The board of directors of the Société du Plan Nord is composed of 9 to 15 members, including the chairperson and the president and chief executive officer. At least the majority of the board members, including the chair, must qualify as independent directors. Also, the majority of the board members must be from the area covered by the Plan Nord, and its chair must reside there.
Continuous training program for board members (PDF 175 Kb) (French only)
Compétences principales des membres du conseil d’administration de la Société du Plan Nord (PDF 164 Kb) (French only)
Code d’éthique et de déontologie des administrateurs de la Société du Plan Nord (PDF 371 Kb)
Profils de compétence et d’expérience des membres du conseil d’administration de la société du plan nord (PDF 197 Kb) (French only)
Élizabeth Blais, Chair of the Board of Directors
Date appointed to the Board: March 11, 2015
Date of renewal: June 5, 2019
End of term: June 4, 2024
Status: Independent member from the northern territory
Place of residence: Sept‑Îles
Ms. Blais holds a Master’s degree in Organizational Management from the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi and a Certificate in Administration from the Université du Québec à Rimouski. She has spent the last 33 years as general manager and owner-operator of a tourist accommodation service company in Sept-Îles. She sold this business at the end of 2022. Through her involvement, Ms. Blais has worked to ensure the viability of harmonious regional economic development by taking into account the quality of life of the region’s residents. Ms. Blais served as president of the Sept‑Îles Chamber of Commerce for two years in the late 1990s, president of the Duplessis Regional Tourism Association and first vice‑president of the Associated Regional Tourism Associations of Quebec from 2001 to 2004. She was also a member and then the chair of the board of directors of the Sept‑Îles Port Authority from 2005 to 2008. She sits on the board of directors of the Cégep de Sept‑Îles as well as on the Regional Development Committee (Côte‑Nord region) of Investissement Québec.
Patrick Beauchesne, President and Chief Executive Officer
Date of appointment to the Board: November 18, 2019
End of term: November 17, 2024
Status: Member
Place of residence: City of Québec
Mr. Beauchesne has a Bachelor’s degree in Forest Management and a Master’s degree in Forest Science. He was appointed President and CEO of the Société du Plan Nord in 2019. Previously, in the same year, he was Associate Secretary General of the Ministère du Conseil exécutif and Secretary of the Comité ministériel de l'Économie et de l'Environnement. Prior to that, Mr. Beauchesne held various positions at the Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, beginning in 1992. As director general of the Direction générale de l’écologie et de la conservation, he helped prepare the land protection objectives for the development of the Plan Nord in 2010 and 2015. He was appointed Associate Deputy Minister for sustainable development and the quality of the environment in 2014, and then Deputy Minister in 2017. Mr. Beauchesne sits on the boards of directors of the Société ferroviaire et portuaire de Pointe‑Noire S.E.C., and the Société ferroviaire Qc Rail S.E.C., as well as the steering committee of the Institut nordique du Québec.
Johanne Jean, Chair of the Audit Committee
Date appointed to the Board: March 11, 2015
Date of renewal: July 5, 2023
End of term: July 4, 2027
Status: Independent member
Place of residence: City of Québec
Ms. Johanne Jean has a Bachelor's degree in Geological Engineering from Université Laval and a Master's degree in Project Management from Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT). Newly retired, she was President of the Université du Québec from 2017 to 2022. In this capacity, she chaired the Board of Governors, the Executive Committee, the Board of Studies and the Planning Commission. She also represented the Université du Québec on a number of other bodies, committees, and boards of directors. Previously, from 2004 to 2017, she held the position of Rector of UQAT, where, among other things, she focused on accessibility to university studies, anchoring the university in its home territories, and developing services and programs for First Peoples. Before becoming Rector of UQAT, she held various management positions.
