Employees based in Baie-Comeau

Jean-Philippe L. Messier
Executive Director

Onboard since 2003

Founder and director of the MUBR, Jean-Philippe holds a cynegetic and halieutic development technique diploma from Cégep de Baie-Comeau, a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from UQAR and a higher specialized stuy diploma (DESS) in eco-advisory from UQAC. His daring entrepreneurship mindset has allowed him to spearhead the shift MUBR’s business model to a social economy model. He is recognized for his keen ability to develop an idea into an organized process and conclude successful partnerships. The vast network of the MUWBR was actually developed through his active involvement on the local, national and international scenes. He also works closely on a regular basis, with the First Nations, the Innu in particular.

PLANNING, MANAGEMENT AND MOBILIZATION | POLITICAL AND PUBLIC RELATIONS | INDIGENOUS MATTERS | STRATEGY DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION

jpmessier@rbmu.ca

418 296-1517 poste 1001

Vanessa Bouchard
Assistant Director

Onboard since 2020

Vanessa is an accomplished operational strategist. She has a real knack for putting things into perspective and expressing what the MUBR does and aspires to in concrete, measurable terms. But where she really shines is in operational optimization. With 20 years of experience in the public and parapublic sector, she has developed a remarkable skillset that combines versatility, authenticity and meticulous attention to detail. The role she currently plays within the organization calls for her to fine-tune existing tools, develop innovative processes and take the lead on initiatives with far-reaching impacts. When it comes to delivering a new standard of excellence at every turn, Vanessa is someone you can count on.

MANAGEMENT PROCESSES | GOVERNANCE | TOOL OPTIMIZATION | PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Geneviève Thibault
Human Ressources and Finance Director

Onboard since 2019

Geneviève is what happens when expertise meets strategic insight. Her academic background in financial planning and human resources is the perfect complement to the expertise she has developed over time in finance, marketing, organizational behaviour, customer service and project budget management. She draws on over 10 years of experience in the finance industry to guide the MUBR forward and coach team members to reach their full potential. She has a well-deserved reputation for being a practical, efficiency-minded yet people-centric manager whose sights are firmly set on leveraging administrative processes to drive organizational success.

ADMINISTRATIVE PROJECT MANAGEMENT | BUDGET ANALYSIS | FINANCIAL PLANNING | EFFECTIVE TEAM SYNERGY

gthibault@rbmu.ca

418 296-1517 poste 1006

David Béland
Project Manager and Advisor

Onboard since 2022

Drawing from a multidisciplinary bachelor’s degree and an atypical background, David has developed skills driven by curiosity, adaptation and creativity. A professional known for his listening skills and his keen talent for observation, he brings relevant insights and expertise to many spheres of the MUBR organization. As a human being with a passion for everything in his surroundings, his ability to forge business relationships helps to promote the organization in the region.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT | TOURISM | DEVELOPMENT

dbeland@rbmu.ca

418 296-1517 poste 1019

Myriam
Myriam Chênevert
Strategic Advisor

Onboard since 2018

With a Master’s Degree in nutrition, with a minor in project management in hand, Myriam has over 15 years of experience in the healthcare network, more particularly in the public health sector, where she implemented programs to respond to a number of issues. Well-known for her ability to forge strong inter-sector partnerships, she has a keen interest in every kind of participatory strategy that allow to bring together stakeholders from various sectors around common issues. Inspired by the MUBR‘s mission and its main areas of action, she joined the team in 2018.

STRATEGIC ANALYSIS | PROJECT STRUCTURING AND DEVELOPMENT | TEAM MOBILIZATION

mchenevert@rbmu.ca

418 296-1517 poste 1005

Evelyne Roy
Senior Advisor

Onboard since 2022

Dedicated to individual and collective development, Evelyne has 15 years of experience in strategic coaching with national, regional, municipal and Indigenous bodies. With a Bachelor’s degree in Communication, Politics and Society (UQAM), her expertise in the cultural, tourism, community and education sectors makes her a cross-sector driving force with a keen sense of inclusion. Creative thinking and management of high-potential projects, ethical awareness and the ability to adjust to various organizational structures are some of her strengths.

