Boards of Directors

Dominique Anglade was born in Montreal to Haitian parents who were political exiles. While she grew up primarily in Quebec, her early years also took her to Ontario, British Columbia, and Haiti, where she lived for three years following the fall of the Duvaliers. This time in Haiti allowed her to reconnect with her roots and, above all, to understand the responsibility of those who have the means to contribute to a better world. This awareness was nurtured by the values her parents instilled in her, as passionate advocates for social justice.

Dominique has always been driven by a deep desire to serve her community. Over more than two decades, she has sat on the boards of fifteen organizations, leading several of them, including as president of a student association at Polytechnique, the Jeune Chambre de commerce de Montréal, and as co-founder and president of the KANPE Foundation. Her achievements have been widely recognized, with more than 25 honors, including the Desjardins Émérite Scholarship and a tribute for civic engagement from the Quebec Ministry of Relations with Citizens. In 2014, the World Economic Forum in Davos named her a Young Global Leader, a prestigious distinction highlighting her growing influence.

Her professional career began at Procter & Gamble in 1996, where, at just 24, she was promoted to head an operations department supervising over 100 employees. She then went on to Nortel Networks and the prestigious McKinsey & Company, specializing in large-scale business transformations and developing expertise in strategic management. Dominique later served as CEO of Montréal International, working to attract foreign investment and strategic talent to the region.

In November 2015, Dominique reached a historic milestone as the first woman of Haitian descent elected to the National Assembly of Quebec. The following year, she broke another barrier as the first person of Haitian descent to hold a ministerial position in Canada, serving as Minister of Economy, Science, and Innovation. From 2017 to 2018, she served as Deputy Premier of Quebec.

In 2020, Dominique made history once again by becoming leader of the Quebec Liberal Party and Leader of the Official Opposition, a position she held until 2022. In 2023, she embarked on a new path as an Associate Professor and Co-Lead of Sustainable Transition at HEC Montréal.

Married and mother of three, Dominique Anglade embodies a woman of intellect and heart, driven by an unwavering commitment to build bridges, break glass ceilings, and pave the way toward a more inclusive and sustainable future.

Born in Montreal to Haitian parents who fled the Duvalier dictatorship, Régine Chassagne grew up surrounded by stories of courage and hope. These roots shaped the woman she became: an artist, a committed citizen, and a bridge between worlds.

A singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer, Régine co-founded Arcade Fire, the Grammy-winning band whose music has resonated in stadiums and touched millions of people. Yet behind this global success lies a deeper commitment.

On her first trip to Haiti, traveling the country with the late Dr. Paul Farmer, Régine witnessed the challenges communities there faced—but also their remarkable strength and dignity. These encounters left a lasting impression and fueled her determination to act.

Long before 2010, she and her childhood friend and Haitian-Canadian leader Dominique Anglade were already exploring the idea of creating an organization to support rural communities in Haiti. The devastating earthquake that struck in January 2010 intensified this commitment, accelerating the birth of the KANPE Foundation just months later.

“Kanpe”, which means “to stand up” in Haitian Creole, perfectly captures the mission of the organization: to support rural communities through leadership, entrepreneurship, agroforestry, education, health, and local infrastructure.

Through Arcade Fire and the PLUS1 initiative—which she helped create to turn concert tours into spaces of solidarity—fans around the world joined this movement, one ticket and one dollar at a time. Thanks to her advocacy efforts, Régine has helped raise over $12 million for projects led by and for Haitian communities.

In 2016, Concordia University awarded her an honorary doctorate, recognizing both her artistic achievements and her commitment to Haiti.

From international stages to the mountains of the Central Plateau, Régine Chassagne continues to embody the spirit of Kanpe: helping others stand tall and inspiring the world to move forward alongside her.

Rose Lyndsay Daudier is Executive Director of the Canadian Mental Health Association – Quebec Division, which aims to support the well-being of Quebecers by preventing the deterioration of their mental health and equipping them with the tools to develop their skills and resilience.

