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21 SUMMER 2024 planning to our day-to-day opera- tions," he says. "Having a strong corporate gover- nance framework provides structure to drive our strategic planning and ensures our board of directors is continually updated on our prog- ress. The support and encourage- ment from our board runs unbeliev- ably deep." Sustainability also serves as a catalyst for driving innovation at NFI, which offers 17 different zero- emission bus and coach models. "The transition to a zero-emission economy is here, with public and pri- vate transit and coach transportation playing a pivotal role in significantly reducing greenhouse gases and air pollution," Soubry says. "Zero-emission products and ser- vices — including the electrification of transit and coach buses — glob- ally drives technological innova- tion and advancements in battery technology, charging infrastructure and smart-grid integration." In 2023, NFI established a sustainability council made up of leaders from every business division and supported by its sustainabil- ity functional team. This council is accountable for fulfilling respon- sibilities related to its sustainable strategy and program roadmap. To counter challenges along the way — such as navigating complex regu- lations and balancing short-term costs with long-term benefits — NFI takes a collaborative approach. "Before making any significant business decisions, we make sure to understand what environmental, so- cial and governance issues are most impactful to our business and to our stakeholders," Soubry says. "This allows us to weigh potential benefits against risks and identify opportunities where we can align our business objectives with sus- tainability practices." At the same time, NFI team mem- bers aim to incorporate sustainability into day-to-day aspects of the job. "Our vision is to drive business suc- cess by engaging and empowering our workforce," Soubry says. "We work to ensure consistent two-way communication, and the feedback we receive informs our people strategy and drives action plans to further enhance our work- place culture, foster inclusivity and improve retention of our people — our most valuable assets." Looking ahead, the company remains focused on developing achievable targets to reduce its impacts on climate change across its value chain while also addressing sustainability within supply chains. "Understanding our current state across all our businesses is an incredibly important first step to really building in a program that will have a positive corporate impact," Soubry says. "Throughout 2024 and beyond, we continue to pursue investments in a future where our contributions to the environment, society and overall economic well-being are built into our operating model." The transition to a zero-emission economy is here, with public and private transit and coach transportation playing a pivotal role in significantly reducing greenhouse gases and air pollution." – Paul Soubry, president and CEO of NFI Group " PAUL SOUBRY, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF NFI GROUP, SAYS SUSTAINABILITY IS A CORE COMPANY VALUE.

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