Matt Esper
Director, Sustainability & Social Impact @Direct Travel
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WORK HISTORY
Director, Sustainability & Social Impact @Direct Travel
Toronto, ON, CA
Built and lead Direct Travel’s first enterprise-wide sustainability and social-impact function, embedding ESG principles into strategy, governance, and client offerings across a $6B global travel portfolio. Accountable for translating sustainability vision into measurable business outcomes that strengthen brand, stakeholder trust, and client retention.Key Achievements:Established company-wide ESG strategy and governance framework integrating CSRD, TCFD and GRI principles.Directed cross-functional initiatives spanning ESG reporting, decarbonization, DEIB, and responsible sourcing.Launched supplier engagement and sustainable-travel products, achieving Supplier Code of Conduct acknowledgment from 50 % of vendors.Oversaw Direct Travel’s first sustainability report and implemented data-governance processes for Scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG accounting.Embedded sustainability KPIs into client solutions, influencing decision-making across $6B in annual travel volume.Launched the inaugural employee resource groups (ERGs) at Direct Travel, establishing 3 group missions, recruiting 22 employee leaders and managing program governance.
EDUCATION
Tsinghua University
Master of Public Administration - MPA, Standards, Governance and Sustainability
University of Toronto
Certificate, Climate Change Policy & Practice
Queen's University
One Academic Year, Physical Geography
Toronto Metropolitan University
Bachelor of Commerce - BCom, Hospitality & Tourism Management
University of Geneva
Graduate Exchange, Innovation, Human Development and Sustainability
ABOUT MATT ESPER
Sustainability doesn’t succeed through ambition alone — it succeeds through systems, data, and people who believe in the why. I build the governance, reporting, and culture that turn ESG commitments into measurable results.I’m a sustainability strategist and reporting leader with over 15 years of global experience with a track record of driving ESG transformation across consulting, corporate, and operational roles. My work bridges strategy, data, and impact — helping organizations align purpose with performance under frameworks like CSRD, ESRS, GRI, and SBTi.At MGM Resorts International, I directed global sustainability strategy, data, and reporting — leading decarbonization, water stewardship, and supply chain initiatives that earned CDP A-List recognition and 1.5 °C SBTi approval. I also advanced a global governance system for climate and social reporting and founded MGM’s first sustainability business resource group, engaging employees and NGOs in shared action.Today, as Director of Sustainability & Social Impact at Direct Travel, I’m shaping enterprise-wide ESG governance and reporting across a $6 B global client portfolio, embedding sustainability in supplier engagement, stakeholder strategy, and disclosure.Previously, with Greenview Advisors, I advised Fortune 100s, small family-run businesses, and nonprofits on ESG reporting and strategy — producing 20+ sustainability reports and helping clients achieve EcoVadis Gold, ISS Prime, and GRESB leadership recognition.I believe sustainability must be more than compliance — it’s a catalyst for innovation, trust, and long-term value. Whether guiding a CSRD roadmap or crafting a decarbonization plan, I focus on turning complexity into clarity and reporting into real-world results.I’m passionate about helping European and global organizations strengthen their ESG foundations, improve data integrity, and elevate transparency — driving measurable impact that lasts.Always open to exchanging insights on ESG strategy, reporting innovation, or Europe’s sustainability transformation — let’s connect.
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