They speak at the CAPBLEU Forum 2025 | BLUESHIFT 2025

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.

Originally from Charlo, New Brunswick, Isabelle Doucet holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from the Université de Moncton and a certificate from the École Supérieure de Commerce d'Amiens (France).
Her first job at the Embassy of Canada in Paris in the Promotion and Communication – Immigration department allowed her to develop an extensive network in France, Belgium and Switzerland, in addition to confirming her interest in international relations.
Returning to New Brunswick in 2008, she joined the Government of New Brunswick where she held various management positions in development, strategic planning and innovation with the Regional Development Corporation until 2015. She took part in several multi-sectoral missions in France while completing the program of the Canadian Economic Development Association.
In March 2015, Isabelle joined the Export and International Trade team at Opportunities New Brunswick. She leads several national and international economic missions. In November 2016, she was selected for the Leadership Management International program, a privileged opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills to become a senior manager.
Destined to play an even more active role internationally, in March 2017 she was appointed Director of the International and Multilateral Francophonie in the Intergovernmental Affairs Division of the Executive Council Office of the Government of New Brunswick.
In October 2020, she was appointed Personal Representative of the Premier of New Brunswick (Sherpa) to the International Organization of La Francophonie.Passionate and dedicated, Ms. Doucet is regularly involved in various cultural activities and is committed to promoting her native province on the international scene.

Sylvie Painchaud has been Executive Director of the Council of Ministers on the Canadian Francophonie since 2017. Her expertise in the Canadian Francophonie has been developed over fifteen years, during which she held several positions within the Government of Yukon, first at the Department of Education and then at the French Language Services Branch. Studies in public administration at Alaska Southeast University complemented her initial training in communication, acquired at the Université du Québec à Montréal. Before joining the government sphere, she worked for twenty years as a public affairs journalist, including ten years at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

Her Excellency Mrs. Fatima Braoulé Méïté is a Malian diplomat and politician, committed to development, governance and human rights. Ambassador of Mali to Canada and Permanent Representative to ICAO from 2020 to 2024, she worked to strengthen bilateral relations and promote Mali's interests on the international scene. A former municipal councillor in Bamako and president of REMAFEDE, she campaigns for greater participation of women in politics. A graduate of UQAM and SUNY Stony Brook, she is also the founder of Nova Consulting, supporting strategic projects in governance and development.

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.

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.

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.

Jonathan Duffaud has been the CEO of the CÉNB since 2025, where he has been employed since December 2022, as the Atlantic Sustainable Development Coordinator for RDÉE NB, helping several SMEs successfully position themselves as sustainable businesses. With a background in political science, specialized in business administration (management, finance and local development), experienced in the coordination of economic and social projects, he has accompanied entrepreneurs for 20 years, in France and Canada. He has had the opportunity to help more than 300 business leaders in the creation, takeover, development and transfer for nearly 10 years on behalf of the Regional Institute of Business Leaders (IRCE), in the Southern Alps (France), with a team of consultants, trainers and coaches. He has also created the support ecosystem for an incubator for eco-committed start-ups in Brittany (France). Over the course of his professional journey, Jonathan has developed an excellent ability to build networks and understand the needs of SMEs, and economic development grounded in reality. He is well versed in the economic, political and social environment of New Brunswick. It also worked effectively with key federal and provincial partners.

An expert in education, training and technologies applied to learning, Cyrille Simard is a seasoned trainer and manager. Vice-President of Development at CCNB since 2020, he has a wealth of international experience in distance education, pedagogical innovation and professional training. Former mayor of Edmundston (2012-2020), he combines academic expertise and community involvement.