Speakers: Gateway to the Indo-Pacific

Catherine Fortin LeFaivre
Vice President, Strategic Policy & Global Partnerships, Canadian Chamber of Commerce

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Catherine Fortin LeFaivre, Vice President, Strategic Policy and Global Partnerships at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, leads the expansion of the Canadian Chamber’s international business services. With 18+ years in public affairs, including senior roles at AWS Canada and Impact Public Affairs, she drives advocacy and thought leadership while supporting members with tools and connections for international growth.

Ghislain Robichaud
Regional Director (Quebec & Nunavut) & Senior Trade Commissioner, Global Affairs Canada

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Ghislain Robichaud is Regional Director (Quebec and Nunavut) and Senior Trade Commissioner at Global Affairs Canada. He has over 15 years of experience in the international field, promoting Canadian interests in trade and investment, trade policy, innovation, science and technology, and development.

Stéphane Fallecker
Director Exports, Asia-Pacific & Oceania Markets, Investissement Québec International

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Stéphane Fallecker is the Director Exports, Asia-Pacific and Oceania Markets for Investissement Québec International. With over 20 years of experience, he has specialized in international trade development, working with government bodies, regional agencies and private enterprises to support Quebec’s export growth in the Asia-Pacific and Oceania regions.

Mairead Lavery
President and CEO, Export Development Canada

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Mairead Lavery, President and CEO of Export Development Canada since 2019, prioritizes values and ethics in leadership. Under her direction, EDC has achieved strong growth and helped more Canadian companies do business globally while generating over $100 billion in trade and investment annually. Prior to joining EDC, held executive roles at Bombardier, where she managed a range of large complex portfolios over a 16-year career.

Perrin Beatty
President and CEO, Canadian Chamber of Commerce

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Perrin Beatty has been President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce since 2007. A former Member of Parliament, he held various ministerial positions over 21 years. He also served as President and CEO of Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters and was President of the CBC. Perrin was made an Officer of the Order of Canada for his lifetime of public service and for his devotion to the development of our nation as a community leader and corporate visionary.

Mélissa Prophète
Director, Client Operations, Asia-Pacific Markets, Investissement Québec International

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Mélissa Prophète has been the Director, Client Operations, Asia-Pacific Markets for Investissement Québec International since 2022. In addition to leading a team of export advisors, she is also responsible for Investissement Québec International’s creative industries and construction sectors. Mélissa has also held various positions in financing and in subsidies and tax measures in the banking sector and at Investissement Québec. 

Guillaume Brossard
Vice President, Development, Marketing & International Relations, Port of Montreal

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Guillaume Brossard, Vice President, Development, Marketing and International Relations at the Port of Montreal, specializes in business strategy to acquire new clients and markets. A member of the Quebec Bar, with a background in business law, Guillaume previously worked for the City of Montreal’s legal affairs and property assessment department before joining Energir as Director, LNG Market Development.

Jeff Mahon
Director, International Business & Geopolitical Advisory Practice, StrategyCorp & Executive in Residence, Canada West Foundation

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Jeff Mahon, Director of StrategyCorp’s International Business & Geopolitical Advisory Practice and Executive in Residence at the Canada West Foundation, helps clients navigate complex political and policy environments. With expertise in foreign policy, trade negotiations and global affairs, Jeff advises on risks and opportunities in a new era of globalization. His government experience includes roles in Global Affairs Canada and Industry Canada, focusing on trade and investment policy, and the role of Nunavut’s Chief Negotiator for the Canada Free Trade Agreement. He also founded an international trade brokerage for Western Canadian exports to China.

Nigel Neale
Director, Team Canada Trade Missions & FTA Promotion, Trade Commissioner Service Global Affairs Canada

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Nigel Neale is Director of Team Canada Trade Missions and FTA Promotion with the Trade Commissioner Service, part of Global Affairs Canada. He previously served as the Director of Trade and Investment at the Consulate General of Canada in New York and held various assignments at the Canadian Embassy to Brazil, the Canadian Consulate General in Rio de Janeiro and the Canadian Embassy to Colombia.

