They speak at the CAPBLEU Forum 2025 | BLUESHIFT 2025
Influential voices to shape the future of Canada-Africa cooperation.
Discover the leaders, experts and decision-makers who are driving the conversation and opening up new perspectives.
Expertise at the crossroads of continents
Ministers, CEOs, strategists, researchers: a high-level programme at the service of a port, economic and sustainable dialogue.
Ambassador to the African Union and the UNECA, Ben Marc Diendéré has extensive experience in public affairs and communications, acquired at VIA Rail, Sollio Coop and Quebecor. He holds master's degrees in marketing (Paris Assas) and sociology of information (Ouagadougou), is also president of UNICEF Canada and active on several boards related to inclusion, art and education.
Former CEO of NB Power and the Economic Council of New Brunswick, Gaëtan Thomas is now Executive Vice-President of bluehome, a company specializing in the restoration of marine ecosystems. An engineer by training, he is also a strategic advisor, chair of the ACRI board, and a five-time winner of the Atlantic Top 50 CEOs.
A specialist in maritime and port cooperation, Jean Marie KOFFI heads the PMAWCA and the PAPC, federating the main African port associations. With more than 20 years of experience, he has contributed to the modernization of Ivorian ports and is now leading port sustainability initiatives. With an MBA in Marketing, a Master's degree in Philosophy and a Diploma in HR, he works to strengthen the competitiveness of African ports.
Dr. Urbain Thibauthéon Aaron Sonagnon BRITO, Director of Fisheries Production of Benin since 2023, is a recognized expert in fisheries governance, quality, hygiene and sustainability of value chains. He holds a doctorate in Quality Control, Audit and Sustainable Development, and has more than 20 years of experience and is also Vice-President of the International Whaling Commission. Active in several international bodies, he works for traceability, the fight against illegal fishing and maritime diplomacy in French-speaking Africa.
Dr. Yann Alix has been General Delegate of the SEFACIL Foundation since 2011, leading an international think tank on maritime transport, ports and logistics. He holds a PhD in Transportation Geography and a PhD from Concordia University and has led IPER and the logistics department at NBS. Author of more than 200 conferences and numerous publications, he is also the founder of the collections Les Océanides and Afrique Atlantique, dedicated to maritime and port dynamics.
Maud Chasseriau, an international expert in customs, port logistics and risk management, has more than 40 years of experience in trade facilitation and trade security. A former executive of the Directorate General of Customs (France), she is now a consultant for institutions such as the WCO. A specialist in customs procedures and connectivity of logistics systems, she has contributed to the recasting of the EU Customs Code and operates in more than 15 countries, mainly in Africa.
Jean-François is a Senior Consultant for CPCS. He holds a Ph.D. in Transportation Geography from the University of Paris-Est, France, and a Master's degree in Marine Resource Management (transportation) from the Université du Québec à Rimouski. With 28 years of experience in applied research, consulting and training both in Canada and abroad, and having contributed to more than 150 research/consulting projects, he has developed in-depth knowledge in the assessment of transportation and logistics demand and needs. Prior to joining the CPCS team, he was a marine and port transportation analyst for Maritime Innovation in Rimouski and for the Institut portuaire d'enseignement et de recherche (IPER) in Le Havre, France, as well as a professor in maritime transportation, port management, and logistics in Quebec and France. His main research activities focus on supply chain analysis, corridor benchmarking, marine transportation, port management, and transportation logistics.