2026 UIS Summit
for the credit union industry
Hosted by United Nations Federal Credit Union
Event overview
If you are looking for durable ways to lead your organization with purpose and progress through unprecedented change, join us at our summit on sustainability solutions. Leading voices shaping new realities will unpack top-of-mind subjects such as climate risk mitigation, artificial intelligence, new regulations and disrupters, better reporting and data gathering, building community strength and well-being, and the transition to a cleaner, more just economy.
LEARN how to incorporate values-based Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) into your strategy and reporting.
OBTAIN resources and insight on sustainability in the Digital Age, the culture of inclusion, green products/services, clean energy, and member well-being.
CONNECT with global experts and peers on best practices, ranging from climate risk mitigation to social purpose, building more resilient communities, and more!
Who should attend:
President/CEO and Board members, managers and officers in retail/product solutions, enterprise risk management, HR/culture and inclusion, facilities/operations, finance, IT, and sustainability.
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Location & activity details
Location
Our two-day summit will take place at two lively locations in New York City. On day one, join us at 320 Park Ave for a day of keynote speakers and engaging panelists. On day two, participate in workshops held at our global headquarters in Long Island City, just across the river from Manhattan.
Activities
Enjoy a complimentary breakfast from 08:00 to 09:00 on both days of the summit.
Join an optional tour of the UN Headquarters from 16:30 to 17:30 on 17 November. Available to the first 60 registrants.
Reception
Network and celebrate on the first night of our conference at UN Headquarters, Main Atrium, from 18:00 to 20:00.
Note: To enter UN grounds, please bring a government-issued photo ID. UN entry badges and tour tickets will be provided prior to building entry.
Hotels
PROGRAM AGENDA
Day One | Tuesday, November 17
08:00 ET
Breakfast and Networking
Morning connections with peers and leaders from across the credit union and sustainability communities.
09:00 ET
Welcome: Setting the Stage
A conversation with UNFCU leaders Pamela Agnone, President & CEO, and Prasad Surapaneni, EVP, on how cooperative values empower organizations and their members during a period of significant disruption. Moderated by Yma Gordon,
SVP, Global Impact & Inclusion and Executive Director, UNFCU Foundation.
09:20 ET
Panel of Experts: Pinpoint the Sustainability Trends Driving the Year Ahead
A deep dive on social impact, clean energy, AI and data center growth, operational efficiency, marketing, and the business case for sustainability with Nikos Avlonas, President, Center for Sustainability Excellence; Rodrigoh Henriques,
Chief Innovation & Strategy Officer, Fenasbac-Brazil; Eileen Miamidian, Technical Director, Inclusive Financial Services, World Council of Credit Unions; and Shelia Oviedo, Officer, Climate and Nature, S&P Global. Moderated
by Pablo DeFilippi, EVP, Inclusiv.
10:05 ET
Group Activity
Teams will select trends highlighted by the panel and explore practical organizational responses, opportunities, and proven approaches.
10:30 ET
Keynote: A Future We Choose
What’s the state and direction of the global environment after the world’s hottest summer? Rafael Peralta, Director for the New York Office and North America for the UN Environment Programme, will unpack the issues and offer insight
on how the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can serve as catalysts for positive change. Q&A led by young credit union professionals.
11:05 ET
Networking Break
11:20 ET
Live from COP31
We will go direct to the UN Climate Conference in Antalya, Türkiye, for an on-the-ground update on the world’s largest forum with Cassie Flynn, Global Director of Climate Change at the UN Development Programme.
11:30 ET
Panel: Building Resilient Communities Together
New developments on tackling affordability, insurance, and climate finance, with Dr. Lisa Dale, Senior Lecturer in Climate at Columbia Climate School; Casey McGraw, Vice President of Policy & Counsel Policy, Research and International,
the American Property Casualty Insurance Association; Terri Mickelsen, CEO, Clean Energy Credit Union; and Neda Arabshahi, EVP, Center for Resiliency and Clean Energy, Inclusiv. Opening comments by Ellen Lurie Hoffman, Executive
Director, the Center for Impact Finance at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.
12:30 ET
Lunch and Networking
13:30 ET
Fireside Chat: Moving Forward Faster
How CEOs and boards are advancing sustainability drawn from new cross-industry research by the UN Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative with Sue Allchurch, Chief Outreach and Engagement.
14:00 ET
Panel: Leveraging Sustainability to Empower Teams and Members
From Green Teams to green products, we will uncover strategies that can scale community impact with Dan LeFree, South Market President, Harborside Credit Union; Megan Snyder, SVP, Community Impact, Unitus Community Credit Union;
Michael Byrne, CEO, Core Credit Union-Ireland; and Syed Ashraf, Program Manager, Staff Engagement UNFCU Global Sustainability Program, and Lead Lending Operations Analyst, UNFCU. Moderated by Carlos Calderon, President/CEO,
OAS FCU.