Sven List
Senior Vice President, Corporate & International, Export Development Canada

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Sven List is Senior Vice President, Corporate and International for Export Development Canada, where he is accountable for the relationship management and loan underwriting functions for EDC’s corporate customer segment as well as its international strategy and operations. Sven joined EDC in 2000 and has held progressively senior roles, including Senior Vice President, Trade Connections. Prior to joining EDC, he worked for a bank in Mexico.

David Anonychuk
Global Vice President, Metallurgy & Consulting, SGS

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David Anonychuk is the Global Vice President, Metallurgy and Consulting for SGS, a global leader in mineralogy, metallurgical and pilot plant testing, engineering studies and process plant optimization. With over 30 years of international mining and metallurgical experience working in consulting, strategy and operations at major metals producers, David is an expert in critical minerals and battery supply chain.

Leigh Clarke
Vice President, Corporate Development, E3 Lithium

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Leigh Clarke is the Vice President, Corporate Development for E3 Lithium, a lithium development company. With more than 20 years in the energy and utilities industries, including 10 years practising regulatory and energy law, Leigh has helped a variety of companies manage legal and governance risk.

Corinne Havard
Former Senior Policy Advisor to the Minister of National Defence

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Corinne Havard, a former senior policy advisor to the Minister of National Defence, now helps businesses manage a changing geopolitical landscape. With experience advising on economic threats, Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, cybersecurity and Indigenous relations, she advocates for Canadian businesses’ economic security and supply chain resilience. Corinne is completing an LLM, focusing on the Investment Canada Act’s treatment of critical minerals acquisitions under international economic law.

A.J. Nichols
Vice President, Global Corporate Affairs, Vale Base Metals

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A.J. Nichols is the Vice President, Global Corporate Affairs for Vale Base Metals, a global mining company. He has held a variety of leadership roles for Vale and Vale Base Metals in China, Singapore and Toronto. Prior to joining Vale, A.J. served as the Chief of Staff at the Canadian Embassy in Washington D.C. and in various positions at the Canadian Consulate General of New York City.

René Roy
Chair of the Board of Directors, Canadian Pork Council

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René Roy is Chair of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Pork Council. He is a pork producer, a dairy farmer and a maple syrup producer. His diverse experiences, deep expertise in agricultural economics and active involvement in industry organizations make him a respected leader and advocate in the Canadian agriculture sector.

Sarah Fedorchuk
Vice President, Government & Public Affairs, North America, The Mosaic Company

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Sarah Fedorchuk is Vice President, Government and Public Affairs, North America for The Mosaic Company where she helps guide Mosaic’s reputation and protects the company’s licence to operate in multiple geographies. Prior to joining Mosaic, Sarah worked with a boutique communications agency, honing her skills in crisis and issues management and in building brands.

Solange Henoud
Vice President, Regulatory & Compliance, Lallemand Health Solutions

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Solange Henoud is the Vice President, Regulatory and Compliance for Lallemand Health Solutions, overseeing global regulatory, scientific affairs and quality assurance. With nearly 17 years at the company, she has contributed to expanding Lallemand’s probiotics business to 60+ countries across various regulatory categories. Solange actively engages in trade associations and advocates for probiotics’ positive regulatory environment worldwide.

Brian Innes
Executive Director, Soy Canada

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Brian Innes, Executive Director of Soy Canada since 2021, has an extensive background in agriculture and government relations. Prior to joining Soy Canada, he led public affairs for the Canola Council of Canada, served as President of the Canadian Agri-food Trade Alliance and was a senior consultant with the Ottawa office of an international public affairs firm.

Jeff Nankivell
President & CEO, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada

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Jeff Nankivell joined the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada as its President and CEO in September 2021 following a 33-year career in Canada’s foreign service. With extensive experience in China and Asia, including as Consul General of Canada in Hong Kong and Macao, he brings a deep understanding of the region’s dynamics.