Board of Directors

Sandra Abitan, Ad. E.

Managing Partner, Montréal Office
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP

Sandra Abitan is the Managing Partner of Osler’s Montréal office and has over 30 years of experience in corporate restructuring and insolvency law. Recognized as a leader in her field, she advises clients across various sectors on complex matters, both nationally and internationally. Sandra has played a pivotal role in numerous major restructurings and is frequently sought after for her expertise in cross-border cases. Her skills are consistently highlighted in top legal directories such as Chambers Canada, The Best Lawyers in Canada, and Lexpert.

Before joining Osler, Sandra began her career at another leading firm, where she quickly developed a strong expertise in restructuring and insolvency matters. Her ability to deliver innovative solutions and her commitment to client service has earned her the trust of major corporations and financial institutions.

Sandra has served as Chair of the Turnaround Management Association (TMA) Montréal Chapter, where she was the first woman to sit on the board of directors. She was also awarded the title of Advocatus Emeritus (Ad. E.) by the Québec Bar in recognition of her significant contributions to the legal profession.

A member and director of the Insolvency Institute of Canada, Sandra regularly speaks at specialized conferences and is involved in several community and business organizations. She is deeply engaged in her community and actively contributes to the development of the legal profession and the growth of the Montréal business community.

Isabelle Adjahi

Vice-President, Communications
CDPQ

Isabelle Adjahi is Vice-President, Communications. She is responsible for delivering the Communications team strategy and for promoting the role, expertise and impact of CDPQ in Quebec and around the world. She is also responsible for internal, external and institutional communications, as well as relations with the media and various stakeholders.

Ms. Adjahi boasts more than 25 years’ experience in communications in organizations and in investor relations. Prior to joining CDPQ in 2024, she served as Vice-President, Investor Relations and Sustainable Development at Lion Electric, where she played a key role in the company’s initial public offering. She also oversaw the implementation of Lion Electric’s sustainable development strategy. She previously held various management positions at WSP and Axcan Pharma.

Ms. Adjahi holds a Bachelor’s in Foreign Languages and Literature from Université de Lyon II. She also studied securities, communications and finance. In addition, she sits on the Board of Directors of Collège de Montréal, and on the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce of Montreal Metropolitan (CCMM). Recognized by all her peers, Ms. Adjahi has received numerous investor relations awards, including many at the national level.

Grégoire Baillargeon

President
BMO Financial Group, Quebec

Appointed President of BMO, Quebec and Vice Chair, BMO Capital Markets, in November 2022, Mr. Baillargeon has been with the Bank of Montreal since 2004. A trained lawyer working as a business banker for nearly 20 years, he has been actively involved in our community, including as past Chair of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Club of Montreal, as a member of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal and as a member of Finance Montréal’s Board of Governors. He also supports many organizations working to reduce social and economic inequality, including as a Chair of the Board of Directors for Centraide of Greater Montreal and Chair of the Board of academic perseverance organization Youth Fusion.

Passionate about the energy transition and the fight against climate change, Mr. Baillargeon recently joined the advisory board of Volt-age: Electrifying Society, a research program at Concordia University, and also serves on Carbon Removal Canada’s advisory board. Under his leadership, BMO became the first bank to join the Montréal Climate Partnership, as well as the launch of convertgence, two movements aimed at accelerating decarbonization and integrating sustainable business practices in the city.

Janie C. Béïque

President and CEO
Fonds de solidarité FTQ

On April 1, 2021, Janie C. Béïque becomes the first woman to be appointed President and CEO of the Fonds de solidarité FTQ. A lawyer and MBA graduate, she has an impressive track record, having worked in business and corporate law, and for many years in the investment industry. Her expertise has been recognized by her peers and by the business and political communities. She has twice been named as an Innovation Leader by the Government of Canada and in 2022 won the MBA Inspiration Award presented by the Quebec MBA Association. She is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors and sits on the boards of Groupe CH, the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal and the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal.

