They speak at the Forum CAPBLEU 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.

Jean-Claude (J.C.) D'Amours was re-elected for a third term as an MPP on October 21, 2024. This time in the riding of Edmundston-Vallée-des-Rivières. He served as the Member of Parliament for Edmundston-Madawaska-Centre for two terms following the elections of September 24, 2018 and September 14, 2020. Following the October 2024 election, he was appointed Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Minister Responsible for Immigration and Minister Responsible for Military Affairs.

As a Liberal Party MP, following the September 2020 election, he was once again appointed Health Critic in the Liberal caucus. In September 2022, Mr. D'Amours became the Critic for Economic Development and Opportunities NB Issues, the Critic for Small Business and Trade Development Policy Issues, and the Critic for Population Growth and Immigration. He held office until the 2024 provincial election was called.

Mr. D'Amours is therefore in his third term as an MPP, but he has been involved in politics for many years. From 1998 to 2004, he was a city councillor for the city of Edmundston. In 2004, he was elected as the Member of Parliament for the riding of Madawaska—Restigouche. He was re-elected in 2006 and 2008. During those years, he served as the Official Opposition critic for issues related to National Revenue, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, the Atlantic Gateway and Official Languages. He has also served on numerous parliamentary committees.

As a backbencher in the Legislative Assembly, Mr. D'Amours introduced two bills that were passed and then received Royal Assent. On June 11, 2021, An Act to amend the Tobacco and Electronic Cigarette Sales Act received Royal Assent, effectively banning e-cigarettes and flavoured substances. On June 16, 2023, the Human Organ and Tissue Donation Act received Royal Assent, resulting in the adoption of a presumed consent model for organ and tissue donation in New Brunswick.

Mr. D'Amours has served in a variety of board roles and is involved with various organizations and events in his community. He has served as vice-president northwest for the provincial Tree of Hope campaign, a member of the board of directors of Alianco and the Atelier des Copains, treasurer of the Oeuvres de l'Hôtel-Dieu de Saint-Basile and president and co-president of the organizing committee of the Salon du livre d'Edmundston.

Mr. D'Amours has extensive professional experience, including serving as Director of Business Development at the Business Development Bank of Canada from 2000 to 2004 and Regional Director at Brunswick News from 2011 to 2018.

Mr. D'Amours received a Bachelor of Arts in Multidisciplinary Studies (Political Science and Management) in 1997, a Bachelor of Commerce (Management and Accounting) in 1998 and a Master of Business Administration from the Université de Moncton in 2022. He also has a certificate in accounting and a certificate in management.

Mr. D'Amours lives in Edmundston with his wife, Hélène, and two daughters, Émilie and Alexandra.

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.

Mr. Ramses LABA ZOULLA is a civil engineer and urban planner graduated from the Ecole Nationale Supérieure Polytechnique de Yaoundé. Dynamic, he has participated for 10 years in the design, implementation and monitoring of large-scale projects in Cameroon.

Since August 2022, when he joined the PAK, he has focused on the management of port projects where he works as coordinator of the technical secretariats of the committees in charge of the maturation and monitoring and evaluation of investment projects.

Thanks to his rich experience in public administration, he has been able to implement procedures for the efficient and effective management of projects within the PAK. His leadership has enabled the internal structures of the PAK to align themselves with national and international standards.

Mr. Ramses LABA ZOULLA began his career in the private sector as a junior engineer, where he participated in the realization of several technical studies of buildings and public works. He then continued his professional career in the public administration where he spent 4 years at the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.

Mr. Michael MAMA is a seasoned executive in the maritime and logistics sector with a strong background in port management, supply chain optimization and international trade. Since June 2019, he has held the position of Chief Operating Officer at Port Authority Kribi, where he oversees day-to-day operations, drives performance improvement and drives strategies related to concession monitoring, logistics management and business development.

As a pioneer of the PAK, MR. MAMA was instrumental in implementing and consolidating the foundations that led to the remarkable growth and operational excellence of the Port of Kribi. His leadership has been key in positioning Kribi as a modern gateway to global trade and a benchmark for efficiency and security in the Gulf of Guinea.