Hélène Lauzon, member of the Governance and Ethics Committee
Date appointed to the Board: March 11, 2015
Date of renewal: July 5, 2023
End of term: July 4, 2027
Status: Independent member
Place of residence: Montréal
Ms. Lauzon holds a Bachelor of Laws degree and a Master's degree in Urban Planning and is a member of the Bar of Québec and the Ordre des urbanistes du Québec. She has been President of the Conseil Patronal de l'Environnement du Québec (CPEQ) since 2008. Ms. Lauzon practised environmental law at Lavery, a major Montréal law firm, as a partner for over 20 years. She is currently a member of several national and provincial working groups, and advocates for the concerns and contributions of Quebec businesses in the areas of the environment and sustainable development. Since 2019, she has been a member of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change's Canadian Environment Domestic Advisory Group (CEDAG) for the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and the European Union. In 2019, she was also appointed as a member of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change's Sustainable Development Advisory Council. Ms. Lauzon sits on the board of directors of the Conseil Patronal de l'Environnement du Québec as well as those of the Montréal Port Authority, the Québec Mining Association and of Gestion Solifor inc. She also sits on the Governance, Ethics and Sustainable Development Committee of the Société de transport de Montréal.
Michèle Perron, Chair of the Governance and Ethics Commitee and of the Human Resources Committee
Date appointed to the Board: March 11, 2015
Date of renewal: June 5, 2019
End of term: July 4, 2027
Status: Independent member from the northern territory
Place of residence: Chibougamau
Ms. Perron is a native of Chibougamau in the Nord-du-Québec region, and still resides there. A graduate of the Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue in Business Administration, she also has two Master's degrees from the Université de Montréal, one in Andragogy and the other in Education. She currently works as a management consultant. Throughout her career, Ms. Perron has worked in the field of education in northern Quebec. From 1998 to 2016, as Director General of the Commission scolaire de la Baie-James, she headed the school board covering the largest territory in Quebec. Prior to this, Ms. Perron was a teacher and then a pedagogical consultant. In 1988, she became Director of the Adult and Vocational Training Centre of the Chapais-Chibougamau School Board.
Josée Bélanger, member of the Audit Committee
Date of appointment to the Board: June 5, 2019
Date of renewal: July 5, 2023
End of term: July 4, 2027
Status: Independent member from the northern territory
Place of residence: Chibougamau
A graduate of the University of Sherbrooke in business administration, Ms. Bélanger has held the title of Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) auditor and Chartered Accountant (CA) since 1997. After completing her university studies, she worked in an accounting firm. Since 2008, she has been operating her own firm. Involved in her community, Ms. Bélanger has been a member of the board of directors of several organizations in the Nord‑du‑Québec region over the past few years and is currently a member of the board of directors of FaunENord.
Gilles Couture, member of the Governance and Ethics Commitee
Date of appointment: August 19, 2020
End of term: August 18, 2024
Status: Independent member from the northern territory
Place of residence: Port‑Cartier
A native of Chibougamau, Mr. Gilles Couture holds a Bachelor's degree in Metallurgical Engineering. During his career, he has worked in the mining sector, mainly as a manager for ArcelorMittal in the Côte‑Nord region. Mr. Couture has worked in the fields of mining, research, environment, sustainable development and energy efficiency. Now retired, Mr. Couture continues his involvement with the community of the Côte‑Nord. He sits on the board of directors of the Fédération québécoise des chasseurs et pêcheurs du Québec, the Corporation de développement économique de Port‑Cartier, the Réserve faunique de Port‑Cartier‑Sept‑Îles and the Administration portuaire de Sept-Îles.
Patricia Huet, member of the Audit Committee
Date of appointment: August 19, 2020
End of term: August 18, 2024
Status: Independent member from the northern territory
Place of residence: Baie‑Comeau
Ms. Patricia Huet holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Université Laval. The majority of her career has been spent in the world of municipal government. Prior to her retirement in 2020, Ms. Huet was Director General of the Manicouagan RCM. She held the same position in the municipality of Pointe‑Lebel from 1987 to 2003. During the first 10 years of her career, she successively worked as an accountant in the banking and parapublic administration sectors as well as in a private firm. Ms. Huet was the first woman to preside over the Association des directeurs municipaux du Québec, from 1995 to 1997. Ms. Huet is very involved in her community and has served on various boards of directors over the years, particularly in the areas of health, social services and philanthropy. She currently sits on the board of the Fonds régional de solidarité FTQ of the Côte‑Nord region.