STRATEGIC COACHING l PROJECT STRUCTURING AND DEVELOPMENT l CULTURAL SAFETY

eroy@rbmu.ca

418 296-1517 poste 1020

Employees based in Quebec city

Eve Ferguson
Communications Director and Senior Advisor

Onboard since 2012

Eve has extensive experience in crafting effective communication strategies, facilitating collaborative processes, planning signature events and organizing activities aimed at fostering dialogue and building consensus.  She is as creative and intuitive as she is pragmatic and efficient, not to mention gifted at drilling down to the essence of a problem and breaking even the most complex concepts down into simple, manageable steps that lead to winning outcomes. She has been a valued MUBR team member since 2012, playing an active role in the organization’s growth. She now proudly serves as the Communications Director, in which capacity she takes her role as the guardian of the MUBR brand and identity very seriously. Eve has a bachelor’s degree in marketing communication from the Université du Québec à Montréal.

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION | CONSENSUS-BUILDING & FACILITATION |PROJECT AND EVENT MANAGEMENT | VISUAL AND BIG-PICTURE THINKING

eferguson@rbmu.ca

418 296-1517 poste 1003

Carole-Anne Tanguay
Srategic Development Director

Onboard since 2015

Carole-Anne has been the Director of Strategic Development since 2024, a fitting challenge for someone who has played a meaningful role in the organization’s growth and development for the past decade. She is in charge of the MUBR’s strategic plan and serves as the point person for its statutory responsibilities. She makes sure that decisions and operations are in sync so that the organization’s priorities, objectives and opportunities can be delivered on impactfully. She stands out for her analytical and solutions-oriented mindset, forward-looking vision and ability to set complex processes into motion. Carole-Anne has a bachelor’s degree in French literature and a master’s in land use planning and regional development from Université Laval.

STRATEGIC CONSULTING IN SOCIAL ACCEPTABILITY, PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT | PROJECT STRUCTURING, DEVELOPMENT AND LEADERSHIP | DECISION-MAKING TOOL DESIGN

catanguay@rbmu.ca

418 296-1517 poste 1002

Antoine Laforte
Antoine Laforte
Advisor - Land use planning

Onboard since 2025

Antoine holds a master’s degree in land use planning (UL) and a bachelor’s degree in political science and philosophy (UdeM). His multidisciplinary background allows him to tackle complex issues such as the relationship between nature and culture. An outdoor enthusiast, he finds balance by exploring forests, mountains, and wilderness areas, which motivates his commitment to helping communities better coexist with natural environments. Curious and engaged, he puts his analytical and interpersonal skills to work on sustainable and meaningful projects. 

LAND USE PLANNING | CONSERVATION AND BIODIVERSITY PROJECTS | LOCAL GOVERNANCE AND CITIZEN PARTICIPATION

alaforte@rbmu.ca

418 296-1517 poste 1024

Annie F. Kingston
Expert Advisor – Sustainable Tourism

Onboard since 2024

Annie is a tourism information technician also trained in sustainable organization management, sustainable tourism and resilient urban development. Owing to her wealth of experience in various sectors of tourism, she is recognized for the expertise she has garnered in sustainable tourism and the enhancement of natural environments. With her innate curiosity, sense of fairness, analytical mindset and holistic vision of sustainable tourism and land-use planning, Annie is a welcome asset to the MU Conseils team and the Vitrine en tourisme responsable et durable en contexte nordique project.

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT | SOCIAL ACCEPTABILITY | ENHANCEMENT OF NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS

afkingston@rbmu.ca

418 296-1517 poste 1015

Charles Gignac
Senior Project Manager

Onboard since 2023

With a master’s degree in plant biology and a microprogram in northern studies (ULaval), Charles has developed a keen understanding of the impacts of climate change on northern dynamics. With a wide range of professional experience in research and project management, he is committed to the development of research, education and environmental projects. With his positive leadership, scientific curiosity and ability to adapt to changing situations, Charles is an obvious asset to the entire MUBR team.

RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT | CONSERVATION AND BIODIVERSITY PROJECTS | PROJECT MANAGEMENT

cgignac@rbmu.ca

418 296-1517 poste 1007

Geneviève Robert
Project Manager – Conservation and Land Use Planning

Onboard since 2023

With a Bachelor’s degree in Natural and Managed Environments (ULaval) and a technical diploma in Bioecology, Geneviève stands out in the MUBR team for her versatility and her dedication to her work. Building on a sound multidisciplinary technical experience and remarkable environmental project achievements, she has developed a wide range of skills in the conservation domain. Driven by an innate sense of curiosity and a keen passion for natural environments and their human uses, she brings a creative approach to sustainable land use planning.

