September 8, 2026 – Toronto, Ontario – To address the growing need for cross-sector and international collaboration to protect polar bears and their Arctic sea ice home, Polar Bears International is proud to announce that Sarah Smith has joined the leadership team as the Senior Director of Development. Based in Toronto, Sarah brings experience in sustainability, strategic growth, and relationship building to Polar Bears International, the only nonprofit dedicated solely to polar bears and the Arctic sea ice they depend on.
Prior to joining Polar Bears International, Sarah spent nearly two decades at Sustainalytics, where she successfully developed market expansion strategies, cultivated new partnerships, and built relationships with clients and stakeholders around sustainability outcomes. Working closely with asset managers and other institutional investors, she helped clients understand environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks and opportunities, navigate evolving sustainability expectations, and integrate sustainability considerations into their investment and reporting strategies.
“I am honoured to join the Polar Bears International team and work to grow awareness and foster support for the Polar Bears for generations to come,” says Sarah, noting, “I’ve seen in the sustainable investing space how international collaboration can foster change. I’m looking forward to finding similar ways to work with others in the work I’ll be doing here.”
“We are thrilled to add Sarah to our team,” says Polar Bears International Executive Director Krista Wright, adding, “Her experience will help Polar Bears International advance polar bear research, understanding, and collaboration across the Arctic.”
About Polar Bears International
Polar Bears International (PBI) is the only nonprofit organization in the world dedicated solely to protecting the future of polar bears and the Arctic sea ice they depend on. Recognized as a global leader in the field, PBI leverages a team of leading scientists and conservationists to advance crucial research and coexistence strategies. Registered entities in Canada and the United States — but working across the Arctic — the organization aims to inspire people worldwide by highlighting the urgent threats to the Arctic and the direct connection between this remote region and our global climate. As a top-rated charity and 1% for the Planet member, PBI’s efforts are amplified across more than 3,000 media outlets annually, driving change for polar bears and the Arctic ecosystem.
For more information, visit polarbearsinternational.org.
Media Contacts
Annie Edwards, for Polar Bears International annie@fabricmedia.net
Melissa Hourigan, for Polar Bears International melissa@fabricmedia.net