Robert Prévost
Date of appointment to the Board: June 5, 2019
Date of renewal: July 5, 2023
End of term: July 4, 2027
Member from the northern territory*
Place of residence: Verdun
Mr. Robert Prévost holds a Bachelor's degree in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, a major in economics, a Certificate in Business Management and a Master's degree in Public Administration. For more than 13 years, first as an employee and now as a partner in the consulting firm Atmacinta, Mr. Prévost has guided elected officials from the Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach in the economic, social and environmental development of their community and territory. He previously worked at the Union des producteurs agricoles for the Fédération des producteurs maraîchers du Québec from 2004 to 2006, then for the Fédération des producteurs de bovins du Québec from 2008 to 2009, where he held positions related to marketing development and agri‑environmental issues. Mr. Prévost is Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Corporation de développement de Schefferville.
Réal Laporte
Date of appointment: August 19, 2020
End of term: August 18, 2024
Status: Member
Place of residence: Montréal
Mr. Réal Laporte has a Bachelor's degree in Civil Construction from the École de technologie supérieure and a Master's degree in Project Management from the Université du Québec à Montréal. He is also a graduate of the Executive Development Program of the McGill University Executive Institute. Since June 2020, Mr. Laporte has served as Strategic Advisor to Hydro-Québec's Executive Committee. Mr. Laporte has overseen several projects at Hydro-Québec since 1988, including the Eastmain hydroelectric projects. In 2005, he was appointed President of Hydro-Québec Équipement and President and CEO of Société d'énergie de la Baie-James. He is a member of the Comité d'analyse et d'évaluation des projets d'infrastructure of the Board of Directors of Aéroports de Montréal. He is also a member of the "Sustainable Development" and "Buildings and Properties" committees of McGill University's Board of Governors.
Sylvain Ross
Date appointed to the Board : December 1st, 2021
End of term: November 30, 2025
Status: Member of the northern territory
Place of residence: Essipit
Mr. Ross has a Bachelor's degree in Legal Sciences from the Université du Québec à Montréal. Recently retired, he was General Manager of the Essipit Innu First Nation Council from 2016 to 2022. Prior to this, he held various positions for the Innu community of Essipit from 1990, including legal advisor, political advisor and, from 2012 to 2016, chief negotiator. Mr. Ross was also a lawyer with Dufour, Martel, Tremblay et associés between 1990 and 1992. He is a retired member of the Bar of Québec.
Jean Dupuis
Date of appointment to the Board: February 15, 2023
End of term: February 14, 2027
Member from the northern territory
Place of residence: Dorval
Mr. Jean Dupuis has over 40 years of professional experience in operations management, business development, public administration, and indigenous affairs. He is currently Director of the Office of the President of the Makivvik Corporation. Mr. Dupuis has worked for various organizations active in Nunavik, including Air Inuit, the Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services, of which he was president for 10 years, and the Kativik Regional Government, of which he was also president for several years. He has also held positions as municipal councillor and chairman of various regional councils and administrative committees in the northern territory.
Cynthia Gill
Date of appointment to the Board: February 15, 2023
End of term: February 14, 2027
Independent member from the northern territory
Place of residence: Matagami
Ms. Cynthia Gill is currently Executive Director of Carrefour jeunesse-emploi de la Jamésie and has extensive experience in regional development. She previously worked for the Administration régionale Baie-James as a development officer. Ms. Gill completed a bachelor’s degree in administration with a specialization in Human Resources Management at the Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue. She also obtained a certification in Leadership and Management Skills from Concordia University's John Molson School of Business. Ms. Gill is a member of the Board of Directors of the Centre régional de santé et de services sociaux de la Baie-James and a member of the Conseil régional des partenaires du marché du travail du Nord-du-Québec.
Melissa Saganash
Date of appointment to the Board: July 5, 2023
End of term: July 4, 2027
Member from the northern territory**
Place of residence: St-Adèle
Ms. Melissa Sagasnah studied art history at the Université du Québec à Montréal. She has been Deputy Director General of the Cree Nation Government since 2022. She previously held the position of Director Cree-Quebec Relations with this public corporation since 2014. Ms. Saganash has also worked in the field of communications. Between 2004 and 2014, she was successively in charge of communications and programming for Soleica inc. and in charge of communications for the Niskamoon Corporation, as well as a television producer for CBC North. Ms. Saganash is a member of the James Bay Advisory Committee on the Environment and the Cri-Québec permanent liaison committee. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Réseau de communication Eeyou and of the Executive Committee of the Institut nordique du Québec.
Last update: September 28, 2021