Since her arrival at the Fonds, Ms. Béïque has been able to combine the organization’s social and financial vocations in her work with partner companies. For over 20 years, she has embodied the Fonds’ core mission and convictions: to help Quebecers prepare for a better retirement, to ensure a balance between financial and societal returns in all regions of Québec, and to guide the organization in an effort to build a sustainable and just society for all generations.

Under her leadership when she was Executive Vice-President, Investment, the Fonds’ five-year average investment volume in the Québec economy doubled. At the helm of the Fonds for three years now, she has built on its foundations and mission a clear and ambitious vision of where she wants to take the organization, propelled by both financial and societal returns, in order to move Quebec forward economically, socially and environmentally.

Janie co-chaired the 50th Centraide of Greater Montreal fundraising campaign in 2023, alongside Guy Cormier, President and CEO of Desjardins Group.

Janie Béïque’s commitment to women's causes runs deep. She has supported the appointment of many female colleagues to management positions within the organization, set ambitious female representation criteria for Fonds appointments to partner company boards, and formed a gender equality steering committee. Domestic violence is another issue that is near and dear to her heart. She is therefore intent on mobilizing the Fonds’ assets and resources to make a difference in the lives of victims.

Graham Carr

President and Vice-Chancellor
Concordia University

Graham Carr is President and Vice-Chancellor of Concordia University. Ranked as the top North American University under 50 years old, Concordia’s two Montréal campuses are home to 50,000 students from more than 150 countries.

Graham Carr’s previous leadership positions at Concordia include Provost and Vice-President, Academic Affairs; Vice-President, Research and Graduate Studies; and Dean of Graduate Studies.

Born in Quebec, he earned his PhD from the University of Maine and is a Professor in the Department of History. His research focuses on Cold War cultural history.

Graham Carr is a member of the Steering Committee of the Montréal Climate Partnership (Partenariat climat Montréal) and currently serves as Chair of the Universities Canada Research Committee and Chair of the Board of U SPORTS, the national brand for university sports in Canada. He previously served on the Board of Directors of Centraide (United Way) of Greater Montreal, the board of the Leadership Council for Digital Infrastructure, as president of the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences, as chair of the Canada-US Fulbright selection committee, and for many years on the National Capital Commission’s Advisory Committee for Communications, Marketing and Programming.

Nassib El-Husseini, Ph.D

President and CEO
The 7 Fingers

Committed to exploring the horizons of human creativity in all its complexity. Nassib El-Husseini has charted a singular and eclectic course.

Following studies in public administration and international relations at the American University of Beyrouth (AUB), he obtained a Ph.D in political science from l'Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) in 1996, and published L'Occident Imaginaire (Éditions PUQ) in 1998. After leaving his native Lebanon in the 1980s, Nassib worked as an advisor and volunteer with numerous Quebecois, Canadian, and international governmental and non-governmental agencies.

In the 90s, Nassib put his conflict resolution and international business development expertise at the service of Canadian Crown corporations as well as other actors from the private sector in Quebec and Canada, mainly in the postal and telecommunications sectors.

Nassib El-Husseini's trajectory took a major turn in 2003, when his path crossed that of seven artists determined to make their mark on the world of contemporary circus. With their first show just created, a clear-eyed ally was all the troupe needed to conquer the world. Nassib placed his experience and his passion for art and innovation at the service of the nascent troupe that would become one of the jewels of artistic expression.

As Chief Executive Officer of the company, Nassib has brought his resolutely avant-garde, innovative vision and has turned towards a vast exploration of possibilities. Propelled by these ideas, The 7 Fingers have become a major player in the world art scene.

Involved in his community, Nassib El-Husseini is currently the President of the board of directors of CINARS (International Exchange for the Performing Arts). He sits on the boards of the Société des arts technologiques (SAT) as well as that of the Quartier des spectacles and he is a founding member of the Movement Arts Creation Studio in Boston. Previously he was a member of the board of Le Conseil des arts de Montréal, the National Theatre School of Canada as well as a member of the organizing committee of the Canadian Arts Summit in 2019 and a member of the National Advisory Committee for the National Creation Fund of the National Arts Center of Ottawa (CNA).

