An executive leader with more than 20 years of progressive and trans-disciplinary experience stewarding teams in the areas of sustainability and ESG policy, practice, and Management; government relations; stakeholder engagement; climate and energy resource policy; and communications and regulatory compliance, Dr. Frank McShane leads teams in the development of ESG frameworks for major companies in the energy sector.

Frank currently works with SHIFT Critical International, an organization committed to helping their clients improve ESG performance, sustainable growth, and managing risk while capitalizing on new opportunities. As SHIFT Critical’s Principal and Founder, he specializes in sustainability and ESG solutions, framework design, and facilitating access to impact funding.

Dr. McShane has extensive experience in governance, ethical compliance, community relations, and human rights. He has represented organizations publicly on environmental, social, and governance issues across the breadth of critical stakeholders, often in situations of conflict, and has engaged with the governments in Canada (Federal and Provincial), the US, and overseas, as well as with Indigenous and tribal peoples, NGOs, ethical investors, and the media.

Prior to founding SHIFT Critical International, Frank was a Senior Associate for Communica, providing consultation on major areas of business development, ESG sustainability, government relations, and stakeholder engagement. He has also served as Senior Manager, Government Relations and Communications for Pembina Pipeline Corporation, Principal for CESG Consulting, Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Talisman, and Group Lead – Corporate Responsibility at EnCana.

He is the co-author of a sustainability report that set the baseline for the mining industry and was a foundation for establishing the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM). He was also elected to represent the international oil company membership of a major multi-stakeholder initiative at the Steering Committee and Board levels. Additionally, he led the design of a first-in-class policy by an oil and gas company based on principles outlined in UNDRIP.

He has degrees in Geology from the University of London, Environmental Resource Management from Heriot-Watt, and a doctorate from McGill University. He has taught at universities in Canada, New Zealand, and the University of the South Pacific in Fiji, and he has worked for three years at the UK-based think-tank, the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED). He has presented at international forums on issues of environmental and social governance and is a former adjunct faculty member of the McGill IISD Executive Program in CSR.

Frank has a M.Sc. in environmental resource management and a Ph.D. focused on resource development policy and economics from McGill.