AI, ESG, and Accountability: What Sustainability Leaders Need to Know Now

Responsible AI is rapidly emerging as a critical ESG issue for sustainability leaders. As organizations increasingly deploy AI across their operations, a growing set of accountability concerns are surfacing: reputational risk, data integrity issues, and regulatory exposure that sustainability teams can no longer afford to ignore.

Regulatory and commercial expectations are evolving fast. How do you align human values with rapid AI innovation while keeping your sustainability commitments intact?

This online session gives sustainability and climate professionals the TL;DR on AI risk, AI governance, and emerging regulation, grounded in real world cases. Our panel brings together AI leaders from Schellman, Armanino, and TrustArc, moderated by Good.Lab, to discuss practical frameworks you can apply in your organization today.

What We’ll Cover:

What Responsible AI actually is, and why it's becoming an ESG issue Why sustainability leaders need to pay attention now

Real use cases organizations are implementing today

How companies are building AI governance without slowing down

Where regulation stands and where it's heading What actions your business should take next

Who Should Attend:

Heads of Sustainability and ESG

Climate and environmental reporting leads

Risk and compliance officers

AI and innovation leads at sustainability-focused organizations

Investors and operators working at the intersection of climate and technology

By registering for this event, you agree to share your registration information with the organizers of SF Climate Week.

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Speaker Bios:

Drew Armanino, Managing Director at Armanino

Drew serves as the operational lead for Armanino's Consulting Practice, functioning in a COO capacity across the business unit. He drives AI adoption, process transformation, and strategic execution, with a focus on helping organizations implement emerging technology in practical, high-impact ways. A licensed CPA with a background in audit and deal advisory, Drew brings a grounded business perspective to the governance challenges that come with AI. He also co-chairs Armanino's B Corp Committee, sitting at the intersection of operational excellence and sustainability impact.

Danny Manimbo, Managing Principal at Schellman

Based in Denver, Colorado, Danny leads the firm’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) and ISO services and serves as one of Schellman’s CPA principals. In this role, he oversees the strategy, delivery, and quality of Schellman’s AI, ISO, and broader attestation services. Since joining the firm in 2013, Danny has built more than 15 years of expertise in information security, data privacy, AI governance, and compliance, helping organizations navigate evolving regulatory landscapes and emerging technologies. He is also a recognized thought leader and frequent speaker at industry conferences, where he shares insights on AI governance, security best practices, and the future of compliance.

Val Ilchenko, General Counsel & Chief Privacy Officer at TrustArc

Val joined TrustArc in October 2023 to lead its Legal and Privacy Departments and serve as corporate secretary. Val’s principled approach as General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer is to seek to create efficient and practical solutions to complex legal, business, and privacy issues, wherever possible. Previously, Val served as Deputy General Counsel and Data Privacy Officer at GoTo, a $1B+ ARR Boston-based global company providing a host of software-as-a-service (SaaS) offerings across multiple business units and a diverse portfolio of unified collaboration and IT support-focused products. Val holds a B.A from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a J.D. and M.B.A from Suffolk University. Outside of his role at TrustArc, you can find Val watching Bluey with his wife, kids, and dog, exploring Boston-area coffee shops, snowboarding, or attempting to revive his lawn.

Andries Verschelden, Co-founder and CEO at Good.Lab

Andries is the CEO and co-founder of Good.Lab, a market leader at the intersection of sustainability consulting, SaaS, and AI-driven solutions. He brings a unique blend of strategic, financial, and entrepreneurial expertise to help organizations transition toward more sustainable and data-driven operations. Prior to this, Andries served as CEO of The Brenner Group, a boutique Silicon Valley financial services firm, where he advised high-growth companies on finance and strategy. Earlier, he co-founded MS Advisory in Shanghai, supporting international businesses navigating global markets. He began his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers in New York. Andries holds a B.S. in International Politics from Ghent University (Belgium) and an MBA from Binghamton University. He founded and participated in the Moore Comprehensive Executive Leadership Program at Harvard Business School. Outside of work, Andries is an endurance athlete who regularly trains for triathlons and enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter in the SF Bay Area.