Nassib is Laureate Cèdre et Érable of the Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie Canada-Liban. In 2013, he was awarded the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)'s Prix Reconnaissance in recognition of his exceptional career. In 2014, he received the Artists for Peace Award on behalf of The 7 Fingers. In 2019, he received the Carmelle and Rémi Marcoux Chair in Arts Management's Cultural Manager Award from HEC Montréal. Shortly after, he was named Knight by the Ordre de Montréal. In 2022, he received the Charles Biddle Award in the international category. In 2023, Nassib was named to the Ordre national du Québec, the highest distinction given by the government of Quebec.

Mélissa Fortin, Ph. D, M. Sc., CPA

Professor in Accounting
UQAM
President of the Board of Directors
Junior Chamber of Commerce of Montreal

Mélissa Fortin is Professor at Université du Québec à Montréal and completed her Ph.D at Concordia University, where she is exploring the organizational applications of blockchain technologies. She has won several scholarships and awards, including best research paper in accounting at the annual conference for doctoral students at the British Accounting and Finance Association. Her research activities focus on management accounting, emerging technologies (blockchain and artificial intelligence) and the accounting profession.

Before choosing her academic career, Mélissa worked for five years as an accountant for a government organization and was involved with NPOs in accounting training and consulting. She is now director of a governance program at UQAM and is involved in training the next generation of governance professionals.

She is actively involved in the business and professional communities and is committed to training Montréal's women entrepreneurs through various programs. She is a member of several blockchain associations and President of the Board of Directors of the Junior Chamber of Commerce of Montreal, a board member at Caisse Desjardins Mercier-Est Anjou and a board member of the Ateliers pour la biodiversité.

Graham Fox

Vice-President – Public Affairs, External Relations and Communications
Hydro-Québec

Graham Fox was appointed Vice President – Public Affairs, External Relations and Communications in March 2024. In this capacity, he is tasked with ensuring open and constructive communications with the general public and HydroQuébec stakeholders, including governments, while also maintaining privileged relations with local communities.

Prior to joining HydroQuébec, Mr. Fox was a managing principal at Navigator, a leading strategy and public relations firm, and Executive Chairman of the Canadian Centre for the Purpose of the Corporation. Previously, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Institute for Research on Public Policy (2011-2021) and as a strategic policy adviser at the law firm Fraser Milner Casgrain (2007-2011). Through the experience he gained in these positions and others in the field of public policy, he acquired solid expertise in issues management and government relations.

Mr. Fox holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Queen’s University and a master’s degree in political science from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He is a volunteer interviewer with the McCall MacBain Scholars Foundation’s selection committee. He also sits on the boards of Le Gesù – Centre de créativité, a creative arts space in Montréal, the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations (CORIM) and the Parliamentary Centre, one of Canada’s foremost non-partisan, non-governmental organizations dedicated to supporting inclusive and accountable democratic institutions around the world.

Marie-Josée Gagnon, Fellow CPRS, ICD.D

CEO and Founder
Casacom and Brave

Marie-Josée Gagnon is recognized by peers and clients alike as one of Canada’s most progressive business strategist, public relations and governance experts. She helps CEOs and executive teams improve their reputation and increase their positive impact for them to make history. She is known for her clear and ambitious vision as shown by the unique positioning of Casacom, the integrated PR and communications firm she founded in 2001. Bachelor’s degree in political science from the Université de Montréal, Alumni of Harvard Business School’s Owners/Presidents Management program and a graduate from ICD-Rotman Directors Education Program (DEP), she brings innovation, creativity and entrepreneurial flair into all she does. Ms. Gagnon began her career first as a journalist (Montréal La Presse) and then as the press attaché at the Québec Government. Thereafter, she held several key positions within major organizations (Quebec General Delegation in Paris, Laurentian Bank of Canada and AXOR).

