The green battery’s future in Quebec

Three leaders on the front lines of efforts to develop Quebec’s battery industry for electric vehicles talk about the challenges and opportunities involved in this huge industrial and human project that is essential to our economy’s transition toward a low-carbon future. 

This panel is moderated by Stéphanie Grammond, Chief Editorialist of La Presse.

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Biographies

Éric Desaulniers

Mr. Eric Desaulniers, MSc, P. Geo, is the founder of Nouveau Monde Graphite, an ESG-driven company dedicated to developing the world’s first all-electric open-pit mine and anode material plant striving to supply the lithium-ion battery market with sustainably and ethically transformed advanced materials. 
Desaulniers is a professional geologist with a specialization in geophysics and integrated 3D earth modeling. He holds a bachelor’s degree in geology and a master in geophysics from Laval University in Quebec City. 
Since discovering the world-class Matawinie deposit that launched Nouveau Monde, Desaulniers has completed the exploration, feasibility and permitting stages to bring the mine project to construction. In parallel, he has succeeded in securing a solid shareholder base, recruiting innovative technical leaders to carry out his vision and developing a vertical business model to cover the entire value chain for battery materials.
A devoted husband and father of four, Desaulniers fully lives his values for a zero-emission future. He has been exclusively driving all-electric since 2017! Care to ride the EV revolution with him?
Biography 2023

Sarah Houde

Sarah Houde spent her early career as a communications and public relations director in the private and non‑profit sectors before becoming executive director of Youth Fusion, a pan‑Canadian charity that doubled in size in its three years under her leadership. She then joined private equity firm XPND Capital as vice president of public and government affairs, steering a number of transport electrification projects. In the fall of 2017 she was named CEO of Quebec’s new cluster for electric and smart transportation and was tasked with positioning the province as one of the sector’s global leaders. 
Ms. Houde holds a bachelor’s from Université de Montréal and a master’s from McGill University in political science and a graduate management diploma from HEC Montréal
Biography 2023

Guy LeBlanc

Guy LeBlanc was appointed President and CEO of Investissement Québec in April 2019. Before joining the Corporation, he worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) for over 35 years. As Managing Partner of the Transaction group in Canada from 2002 to 2006 and Managing Partner of the Montréal Office from 2006 to 2015, he oversaw a team of more than 800 professionals. An expert in finance, Guy LeBlanc specializes in business transactions (sales and purchases) and business financing.

He has a degree from HEC Montréal, an honorary degree from Université de Montréal and the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors; he is also a Fellow of the Ordre des comptables professionnels agréés du Québec (FCPA). He has served on numerous boards of directors, including those of Canam Group, Goodfood Market Inc., The Lion Electric Co., Groupe Meloche, ATIS Group and Montréal International.
Biography 2023