Adapting today for resilience tomorrow: The Quebec business ecosystem is taking action

Emmanuel Rondia holds a degree in civil engineering (electromechanical engineering, specializing in energy) from the Catholic University of Louvain-la-Neuve (Belgium). He also completed a short graduate program in environmental education at the University of Quebec in Montreal. From 2007 to 2012, he worked as a development and communications officer for the Quebec Association for the Promotion of Environmental Education (AQPERE). He then worked for more than 11 years at the Montreal Regional Environment Council (CRE-Montréal). In his successive roles as project manager, head of natural environments and green spaces, and then executive director, he coordinated initiatives related to climate change adaptation, developed multidisciplinary partnerships, facilitated multisectoral consultation forums, developed strategic plans, and analyzed public policies.

Anne-Josée Laquerre is the Executive Director and co-founder of QNP, an independent, non-profit think tank whose mission is to drive climate action among SMEs in order to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon, net-positive economy. Previously, she worked for more than 25 years in communications and social responsibility at major companies, including Noranda, Domtar, Merck Frosst, FPInnovations (Paprican), Bombardier Aerospace, and Aimia. A recipient of a 2020 Clean50 award and a certified public relations professional, she holds a Master of Science in Marketing and a BBA from HEC Montréal, and has completed an executive program at Harvard University: Aligning Sustainability with Business Performance.

Elia Paumelle holds a master's degree in business administration from ESSEC Business School in France. She specializes in corporate social responsibility and climate change adaptation. She worked for two years at Orange, a major French telecommunications group, as a project manager for responsible digital technology research. She then moved into sustainable finance, becoming a social and environmental impact analyst for investment firms.
At Ouranos since 2023, she offers applied expertise and advice on climate change adaptation and sustainable business management for the deployment of Ouranos' scientific programming and the management of support initiatives for key players.

Laurence Coulombe holds a bachelor's degree in Human and Organizational Communication and a master's degree in Environmental Sciences from the Université du Québec à Montréal. She has worked at the Outaouais Regional Council for the Environment and Sustainable Development, where she developed the organization's expertise in climate change adaptation. In collaboration with various partners from academic, municipal, community, and public health circles, Laurence has also carried out numerous projects and developed tools to help communities in the Outaouais region adapt to the impacts of urban heat islands and flooding. Her career has led her to develop expertise in regional consultation, organizational support, and climate change adaptation planning, enabling her to address the complexity of socio-environmental issues. Laurence joined the adaptation science coordination team at Ouranos in January 2022 and is responsible for implementing measures to support climate change adaptation in the tourism sector.

Annick Van Campenhout is Vice President of Food Progress and Sustainable Development at CTAQ. The food industry has been the common thread throughout her career. After studying hotel management and working as a chef and owner of several gourmet restaurants in Belgium for over 15 years, she shifted her career focus in Quebec toward professional training, sharing her knowledge through teaching. She has extensive experience in collaborative initiatives, in addition to her experience in various related fields. In addition to her talent as a developer, she has extensive knowledge of the food world and a keen interest in health and the environment. With a rich background and extensive knowledge of food and sustainable development, she is driven by a deep concern for the values of healthy eating, convinced that maintaining a healthy lifestyle is achieved as much, if not more, upstream than downstream.

Since 2013, Carl-Éric Guertin has been the Executive Director of the ÉCONOMUSÉE Network Society (SRÉ), which oversees the organization's development in Quebec, Canada, and internationally.  Created in 1992, the SRÉ, a non-profit organization, is the founder, owner, and promoter of the ÉCONOMUSÉE concept. Now an international organization headquartered in Quebec City, Canada, the SRÉ is a network of partners who share the same objectives: the pursuit, protection, and promotion of traditional crafts and know-how in the arts and crafts and agri-food sectors. Carl-Éric Guertin has 25 years of experience in management positions within business associations. A recognized developer and visionary, agent of change, leader with a collaborative approach, passionate about strategic planning and implementation, and motivated by economic, regional, and sustainable development, he is highly skilled in public speaking, persuasive communication, and the creation of mobilizing partnerships.