14:45 ET
Spotlight on Top Leadership Lessons in Sustainability:
Adopting an Explorer’s Mindset
Insights from thought leaders who have shaped the climate finance landscape through advocacy and action with James Fountain, cultural geographer, author, sustainability leader, and chair of The Explorers Club’s Sustainability Committee,
whose work connects field experience with organizational leadership.
15:05 ET
Networking Break
15:20 ET
Day One Recap
Key takeaways, a call to action, and a look ahead to Day Two.
16:30 ET
Tour of UN Headquarters
A guided tour with a sustainability lens. Visitors’ Entrance, 46th Street and First Avenue.
18:00 ET
Evening Reception
Northeast Atrium, General Assembly Building, UN Headquarters.
Day Two | Wednesday, November 18
08:00 ET
Breakfast and Networking
09:00 ET
Power of Partnership
UNFCU Chief Revenue Officer Eric Darmanin on the power of partnership and how credit unions deliver local impact on a global scale.
09:15 ET
Keynote: Financial Health Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities
Andrew Warren, Manager of Research at the Financial Health Network, on how technology, policy, and the economy are shaping household financial health, and how credit unions can lead the way with their response.
09:30 ET
Workshop: Materiality to action – a practical path to sustainability reporting
Data gathering, materiality, and reporting practices that meet regulatory and stakeholder expectations, with Workiva, Embark, and David Honick, Senior Manager, Climate and Global Sustainability, UNFCU.
10:15 ET
Networking Break
10:35 ET
Spotlight: Driving Towards Community Social Impact
Best practices on how credit unions and their foundations drive community change. A shared toolkit on forging partnerships, educational initiatives, funding, advocacy, and social enterprise with Daniela Lepinsk Romio, Manager of
Sustainability and Cooperatives, Sicredi Credit Union-Brazil; Robert Suarez, Vice President of Government Affairs, FourLeaf FCU; Jama Campbell, Executive Director, SECU Foundation; and Sue Ward-Diorio, Executive Director, Cross State
Foundation.
11:30 ET
The Sustainability Disconnect: What Leaders are Saying vs. What Consumers Expect
Business leaders say sustainability is becoming embedded in strategy, but consumers are focused on what they can actually see and experience. Drawing on new Canadian research from Innovation Federal Credit Union (Innovation), Vishnu
Singh, Vice President of Growth and Member Experience, explores the gap between executive priorities and consumer expectations, and what it means for credit unions seeking to build trust, demonstrate responsible governance, and deliver
tangible value.
12:00 ET
Expert Table Lunch
Sit down with subject matter experts on green products, impact reporting, greener operations, inclusion, and well-being.
13:00 ET
Workshop: The Human Side of Sustainability
Gain the interpersonal skills that turn commitment into action: empathy, trust, collaboration, and influence. With IBIS, Carlene Alexander, VP of Global Impact & Inclusion at UNFCU, and Interactive Business Theater.
13:45 ET
Community Forum
Your turn! Collective idea-sharing to define sustainability’s role in risk, governance, and strategy, moderated by Layalee, Ramahi, Lead United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI), with credit union case studies
from industry leaders Alison Coates, Director, Climate and Community Investment, Vancity, and Gildas Poissonnier, Chief Sustainability Officer, Desjardins.
14:25 ET
Summit Reflections
Closing thoughts from Prasad Surapaneni, EVP, UNFCU, and a look ahead to the United in Sustainability Network’s 10th anniversary in 2027.
14:30 ET
Summit Concludes
Check out previous United in Sustainability Summits
The annual United in Sustainability (UIS) Summit was established in 2018. It serves as a platform for credit unions and industry thought leaders to share information, tools and resources related to sustainability, diversity and corporate social responsibility.
2025 UIS Summit
We hosted our first international UIS Summit in Montreal, Canada, convening Canadian credit union and cooperative leaders from across the country, as well as from Brazil, Ireland, and the US. Event topics included fresh research from the UN Environment Programme on Sustainability and the Digital Age of Artificial Intelligence, and a fireside chat with Vancity’s CEO Wellington Holbrook.
2024 UIS Summit
At the 7th Annual UIS Summit, Credit unions and their associations convened at the UN NY headquarters to discuss actionable strategies and best practices for advancing sustainability – from green financing to ensuring financial inclusion.
2023 UIS Summit
The 6th Annual UIS Credit Union Summit was held at the Organization of American States Main Building in Washington, DC. Learn how to start or advance your credit union’s sustainability journey and how to combat climate change and socio-economic disparity.
Spread the word. Join the movement!
Have questions? Contact info@unfcufoundation.org
United in Sustainability is committed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