For more than seven years, she served as Executive Director at Fusion Jeunesse (in Canada and France) and Robotique FIRST Québec, two charitable organizations whose mission is to contribute to the academic perseverance, employability, and civic engagement of young people.

Previously, she worked at a UNESCO research chair, held the position of interim director and social innovator in residence for the McConnell Foundation’s Cities for All program, and served as Director of Partnerships at the Maison de l’innovation sociale. She also worked within the Government of Quebec where, as political attaché to the Minister of Culture and Communications, she handled, among other things, international files.

With regard to her social involvement, Rose Lyndsay works to maximize inclusive collaborations that will increase impact across the territory. As a committed intrapreneur, she therefore aims to build connections between initiatives and multiply their reach. She has always been involved in causes whose mission aligned with this vision (Groupe 3737, OFF Conseil de l’innovation, Culture Montréal, Conseil des Montréalaises, Pôle du savoir de Prévost, etc.). She currently serves as Chair of the governance committee of the Musée de la civilisation du Québec.

Charles Létourneau is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Centre patronal SST – Formation et expertise, an organization that brings together more than 100 employer associations across Quebec and is dedicated to training and the dissemination of information in occupational health and safety.

He is deeply committed to education and firmly believes it is the most powerful driver of social mobility. For him, the mission of the KANPE Foundation is, above all, a matter of the heart; one that brings together his passions and convictions.

A certified corporate director (ASC) and member of the Ordre des administrateurs agréés du Québec (Adm.A.), he contributes his governance expertise to several boards of directors.

In addition to his involvement with the KANPE Foundation, he also serves as a board member of the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST), the Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST), and the Ordre des administrateurs agréés du Québec.

He also served as Assistant Director of the Institut d’études internationales de Montréal (UQAM), where he was responsible for partnerships with NGOs, universities, governments, and international organizations.

For him, the mission of the KANPE Foundation is therefore a story from the heart, combining his passions and convictions. As a board member, he is proud to contribute to its realization.

Francois Audet is Professor at the School of Management (ESG) of the Université du Québec à Montréal and the scientific Director of the Canadian Research Institute on Humanitarian Crisis and Aid (OCCAH). In 2018, he became the Director of The Montreal Institute of International Studies (IEIM-UQAM).

He holds a PhD in Public administration from ENAP for his research on local capacity building and the decisional process of the humanitarian organizations. He also has over fifteen years experience in humanitarian action. He was a Visiting scholar at the Program on Humanitarian Policy and Conflict Research (HPCR) at Harvard University.

He was previously Head of the Regional Delegation of East Africa and the Indian Ocean for the Canadian Red Cross and he also served as program Director for CARE Canada. He has participated in over hundred humanitarian and technical support in Haiti, Colombia, Somalia and the Darfur region. He also worked for several years in Latin America and Southeast Asia on behalf of the Canadian Centre for International Study and Cooperation, where he served as chief of humanitarian aid projects in Honduras and Vietnam.

Professor Audet supports KANPE and its ambition to change the ways in which the development of Haiti unfolds. As a member of the Board of Director, he is committed to the development of sustainable capacities in Haiti.

A lawyer by profession, Patrice S. César works in politics in the office of the mayor of Côte-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce. He also co-founded the Bridge MTL incubator which assists immigrant entrepreneurs in launching and growing their businesses in Quebec.

Previously, Patrice practiced business law and worked with Montreal startups. He also worked in innovation and smart city project management at Arche Innovation.

He has nearly a decade of experience in the community sector in the Côte-des-Neiges area, with a particular interest in employment programs for local youth.

Patrice studied at Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf and at the Université de Montréal in Political Science, Philosophy, and Law. Very close to his community, he is known for his political involvement and passion for entrepreneurship.

Photo credit : Nicolas Debrosse

Crédit photo : Nicolas Debrosse

Déborah Cherenfant, a women’s entrepreneurship strategist, has been passionately involved in economic development and women’s leadership since she immigrated to Quebec in 2005. She is heavily involved as a board member in various organizations, including the McCord Museum, the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec, Startup Montréal, and Humanov-is. She also has sat on the Conseil du statut de la femme du Québec since 2018.