She is actively involved in her community, notably through the Université de Montréal, as Co-chair of the major fundraising, Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal, Capsana, Worldcom PR Group and the Garde-Manger pour tous, a Montréal charity that distributes 3,500 school lunches to kids. Over the years, she received many awards whether from Women of Influence, Profit Top 100, RBC, the Fellowship from Canadian Public Relations Society and the 2023 Mercuriades award for Exceptional Women Leader, SME’s category.

In 2017, she launched Brave, a series of interviews with women who dared recorded during networking events and broadcast in podcasts. With this media, she aims to encourage men and women to use courage to live their best life.

Marie-Josée Gagnon is married to Louis-Martin O'Neill, a corporate litigator, and is the mother of two boys, Philippe and Henri.

Marjolaine Hudon

President - Quebec Headquarters
RBC Royal Bank

Marjolaine Hudon was appointed Regional President of RBC in Québec in June 2024. She has a proven track record of bringing the full power of RBC to personal and commercial clients along with her teams and colleagues.

She joined RBC 30 years ago. She progressed through increasingly senior leadership roles within Personal & Commercial Banking. She worked in several provinces (Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and in different lines of business including Regional Banking, both on the personal and commercial sides, Operations, Risk Management, Human Resources as well as RBC Employee Ombudsman.

Most recently, as Regional President, Ontario North & East Region, she led a team of 2,000 strong financial advisors and partners supporting personal and commercial clients throughout Eastern Ontario, Durham Region and Simcoe County and in northern Ontario.

Known for being an authentic and caring leader who inspires others to be their very best, Marjolaine Hudon believes in creating meaningful connections with colleagues, clients and community.

She personally devotes her time to many causes, including pediatric healthcare and research as part of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Foundation Board. She is very committed to the arts through her involvement in the National Arts Centre Foundation Board and the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards National Committee. Additionally, and up until recently, she was also a member of the Telfer School of Management’s Strategic Leadership Cabinet at University of Ottawa where she joined key national business leaders in Building a Better Canada.

Originally from Montréal, Ms. Hudon holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and an Executive Master of Business Administration from the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM). She studied at Cambridge University and London Guildhall University in England.

Philippe Johnson

Managing Partner
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg

Philippe Johnson has been the Managing Partner at the Montréal office of Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP since 2017. He has spent more than two decades advising leading Canadian, American and international companies with respect to their most important Canadian investments and strategic issues. He regularly counsels clients on mergers and acquisitions, private investments, financing, corporate reorganizations and joint ventures.

In addition to serving on the firm’s Management Committee since 2012, Philippe Johnson is a member of the Young Presidents' Organization (YPO), a global community of business leaders, and a director of Fondation Serge Marcil, which focuses on improving the well-being of children in Haiti and Africa.

Philippe Johnson holds a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University and a Bachelor of Civil Law from Université de Montréal.

Vickie Joseph

Co-founder
Groupe 3737 and Fempreneures
Co-founder and President
V Kosmetik

Co-founder and President of V Kosmetik International (VKI), specialist in beauty and skin care products, the brand 50 Shades of Ethnicity, is inspired by her life, personality, character and passion to give back to women.

VKI is distributed across Canada and internationally, notably in the USA, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Benin, Saudi Arabia and South Africa under its V Kosmetik© brand.

A fulfilling mother of three children, the designer and businesswoman is committed – according to her, "success confers the responsibility to help others." To this end, she co-founded Groupe 3737, a major center for entrepreneurial innovation promoting the emergence of new businesses and the creation of thousands of jobs. She co-founded Fempreneures to help women develop their business ventures with special support and programs offered to women of diversity and the ones living with difficult situations including financial limitations.

Ms. Joseph is the recipient of several distinctions, including: Top 6 Canadian designers among more than 20,000 candidates by the Black Canadian Awards; L’Actualité: one of the entrepreneurs of Quebec Inc., Gala Dynasty: Tribute to Philanthropy, BMO: Community and donations award, Startup Canada: Regional and National Entrepreneur (2019) and Evol: one of the 100 entrepreneurs changing the world; Palmarès Premières en Affaires: one of the 100 most successful companies in Quebec. Recently, she slipped into the list of the 110 most successful women-owned businesses across Quebec, amounting to 5-50 million in revenue.

