T

h

e

 

h

i

g

h

l

i

g

h

t

 

o

f

 

T

o

r

o

n

t

o

'

s

 

l

i

t

e

r

a

r

y

 

c

a

l

e

n

d

a

r

Amy Burstyn Fritz is the co-founder and president of Burstyn Inc., Canada’s principal boutique brand building consultancy and partner to some of the world’s most influential companies, brands, cultural events, and nonprofit organizations. Amy is a fully engaged leader, championing a team of specialists known for producing goal-oriented events and shaping clients' communications strategies for contemporary platforms of influence.

Amy has an active social lifestyle with a wide network of connections that span arts and culture, fashion and lifestyle, government and public affairs. She is an active participant in Canada’s arts and culture community and volunteers with a number of not-for-profit organizations. Amy has previously served as co-chair for the Toronto Public Library Foundation’s Book Lovers’ Ball, and was in a leadership position for over 8 years volunteering with the Canadian Opera Company’s Operanation fundraiser and Opera Club Program and still sits on their event committees. She has also co-chaired the Style Advisory Council, a committee she helped develop for the Textile Museum of Canada, co-chaired the Canadian Stage Visionaries program, chaired an event for Canadian Stage’s young patrons program and been involved with event committees for the World Wildlife Foundation, Mount Sinai Hospital, The Canadian Art Foundation, The National Ballet of Canada, and the Luminato Festival.

As PwC Canada's Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer, James leads the firm's focus on developing strategies and initiatives that bring PwC’s purpose to life in the marketplace. His work includes leadership and oversight to the firm's environmental sustainability portfolio and its commitment to empower PwCs everywhere to share their time, talent and treasure to help digitally upskill 1 million people and not-for-profits to help close society's digital divide.

A philanthropist by nature, James has lent his expertise to countless fundraising efforts across the country raising millions of dollars in operating capital for organizations in need.  His stories and experiences about building trust in society and solving important problems have underpinned testimony to the Senate of Canada Special Committee on the Charitable Sector, while he serves on the board of directors for the Philanthropic Foundations of Canada and is a member of the not-for-profit committee of the Risk Oversight and Governance Board at CPA Canada.

Talk to James on Twitter about corporate social responsibility and community leadership by following him @CSRjames.