skyline Partners, Stephanie Gagnon visit https://skylinepartners.ca/