With degrees in economics and entrepreneurship, Déborah has used her strategic skills over the past decade in business startup consulting and financing, as well as in entrepreneurship program development.  An entrepreneur at heart, over the years she has created the blog Mots d’Elles, the fashion brand Atelier Coloré, and the concept store Marché Coloré. She also co-founded BiAS, a cultural and artistic think tank, and the BlindSpot Cabinet, for more Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) in the business world.

A TEDx fellow, Déborah is an outstanding speaker, trainer and facilitator, and her expertise is often solicited in many circles. Canada’s delegate to the G20 in 2015, Déborah has received numerous distinctions, including the Women of Merit in Entrepreneurship Award in 2016, and the Femmes d’Exception at the Prix femmes d’affaires du Québec in 2021.

Déborah was president and spokesperson for the Jeune chambre de commerce de Montréal in 2020-2021 and her commitment has been recognized many times, including the Prix du Développement Économique de Montréal Centre-ville and the HEC Montréal Distinguished Graduate Award for her community involvement in 2021.

In 2022, Déborah continues to collaborate as a radio host on Tout Un Matin on ICI Première, and as a TV contributor on Le Fil on Noovo. She is Regional Director, Women in Business, Quebec & Atlantic at TD Bank Group.

With over two decades of experience in finance, risk management, and employee benefits, Nikolina has played influential advisory roles in both industry and consulting. Nikolina’s professional journey began as a consulting actuary, specializing in pension plans, working with renowned international human resources management firms. During this time, she also shared her expertise by teaching actuarial science at Concordia University.

Later in her career, Nikolina took on the pivotal role of Chief Financial Officer for an engineering company pioneering cutting-edge environmental technologies. In this leadership position, her responsibilities encompassed managing the company’s financial infrastructure, overseeing business administration, guiding governance and risk management, crafting strategic financial plans, forging international partnership agreements, fostering shareholder relations, and shaping employee benefit plans, stock options, and compensation strategies.

Nikolina possesses a strong background in finance and a genuine passion for advocating for global social justice and sustainable development. Her daily efforts are driven by a desire to contribute positively to the world and be a force for change.

Martine St-Victor is the general manager of Edelman’s Montréal office. A communication strategist, Martine is a contributor at the CBC, at Radio-Canada, at La Presse and at the Montreal Gazette.

A trustee on various Boards (Musée d’Art contemporain de Montréal, la Fondation du Pensionnat du Saint-Nom-de-Marie, The Institute for Research on Public Policy) Martine is a founding member of the Black Opportunity Fund and the Diversity and Inclusion emissary of the Start-Up Festival.

@MartineMontreal

A scion of Haitian musical royalty, Paul has spent his life living to the beat. Son of the Grammy nominated band Boukman Eksperyans, his earliest memories are of rhythm and sound. Moving to New York as a youth he was inspired by his heritage to begin crafting a sound all his own. Constantly aware of his roots, the struggle of an immigrant and the drive of New York life, Paul began to create a path where music, activism and history meet.

Paul joined forces with the not for profit Artists for Peace and Justice (APJ), becoming an integral part of their mission, Paul is currently working in collaboration with Jackson Browne, who aptly named him “the monster”, in collaboration with several other artists including Jon Russell (the head and the heart), Jonathan Wilson, Habib Koite, Jenny Lewis and Raul Rodriguez on an upcoming album for APJ, he also continues to be an active member and perform at their many events in the USA and Canada. This allows Paul to do what he loves; play music while also furthering awareness of Haitian art, culture and promoting the incredible talent of Haiti’s youth.

David Belle first traveled to Haiti in 1993 as a young filmmaker. In 2004 he co-founded Haiti’s International Film Festival in the town of Jacmel as a way of supporting the country’s creative and tourism industries.

