Board of directors of the Société du Plan Nord

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

Élizabeth Blais has a master’s degree in Organizational Management (MOrgM) from the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi and a certificate in Business Administration from the Université du Québec à Rimouski. For 33 years, she was the managing director and owner-operator of a tourist accommodation service company in Sept-Îles. She sold the company in late 2022. She acquired vast knowledge of the business world as a result of all these years spent in the tourism ans services sectors. She has also played an active role in various organizations such as the Sept-Îles Port Authority, where she was a member, then president, of the board of directors from 2005 to 2008, the Sept-Îles Chamber of Commerce, where she was president for two years in the late 1990s, as well as the Association touristique régionale de Duplessis and the Associations touristiques régionales associées du Québec, from 2001 to 2004, where she was the first president and first female vice-president, respectively. Through her involvement, Ms. Blais has worked to ensure the viability of harmonious regional economic development by considering the quality of life of local residents.

Patrick Beauchesne, President and Chief Executive Officer

Date of appointment to the Board: November 18, 2019
Date of renewal: November 18, 2024
End of term: November 17, 2026
Status: Member
Place of residence: City of Québec

Patrick Beauchesne has a bachelor’s degree in Forest Resource Management and a master’s degree in Forest Sciences. He was appointed President and CEO of Société du Plan Nord in 2019. Earlier that 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 in 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 contributed to the preparation of land protection objectives for the development of the Plan Nord in 2010 and 2015. He was appointed Assistant Deputy Minister for sustainable development and the quality of the environment in 2014, 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 on 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: Rouyn-Noranda

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. From 2004 to 2017, she held the position of Rector of UQAT, where 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. Ms. Jean is involved in the Rouyn-Noranda community, chairing the Zone d’innovation minière Coordinating Committee and and by being president of the board of directors of the Petit Théâtre du Vieux Noranda.

Hélène Lauzon, member of the Governance and Ethics Committee and of the Human Resources 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

Hélène Lauzon has a bachelor’s degree in Law and a master’s degree in Urban Planning. She is a member of the Barreau du 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 Québec 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, the Montréal Port Authority, the Québec Mining Association and 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

Michèle 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, Ms. Perron 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 Québec. 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 Québec. Previously, Ms. Perron was a teacher, 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, Josée Bélanger has been certified as a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) auditor and Chartered Accountant (CA) since 1997. After completing her university studies, she worked at an accounting firm. She has owned her own practice since 2008. Ms. Bélanger is involved in her community and has been a member of the boards of directors of several organizations in the Nord-du-Québec region in recent years. She is currently Treasurer of the Maison d’hébergement l’Aquarelle in Chibougamau and a member of the Board of Directors of FaunENord.

Gilles Couture, member of the Governance and Ethics Commitee and of the Human Resources Committee

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, Gilles Couture has 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 pelletizing operations, process control, research, environment, sustainable development and energy efficiency. Now retired, Mr. Couture continues his involvement with the Côte‑Nord region community, sitting 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 Sept-Îles Port Authority.

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

Patricia Huet has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Université Laval. The majority of her career has been spent in the world of municipal government. Before retiring in 2020, Ms. Huet was Director General of the Manicouagan RCM. She held the same position with 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 para-public 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. Deeply involved in her community, she has served on a number of boards of directors over the years, particularly in the fields of health, social services and philanthropy. She currently sits on the Fonds régional de solidarité FTQ of the Côte‑Nord region as president.

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

Robert Prévost has 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 15 years, first as an employee and now as a partner in the consulting firm Atmacinta, Mr. Prévost has supported 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

Réal Laporte graduated from École de technologie supérieure with a bachelor’s degree in civil construction, and from Université du Québec à Montréal with a master’s degree in project management. He is also a graduate of the Directors Education Program at McGill Executive Institute. After joining Hydro-Québec in 1988, his responsibilities included the development and implementation of several projects, 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, functions he held until his retirement in 2020. He is a member of the board of directors and chair of Aéroports de Montréal’s Comité d’analyse et d’évaluation des projets d’infrastructure. He is a member of the Finance and Infrastructure Committee and the Audit and Risk Committee of the Board of Governors of McGill University. He has also been an active strategic advisor to senior executives of various infrastructure and energy organizations.

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

Sylvain 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 from 1990 to 1992. He is a retired member of the Barreau du 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

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, member of the Audit Committee

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

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 has a bachelor’s degree in Administration with a specialization in Human Resources Management from the Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue. She has also obtained 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.