CONSERVATION AND BIODIVERSITY PROJECTS | LAND USE PLANNING | GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS

grobert@rbmu.ca

418-296-1517 poste 1021

Employees based elsewhere in Quebec

Kristina Maud
Kristina Maud Bergeron
Expert Advisor

Onboard since 2020

With a Ph.D. in Political Science, Kristina Maud has developed expertise in social acceptability and community-corporate relations. She has been keeping abreast of issues affecting Indigenous peoples in Quebec and around the world for over 20 years. Building on her collaboration in the design of the Social Risk Index for Mining Projects, she contributes her thorough, first-hand experience to connecting stakeholders with information sharing mechanisms within a constructive, proactive framework.

SOCIAL ACCEPTABILITY | RELATIONS WITH INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES | RESEARCH AND ISSUE ANALYSIS

kmbergeron@rbmu.ca

418 296-1517 poste 1010

Marianne Valcourt
Expert Project Manager - Conservation and Biodiversity

Onboarding since 2022

As part of her Bachelor’s degree in Biology (UQAR) and her Master’s degree in Biology (ULaval), Marianne spent several months in the tundra studying the flora and fauna of the Canadian High Arctic. With her understanding of northern environments, she provides scientific expertise specific to the MUBR territory. In addition to research, she enjoys sharing her knowledge, and she has extensive experience in interpretation work and teaching biology. A dedicated biologist, she shares her passion and her drive with the team.

CONSERVATION AND BIODIVERSITY PROJECTS | ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY MONITORING | SCIENCE OUTREACH

mvalcourt@rbmu.ca

418-296-1517 poste 1016

Jessica Prescott
Principal Advisor – Social Acceptability

Onboard since 2024

A graduate in organizational communication, public relations and management, Jessica is pursuing a Master’s degree in Business Administration, with a specialization in corporate social and environmental responsibility. For a number of years, she has dedicated her work to public participation and social acceptability. She has also worked in communications, media and digital marketing.

With her enthusiasm at work and strategic mindset, she adds a unique blend of innovation and efficiency to the projects entrusted to her.

SOCIAL ACCEPTABILITY | CITIZEN PARTICIPATION AND DIALOGUE-BUILDING | COMMUNICATIONS

jprescott@rbmu.ca

418 296-1517 poste 1004

Emy Westermann
Emy Westermann
Expert Advisor - Communications

Onboarding since 2022

Holding a Master’s degree in Research Communication (UQAM) and a degree in public relations (École française des attachés de presse de Paris), Emy has more than one string to her bow in terms of communications. With 15 years of experience in writing, communications strategy and project coordination, she has held several positions, including a consulting role for education NPOs. Well-known for her versatility, interpersonal skills and efficiency, Emy builds on her experience in content creation and community management to contribute to MUBR projects.

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT | COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY | WRITING | PROJECT MANAGEMENT

ewestermann@rbmu.ca

418-296-1517 poste 1017

Ginette Lafontaine
Expert Advisor

Onboarding since 2023

Ginette holds a Master’s degree in Public Health and has extensive experience in the field. She worked for nearly 30 years within the Montérégie public health department, with the last 10 years as director of planning, evaluation and research. Prior to that, she was the coordinator of the department’s health promotion and prevention teams.

She was also deeply invested at the international level in the planning and implementation of health promotion projects based on the analysis of the specific needs of communities of several French-speaking countries. She is particularly recognized for her listening skills, her global vision of the issues and her ability to support the search for constructive solutions.

STRATEGIC PLANNING | COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITIES | RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS

glafontaine@rbmu.ca

Corinne Asselin
Advisor

Onboarding since 2025

Corinne holds a bachelor’s degree in communication, politics, and society and a master’s degree in political science (UQAM). Her academic and professional background focuses on municipal institutions and the renewal of democratic practices.

Passionate about her work, she puts her project management skills to work for local and regional communities. She stands out for her political acumen, authenticity, analytical mind, and writing skills.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT | CITIZEN PARTICIPATION AND CONSULTATION | COMMUNICATIONS

casselin@rbmu.ca