CBSR has partnered with HP Canada on the Sustainable Procurement Fellowship program to convene 30 leaders across Canada. The Fellowship is a 5-month, mostly virtual program consisting of 10 workshops, with one in-person meet-up at GLOBExCHANGE/GLOBE Forum. This award-winning program is designed to help businesses tackle challenges and unlock opportunities in sustainable procurement. The Program has been in operation since 2023, and the 3rd cohort is running from Jan 29th to Jun 4th 2025.
For detailed program info, access our program presentation.
Sign up for Information About SPF 2026
The Sustainable Procurement Fellowship (SPF) focuses on key concepts and strategies to help integrate sustainable procurement into everyday operations. Each workshop provides tools and resources that are relevant to organizations at different stages of their sustainable procurement journey, ensuring practical value for all participants. The workshops build on each other, combining expert insights with actionable strategies. Led by industry leaders, this schedule equips fellows with the tools and frameworks to apply sustainable procurement within their organizations.
Program Schedule | Workshop Topics (2-hour virtual sessions)
The Sustainable Procurement Fellowship (SPF) has been recognized as a Clean50 2024 Award-winning Project. This award celebrates Canada’s top sustainability initiatives, recognizing projects that demonstrate leadership and innovation in advancing sustainability. The SPF program was awarded for its unique contribution to sustainable procurement across industries, helping organizations reduce Scope 3 emissions and integrate sustainability into their procurement processes. This recognition underscores the program’s impact and its role in shaping the future of responsible sourcing in Canada.
The Sustainable Procurement Fellowship is brought to you in partnership with HP Canada
Frances Edmonds is the Head of Sustainable Impact at HP Canada, where she is responsible for business development and oversees Corporate Social Responsibility programs nationally. With a focus on sustainable procurement, Frances is driving meaningful change cross-sector that supports a more circular and sustainable economic future for Canada. With more than 30 years of experience, Frances is recognized as one of Canada’s top sustainability professionals, having received two Clean 50 awards and has led HP Canada to become the most sustainable technology company in Canada.
Bob is a leading expert on quantifying and selling the business value of corporate sustainability strategies and a sought-after speaker who has given over 1,500 presentations to corporate, government, university, and NGO audiences. Bob is the author of the highly acclaimed books The Sustainability Advantage and the Business Case for Sustainability which engage the business community in proactively avoiding risks and capturing opportunities by using smart environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices. Bob is experienced in sustainable procurement and has created tools to help with its implementation such as the Basic Sustainability Assessment Tool for suppliers to determine their performance on core sustainability issues.
Monica is principal at Shift & Build. She helps organizations develop and implement strategies that deliver social, environmental and economic value at scale. She has been working on helping to catalyze the advancement of sustainable procurement over the last 6 years. During this time, she has led a number of projects ranging from an assessment of the integration of sustainability into public sector procurement to research that deepens the understanding of needs in the area of sustainable procurement. In addition to her work at Shift & Build, Monica is an adjunct instructor at the Schulich School of Business.
What is CBSR?
CBSR (Canadian Business for Social Responsibility) is a national non-profit membership association helping Canadian businesses lead in sustainability. CBSR provides tools, resources, and peer-to-peer learning opportunities to advance corporate sustainability and drive systemic change toward net-zero and equitable business practices.
What is sustainable procurement?
Sustainable procurement is the process of obtaining the best value for money by purchasing the most sustainable goods and services from the most sustainable suppliers. It integrates sustainability criteria into procurement decisions to support the organization’s overall strategic sustainability goals, considering not only the initial cost but also the environmental, social, and economic impacts of the products and services throughout their entire lifecycle.
Who should apply for the SPF?
We seek sustainability, procurement, and finance professionals in senior positions with the ability to drive change and an interest in advancing sustainable procurement practices within their organizations.
How is diversity included in the program?
The program actively seeks applicants from diverse industries, backgrounds, and experiences to create a more inclusive community of practice.
What is the time commitment for SPF?
The Sustainable Procurement Fellowship (SPF) will convene bi-weekly for a total of 10 virtual workshops over a 5-month period. The program will be primarily virtual, with the exception of 1 in-person session at the GLOBExCHANGE/GLOBE Forum. Fellows are expected to attend as many workshops as possible, committing approximately 5% of their working hours throughout the program.
How do I apply?
Applications for the 2025 cohort are now closed. However, you can sign up to receive information about SPF 2026.
Get to know the passionate and driven professionals of the 2025 SPF cohort. These fellows represent a diverse range of industries and bring their expertise and commitment to advancing sustainable procurement.