In 2008 he co-founded Haiti’s national film school, Ciné Institute. Following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, David and colleagues expanded Ciné Institute to become the Artists Institute, offering professional training and technical support to further empower the Haitian film and music industries.  The Institute’s five-acre oceanfront campus features recording studios, editing suites, production offices, classrooms, and beautiful Caribbean gardens.

Today it is entirely Haitian run and many Institute graduates are at the center of the most important films and music being made in Haiti. Beyond supporting community development initiatives in Haiti, David’s career includes directing and producing films, photography, songwriting, and music production.

Marc-André Franche has spent his professional career in international development and conflict prevention with the United Nations. Today, he is the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in Libya, where he leads a team contributing to peacebuilding and governance in the country. Previously, he was Head of the UN Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund, which helps more than 40 countries around the world prevent violent conflict, avoid the recurrence of conflict, or encourage reconciliation.

Marc-Andre was also UNDP’s Country Director in Pakistan from 2013 to 2016, where he led a team working on conflict prevention, governance, and climate change adaptation. He also served as UNDP’s Deputy Director in Haiti from 2008 to 2012, where he oversaw the implementation of programs on governance, rule of law reform, livelihoods improvement, and environmental protection, particularly in the context of post-earthquake recovery and reconstruction.

Between 2004 and 2008, Marc-Andre worked for UNDP in New York as a program advisor for conflict prevention in Latin America and the Caribbean. In this capacity, he led the regional program on conflict prevention and supported consensus building and dialogue in the region. Previously, he worked on applied research and policy dialogue on conflict prevention for UNDP in Colombia from 2001 to 2004, and on poverty reduction and local governance for UNDP in Bolivia from 1998 to 2001. He holds a Master’s degree in Development Policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science in the United Kingdom, European Studies from Lund University in Sweden, and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Montreal. Marc-André is Canadian, is married, and has one son.

Phil Ianniello leads BofA Securities’ Investment Banking in the Northeast, based in Boston, having practiced as an investment banker for 25 years. Phil is a graduate of Georgetown University and lives in Newton, MA with his wife and three children.

Danielle Perreault practices and teaches family medicine, both at home and abroad. A McGill University graduate with a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and a Doctorate in Medicine, her practice has notably included work with the Cree of James Bay and the Inuit of Nunavik.

Beyond an irrepressible drive to help, Dr. Perreault possesses a deep curiosity for other cultures and meaningful human connections. A tireless traveler, she left at age 19 to spend a year teaching in Togo. She began her medical career with a year-long stay in Guinea-Bissau and continues to respond to emergencies in the world’s most remote corners. Working with the Red Cross, Médecins du Monde, and Médecins Sans Frontières, she has served in regions devastated by epidemics, war, and natural disasters, including Georgia, the Philippines, and Haiti. She was on the front lines of the fight against Ebola in Guinea-Conakry and Sierra Leone, completing two missions in 2014 and 2015 to contribute to the successful battle against the epidemic. She has also participated in numerous “under the radar” humanitarian missions in Madagascar, Bhutan, Mali, Benin, and New Guinea.

Dr. Perreault has trained and mentored young medical residents at the CLSC Saint-Hubert near Montreal and during their internships in northern regions. She has worked in the emergency department at CHUM Saint-Luc and at its Travel Health Clinic. She recently joined the GMF Dre Andrée Gagnon in Saint-Jérôme to continue teaching family medicine residents from the Université de Montréal.

Danielle Perreault is also a well-known and highly regarded public communicator. As a host and commentator, she has collaborated on several radio and television programs for Radio-Canada, CKAC, RDI, TVA, TQS, and Canal Vie, in addition to her extensive work as a columnist for La Presse. She has published books on women’s and men’s sexual health and recently shared her atypical world tour in the book Soigner du Nord au Sud (Quebec-Amérique).

A Knight of the National Order of Quebec (Chevalière de l’Ordre national du Québec), Danielle Perreault remains deeply influenced by her human experiences and continues to seek the most effective ways to intervene in areas of extreme poverty.