Sustainability at the Core: Retail’s Path to Zero Waste and Net Zero

Gemma Hinksman is Senior Director and Head of Canada Impact Team at McDonald’s Canada.

Since joining the company, Gemma has helped develop strategic initiatives to bring to life McDonald’s purpose of feeding and fostering communities, as well as drive trust and responsible business growth in Canada. This includes the oversight of the launch of “Love what’s next,” the brand’s flagship platform that outlined its action-led commitments to making a positive impact with the planet, communities, its people and food quality in mind.

Together with her team, she continues to propel the organisation’s purpose forward, working with members from across the Canadian and global business, supplier partners and the agriculture industry, to help McDonald’s meet and exceed its purpose-led goals for guests and communities in Canada.

With 15+ years of industry experience in reputation management and purpose building for brands in Canada and the U.K. such as Mondelez (Cadbury & Oreo), Coca-Cola, Pizza Hut, and DHL, Gemma has a proven ability to lead companies with corporate purposes that empower, inspire, and recognize their communities.

Joe McMahan oversees strategy and initiatives to maintain and enhance Maple Leaf Food’s position as an environmental leader in the protein industry. His work includes leading and developing the team that maintains Maple Leaf Food’s carbon neutrality status, the development of strategy and action plans to meet or exceed the company’s environmental footprint reduction goals, and coordination across the business to manage sustainability-related engagement and communications.
Prior to joining Maple Leaf Foods, McMahan oversaw programs, projects, and partnerships to create and advance the U.S. Dairy Stewardship Commitment, a sustainability framework now adopted by over 75% of the U.S. milk supply. Prior to joining the Innovation Center, McMahan was a sustainable agriculture program manager for The Coca-Cola Company, worked in Indonesia on a sustainability-focused project with Mars Incorporated, and spent four years in East Africa improving livelihoods for smallholder and subsistence farmers. McMahan holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Auburn University and a master’s in business administration from Duke University focused on sustainability, strategy and social entrepreneurship.

Michael is a leading sustainable business expert, with over 20 years’ experience across North America, Europe and Asia. His work has most recently been focused on public and private sector ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance), climate action and circular economy projects, cross-sectoral initiatives and government relations advocacy as Vice President of Sustainability at Retail Council of Canada, Director of Sustainability at GFL, Director of Climate Change & Sustainability Services at Ernst & Young and as Vice President of Business Development & Strategy at Bee’ah, a leading UAE based integrated waste and recycling management company. 

In Michael’s current role at Retail Council of Canada, he leads the sustainability practice, supporting retailers and quick service restaurants nationally with government relations, the development of knowledge sharing platforms and pre-competitive initiatives on key issues such as ESG and climate action, extended producer responsibility (EPR) and plastic waste reduction. 

Kim is the Vice President of ESG, Community Impact and Sport Partnerships at Canadian Tire Corporation.  With over 20 years’ experience in marketing, communications, sponsorships and strategic planning, Kim brings a comprehensive view to purpose-lead brand building where both profit and social impact are at the center of business. 

At Canadian Tire Corporation Kim is responsible for the company’s strategic direction in ESG and social impact. In this enterprise-wide role her responsibilities include the strategic development and programmatic buildout of the company’s CSR strategy and philanthropic spending. Kim is also responsible for the marketing and fundraising support for the company’s charity partner Jumpstart and has responsibility for developing and maintaining strategic community and sport partnerships. Prior to joining CTC in 2012 Kim held various senior roles in marketing communications agencies with a particular focus on the retails food & beverage and hospitality sectors. She is a graduate of the University of Toronto and hold a postgraduate Humber College.