Today, Coast Funds CEO Eddy Adra was honoured with a Clean50 Award in recognition of his work supporting 17 First Nations to develop the Great Bear Sea project finance for permanence (PFP) initiative and his leadership on values-aligned investing that incorporates Indigenous rights.

The Clean50 Awards are presented each year by Delta Management Group and the Clean50 organization to recognize 50 people and teams, across 16 categories, who have made significant contributions to the clean economy in Canada over the past two years.

“This year’s Clean50 honourees share a commitment to building a more sustainable future for all,” says Eddy Adra, Coast Funds CEO. “I’m thrilled to stand alongside these inspiring leaders and grateful to the team at Coast Funds for their support, and for the work they do every day in service of First Nations on the coast.”

Over the last two years, Eddy worked closely with First Nation leaders, Crown government representatives, and funding partners to test the feasibility, build an investment case, and secure $335 million in financing for the Great Bear Sea PFP, which was announced in June. Ahead of the PFP closing, Eddy led the team that developed a financial model that integrates public and private contributions to support the delivery of long-term funding for First Nations’ marine stewardship and community development priorities.

“The Great Bear Sea PFP will protect a vast marine ecosystem while creating jobs and supporting Indigenous businesses. With government and philanthropic investments secured, the PFP will create 3,000 jobs and support 200 Indigenous businesses over the next 20 years,” says Gavin Pitchford, CEO, Delta Management Group.

Eddy joined the Coast Funds team in 2018, serving as the Director of Finance and Chief Financial Officer before being appointed to CEO in 2022. In his journey with Coast Funds, Eddy has worked with First Nations to manage and invest $100 million in legacy conservation financing, develop investment policies and strategies that incorporate Indigenous rights along with ESG criteria, and attract new investments to coastal communities, notably through the Great Bear Sea PFP initiative and Community Energy Diesel Reduction (CEDR) program.

In his earlier role as Coast Funds CFO, Eddy developed an “I+ESG” investing framework that incorporates UNDRIP principles. Coast Funds’ investment policies and guidelines instruct fund managers to limit investments in industries and companies that harm Indigenous communities, increase investments in Indigenous-owned businesses and infrastructure, and exercise shareholder voting rights to encourage companies to meaningfully consult with Indigenous communities on whose territories they operate.

Eddy will be attending the Clean50 Summit in Toronto, where he’ll meet with 144 past and incoming Clean50 honourees tackling critical sustainability challenges facing Canada. Visit Clean50 for more information on Eddy Adra and the 2025 Clean50 Awards.