Benoit Lacoste Bienvenue

Regional Managing Partner – Québec
KPMG in Canada

Since taking office as Managing Partner of KPMG in Quebec, in October 2016, Benoit Lacoste Bienvenue has not only impressively crafted the firm's strategy but has also injected fresh energy into the company. As the conductor of the execution of this strategy, his influence extends far beyond the company's walls to impact the lives of clients and over 2,000 employees of KPMG in Quebec.

Before assuming the role of Managing Partner, Benoit Lacoste Bienvenue made his mark as a national leader in Canadian corporate taxation. His unquestionable mastery of tax complexities and commitment to excellence laid the foundation for his future success. He translated his deep knowledge into a strategic vision that propelled KPMG in Quebec to new heights.

Benoit Lacoste Bienvenue is not just a leader; he is a catalyst for positive change within the communities where KPMG is involved. He understands that a company's success is measured not only in numbers but also in terms of social impact. His bold vision involves mobilizing KPMG employees in Quebec to become change agents in their surrounding communities. Under his inspiring leadership, these employees are no longer mere economic actors but champions of progress.

Benoit Lacoste Bienvenue's journey is living proof that leadership goes far beyond managing a company. It is a call to innovation, community engagement, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

Grégory Larroque

Vice-President, Economic Affairs
CGI

Grégory Larroque is Vice-President, Economic Affairs at CGI. More specifically, he is responsible for the promotion of CGI’s economic interests, he advises the executive team on strategic orientations of the company.

Prior to joining CGI, Gregory was legal counsel and chief of staff to former Quebec Premier Jean Charest at McCarthy Tétrault's Business Law Group since 2013. During this time, he coordinated strategic mandates for international clients, participated in strengthening McCarthy Tétrault's strategic and legal positioning, and contributed to several international initiatives.

In his previous roles, Grégory was special advisor to the Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade of Quebec and advisor to the Minister of Finance of Quebec.

He was also actively involved in Montréal’s cultural community, notably as member of the board of Festival TransAmériques (FTA).

Gregory holds a master’s degree in business law from the University of Aix-Marseille III in France and obtained a second bachelor of law degree from the Université de Montréal. He has been a member of the Quebec Bar since 2007.

Michel Leblanc

President and CEO
Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal

Michel Leblanc is President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal, Quebec’s leading private economic development organization, dedicated for over 200 years to the development of the city's business base. In this position, he is the official spokesperson of the organization, and is responsible for planning, managing, coordinating and monitoring all its operations.

With extensive experience in the public and private sectors, Michel Leblanc has an in-depth knowledge of metropolitan issues. A trained economist, he has a clear understanding of economic questions and the challenges facing the business community.

Recognized expert in strategy and economic development, Michel Leblanc was an Associate Partner at SECOR. He had previously occupied senior-level positions at Génome Québec, Montréal International, and the Institute for Research on Public Policy. He has also worked as an economist for the Department of Finance Canada.

Michel Leblanc received a Bachelor of science in economics in 1987 and a Master of science in economics in 1992 from Université de Montréal. He has been named the 2009 honorary graduate of the Université de Montréal’s Economics Department. In October 2012, he was honoured by the Université de Montréal’s alumni association for his professional achievements.

Michel Leblanc chairs the board of directors of the MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE festival. He also sits on the boards of directors of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal Foundation and Scale AI. Finally, he is a member of the Comité directeur sur la mobilité des personnes et des biens dans la grande région de Montréal (Mobilité Montréal).

Karine Moses

Vice-Chair, Québec
Senior Vice President, Small & Medium Business (SMB) and Internet Companies Group (ICG)
Bell

As Senior Vice President, Small & Medium Business (SMB) and Internet Companies Group (ICG), Karine Moses leads the SMB strategy while creating a strong set of national and regional brands from the current ICG portfolio. As Vice Chair, Québec, she oversees all Bell’s public affairs, community, and other initiatives across the province.