Before assuming his current position, he headed the department in charge of port domain development, concession monitoring and logistics regulation, after having also worked in the operational unit of the Kribi Industrial-Port Complex Construction Project. He has also contributed to the strengthening of client relationships and the development of international partnerships.

Mr. MAMA began his career at Africa Express Line Limited, where he managed reefer container operations, quality control and inventory management. He holds advanced degrees from ISTELI (France) in Logistics, Supply Chain Management and International Trade.

Jurist, expert, specialist in public law, public governance, public litigation, and public business law;

Lecturer and researcher at the Department of Public Law of the Faculty of Legal and Political Sciences of the Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar (since June 2015);

Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Port Authority Dakar (since July 2024);

Secretary General of the Circle of Public Administrators (CAP) (since October 2024);

Member of the public law consulting and litigation firm AVEX Conseils (since January 2022);

President of the High Regulatory Authority of the PASTEF-LES PATRIOTES Party (since April 2022);

Member of the Board of Directors of the Institute of Human Rights and Peace of the Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar (May 2016 to June 2019);

Chairman of the Scientific Committee of the Tink Tank Afrikajom Center (January 2021 to June 2024);

Temporary Teaching and Research Associate (ATER), Faculty of Law and Management, University of La Rochelle (2012 – 2015);

Lecturer and researcher at the Faculty of Legal Sciences of the University of Grenoble-Alpes (2010 - 2012).

Coordinator of the Strategic Partnerships and International Cooperation Unit of the Dakar Port Authority since 2018, Abdoul Hamid SY has more than 20 years of experience within the Dakar Port Authority at different levels of management. Abdoul Hamid SY joined the Port Authority in Dakar in 2004 as Executive Assistant to the Chairman of the Board of Directors. He was then appointed Head of the Marketing and Communication Department within the Sales Department, a position he held until 2012. From 2013 to 2018, he became the Coordinator of the Communication and Public Relations Unit. Passionate about writing, he initiated the establishment of the "Tam-tam du Docker" newspaper, an information belt between the General Management of the Port and the Dakar port community, of which he was the editor-in-chief.

In charge of Partnerships and International Cooperation, he was one of the architects of the study on the National Port Strategy, at a time when the government of Senegal has decided to entrust the management of all public ports to the Dakar Port Authority.

A graduate in International Economics from the University of Aix-Marseille 3, in France, Abdoul Hamid is married and has four children.

Visionary, strategist and builder, Abdourahman is one of the major figures of economic and sports leadership in Cameroon. Managing Director of ECOPETROL in addition to his duties as Vice-President of the Cameroon Handball Federation and Central Africa Representative of Pont-Bridge Canada, he is a recognized expert in the oil sector and a key player in entrepreneurial development. He brilliantly combines managerial rigour and a passion for collective excellence.

Holder of an MBA, he successfully runs ECOPETROL, a leading company in oil distribution and logistics in Cameroon. Under his leadership, the company has established itself as a key player in the national energy chain, adopting innovative approaches to strengthen security of supply and operational performance in a highly strategic sector for the African continent.

At the same time, he is the head of RAYANA SARL, a consulting and business facilitation company, which supports foreign investors wishing to set up in Cameroon. Through its network and expertise, RAYANA promotes technology transfer, the creation of local jobs and the emergence of a resilient economic fabric connected to international markets.

His influence extends beyond national borders: as Pont-Bridge Canada's Representative for Central Africa, he plays a key role in Canada-Africa economic diplomacy, fostering strategic partnerships in the areas of energy, infrastructure and sustainable development. It embodies the bridge between African and North American entrepreneurs, helping to build lasting and mutually beneficial business relationships.

A committed leader, Abdourahman is also a fervent defender of sport as a driver of social cohesion and the emancipation of young people. In his capacity as Vice-President of the Cameroon Handball Federation (FECAHAND), he actively works for the professionalization of Cameroonian handball, supports elite clubs such as FAP and TKC, and promotes development programs aimed at raising Cameroon among the great African nations of the discipline. Under his vice-presidency, the country has seen remarkable performances, including historic qualification for the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Champion Clubs.

Between energy, entrepreneurship and sport, Abdourahman embodies the new generation of African leaders: leaders rooted in their territory, open to the world, and driven by the same ambition — to promote Cameroonian excellence on the international scene.