Next-Gen Sustainability: Skills for What’s Next
Climate challenges, shifting policies, and economic uncertainty are reshaping the sustainability industry domestically and internationally. Join the Research Program on Sustainability Policy and Management, the M.S. in Sustainability Management program, the M.S. in Sustainability Science program, and the MPA in Environmental Science and Policy program as we bring together leaders from academia, finance, energy, consulting, fashion, tech, and more to discuss the abilities, skills, and knowledge individuals need to enter, thrive, and remain relevant in the sustainability space.
SPEAKERS AND PRESENTERS:
Welcome notes:
Dr. Steven Cohen is the Director of the Research Program on Sustainability Policy and Management at Columbia’s Climate School. He is a Professor in the Practice of Public Affairs at the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), the Senior Vice Dean at the Columbia University School of Professional Studies (SPS), and the Program Director of the M.S. in Sustainability Management program at SPS and the MPA in Environmental Science and Policy program at SIPA. From 2006 to 2018, he was the Executive Director of Columbia University’s Earth Institute.
Moderator:
Dr. Satyajit Bose , is the Associate Director of the Research Program on Sustainability Policy and Management at Columbia’s Climate School and Professor of Professional Practice in the M.S. in Sustainability Management program at the Columbia University School of Professional Studies (SPS).
Panel:
James Ossman serves as Vice President of Customer Operations at Etsy, where he oversees Customer Support, Trust and Safety, and the International business. James previously held progressive senior leadership roles at Etsy, including overseeing marketplace sustainability initiatives, strategic sourcing, and workplace. Before joining Etsy, James had a distinguished career in international development and operations management, working at The Earth Institute, Columbia University and in several non-profit organizations. An advocate for social and environmental impact, he’s an active member of several prestigious boards and institutions, including the Advisory Board for Columbia’s MS in Sustainability Management Program, the Aspen Institute’s First Mover Fellowship, and the Partnership for NYC’s David Rockefeller Fellowship. James holds a Master of Science in Sustainability Management from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs from The George Washington University.
Curtis Probst is CEO of New York City Energy Efficiency Corporation: a public-private-philanthropic partnership that finances energy efficiency and clean energy projects in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. Before joining NYCEEC in 2018, he was a Managing Director and the Head of Sustainable Finance for RMI, a global energy think tank. Prior to joining RMI, Curtis was a Managing Director and the Head of Corporate Structured Finance at Goldman Sachs where he worked for over 15 years. Before joining Goldman Sachs, Curtis worked at Salomon Brothers for over 8 years, most recently as a Vice President in their Structured and Project Finance Group. Curtis has served as an adjunct lecturer at Columbia University for ten years, and has also conducted seminars at Dartmouth College since 2022. Curtis received a BComm from University of Calgary, an MPA from Columbia University, an EdD from University of Pennsylvania, and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.
Celine Ruben-Salama is a business strategist with 20+ years of professional experience focused on long-term value creation through innovation, risk reduction, efficiency, long-term oriented sustainability planning and implementation. She is the Founder and Principal of FOR THE LONG-TERM, LLC - a sustainability consultancy specializing in corporate sustainability, with a focus on climate change, carbon accounting, and corporate reporting. Current and past clients include Fortune 100 companies in Tech, Financial Services, Real Estate, Professional Services, Food, Retail, Pharmaceutical, and Water Utilities, as well as public sector institutions, nonprofits and NGOs such as NYSERDA, U.S. EPA, SASB and the United Nations. Since 2015 she teaches “Corporate Sustainability Reporting & Strategy” in the MS Sustainability Management program at Columbia University. Celine holds an MPA in Environmental Science Policy degree from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, an MBA and Bachelor of Business Administration with honors from the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College, CUNY.
Zachary Suttile is a Director in E3’s Climate Pathways and Electrification practice, where his work covers all sectors of the energy economy to evaluate the potential and impact of climate solutions. He has nearly 20 years of research, analysis, consulting, and program implementation experience at the intersection of climate policy, environmental risk, and the built environment. He focuses on practical solutions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollution, deliver bankable energy and operational savings, increase resiliency, and capture the full benefit of established and emerging markets. In recent years, Zak led two major planning efforts with the City of New York: PowerUp NYC, the City’s first long-term energy plan, and the Local Law 97 Implementation Action Plan, which set forth a path to LL97 compliance across city government operations.
Zak joined E3 from Willdan, E3’s parent company, where he was the Vice President of Corporate Business Development in Willdan’s Lower Manhattan office. He began his career in environmental risk management for a boutique consultancy in New Jersey. He holds an MPA in Environmental Science and Policy from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, and a BA with Distinction in Environmental Studies from the University of Pennsylvania.
View the event program here.
RECEPTION
The event will conclude with a reception featuring light refreshments, passed hors d’oeuvres, and opportunities to connect.
This event is free and open to the public. Registration is recommended and is open until Friday, September 19th, 2025.
For more information, please contact Tal Henig-Hadar, thenig-hadar [[at]] climate [[dot]] columbia [[dot]] edu (thenig-hadar[at]climate[dot]columbia[dot]edu).
To obtain additional information about program offerings at Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies, please contact an Admissions Counselor at inquire [[at]] sps [[dot]] columbia [[dot]] edu (inquire[at]sps[dot]columbia[dot]edu).
If you require closed captioning, sign-language interpretation, or any other disability accommodations, please contact Disability Services, disability [[at]] columbia [[dot]] edu (disability[at]columbia[dot]edu), at least 10 days in advance.
Please visit Columbia University’s Hub for Emergency Preparedness (https://preparedness.columbia.edu/) to stay up to date on the latest campus health and safety policies.
This event is open to individuals irrespective of identity and sex.