Starting at Bell in 1997, Karine Moses has held progressively senior leadership roles in Bell Network, Field Services, Finance and Media.

She holds a finance degree from HEC Montréal and has completed the Harvard Business School’s General Management Program. She serves on the boards of the Montréal Canadiens Children’s Foundation and the Montréal Heart Institute Foundation. Born and raised in the Montréal area, Karine Moses is fluently bilingual.

Christine Pouliot, MBA, CFA

Vice Chair and Managing Partner, Quebec and Eastern Canada Region
Partner, Deals Practice, Montréal office
Managing Director, Corporate Finance
PwC Canada

Christine Pouliot is Vice Chair and Managing Partner for the Quebec and Eastern Canada region. As Managing Partner, she is responsible for clients, market segments and offices in the Quebec and Eastern Canada region and leads PwC’s strategy for this region. She is also a member of PwC Canada’s extended leadership team.

She is also a managing director with PricewaterhouseCoopers Corporate Finance Inc., where she assists entrepreneurs and companies with capital raisings, mergers & acquisitions as well as sales and divestitures. She has more than 24 years of experience in corporate finance and has conducted numerous deal assignments involving both Canadian and international companies, with many of the latter being located in Europe and the United States. She also advises board members and executives with regard to the development and implementation of their M&A strategies.

Christine Pouliot started her career with PwC in 2000 and was named Partner in 2013.

She received both her MBA (1997) and her BBA (1996) from Université Laval. She then obtained the CFA designation in 2001. She has lectured extensively outside PwC about company transfers and successions, most notably at various symposia held at the École d'Entrepreneurship de Beauce (EEB) and HEC Montréal. Christine Pouliot is also a Board Member of the École nationale de l'humour.

Martin Robitaille

Managing Director, Head of Investment Banking – Quebec and Head of Power, Utilities & Infrastructure
National Bank

Martin Robitaille has nearly 20 years of experience in corporate finance, capital markets and mergers & acquisitions at National Bank. He combines the roles of Head of Investment Banking – Quebec and Head of Power, Utilities & Infrastructure since July 2021 and September 2018, respectively. In this capacity, he is responsible for the coverage of all corporate clients based in Quebec as well as the Bank's various initiatives related to renewable energy, public utilities and infrastructure.

Martin Robitaille leads teams of more than 60 professionals in offices located in Montréal, Toronto, and New York specializing in financing solutions, such as public equity financing, initial public offerings and private placements, as well as merger & acquisition advisory services.

Mr. Robitaille holds a Master's degree in Finance from the Université de Sherbrooke and the Chartered Financial Analyst designation from the CFA Institute.

Sarah Segal

Chief Brand Officer and Chief Executive Officer
DAVIDsTEA

Sarah Segal first joined DAVIDsTEA in 2012 as a member of the Board of Directors before being appointed Chief Brand Officer and then CEO. As Chief Brand Officer, she was responsible for tea and product development, spearheading the digital transformation and development of new sales channels.

Prior to DAVIDsTEA, Ms. Segal served as CEO of artisanal candy retailer SQUISH Candy, based in Montréal, a company she founded. She has a B.A. in Environmental Health from McGill University and a M.Sc. in Water Science, Policy and Management from Oxford University.

Laurence Vincent

President
Prével

Laurence Vincent is president of Prével, a real estate company with nearly 100 employees, founded more than 45 years ago. Over the past 20 years, she has been actively involved in the construction of many of Prével's 12 000 housing units, as well as the development of landmark projects for the urban landscape.

Recognized for contributing to built heritage as well as home ownership, Laurence Vincent is involved in creating environments that promote human interaction and diversity. She sits on the board of directors of HEC Montréal, the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal as well as the public interest organization Vivre en Ville.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts, History, from the University of British Columbia and an MBA from HEC Montréal.

Laurence Vincent is also the author of the book Bâtir Montréal à la table 45, published by Éditions du Septentrion.