Allard Law Professor Dr. Carol Liao has been named one of Canada’s Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers by Canadian Lawyer. She has been recognized in the Business category.
Dr. Liao, who is an expert in corporate law, sustainability and climate governance, has dedicated much of her career to researching and advocating for sustainable business model archetypes and a just transition to a net-zero carbon economy. She was also recently appointed as Co-Director of the UBC Centre for Climate Justice alongside UBC Professor Naomi Klein.
“Dr. Liao is a world-renowned academic whose innovative and forward-looking thinking ideas have advanced how we view the intersection between law, sustainability and business,” says Nazma Lee, Senior Legal Counsel of the BC Securities Commission, who nominated Dr. Liao for the award.
Among Dr. Liao’s other achievements, she is the recipient of the BIV Influential Women in Business Award, BCBusiness Women of the Year Award (Equity and Inclusion Champion), Canada's Clean50 Award, Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women Award, and the 2024 UBC Public Humanities Engagement Award. She has been cited over 100 times in TV, radio and print news media.
“Her experience and accomplishments speak for themselves, but what makes Dr. Liao a true star is her authenticity and her passion for empowering those around her,” says Lee. “Her natural ability to amplify and inspire others is what truly distinguishes Dr. Liao.”
At the Allard School of Law, Dr. Liao teaches Business Organizations (Law 459), which includes a focus on human rights, climate governance and sustainability, Contract Law (Law 211), as well as upper-year seminars including Corporate Social Responsibility and the Law (Law 306D).
In addition to Dr. Liao’s role at Allard Law, she is the Distinguished Fellow of the Peter P. Dhillon Centre for Business Ethics at the UBC Sauder School of Business. She also serves as Chair and Principal Co-Investigator of the Canada Climate Law Initiative, providing businesses and regulators with climate governance guidance in a rapidly transforming legal landscape. Recently, Dr. Liao joined the board of InBC Investment Corporation, a $500 million strategic investment fund dedicated to accelerating climate action, advancing reconciliation, and elevating inclusive communities in the province.
On September 1, Dr. Liao was appointed Co-Director of the Centre for Climate Justice at UBC. Established in 2021, the Centre supports knowledge mobilization, research and policy advocacy, and community-led climate action to address the pressing issues of climate justice. Dr. Liao will lead the Centre’s research program, community and industry outreach, and knowledge mobilization efforts, with Co-Director and world-renowned climate activist and author UBC Professor Naomi Klein.
