For more than ten years, Geneviève has been actively contributing to debates on the advancement of human rights and environmental law both internationally as well as in Canada. She has held many positions: Acting Director General of Amnesty International Canada (Francophone division), Director of the Globalization Office of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and served on the Steering Committee of the European Coalition for Corporate Justice (ECCJ).

Geneviève has conducted numerous surveys in Latin America and Asia, focusing in particular on the environmental impacts of investment projects and has been involved in several files on access to justice. In her role as executive director, she has been interacting with different stakeholders: governments, institutions, companies, non-governmental organizations and the media.

Caroline started her career in an international solidarity organization, and then moved on to the Quebec community-serving nonprofit sector. Coordinator of initiatives aimed at developing the full potential of young children, interim coordinator of a consumer rights organization, and more recently director of a project addressing labour issues in the early childhood sector, Caroline has joined the Centre québécois du droit de l’environnement for an interim mandate. 

Her commitment is based on the deep conviction that environmental protection is a societal priority, which also requires access to information and justice.

With a master’s degree in political science, Sophie has focused on the communication professions, with an array of experience in numerous structures and sectors of activity (company, federation, public relations firm, and more). After receiving a DESS in environment and sustainable development from Université de Montréal in 2017, she has specialized in environmental communication for non-profit organizations.

Sophie’s position with the CQDE allows this versatile professional to combine her interest in current political and legal issues with her need to raise awareness of environmental challenges among all levels of stakeholders.

Valérie Hénault holds a master’s degree in cultural enterprise management from HEC Montréal and specializes in strategy for cultural and social economy organizations. She stands out by her leadership, efficiency, and passion in her work, which has led her to be part of emerging projects such as the Grand Montréal Comique humour festival and the Convergence Initiative. 

Having worked in Montreal’s cultural NPOs for several years, she is now joining the CQDE team in order to align her environmental values with her career path. Her aspirations are to continue to ensure the proper functioning of organizations in accordance with her values of equity, respect, attentiveness, and eco-responsibility.

Mr. Bishai holds a law degree from the University of Montreal and has been a litigation lawyer since 2007. He practiced family, civil and commercial law in small law firms until 2012. During that time he also wrote three articles published in Ontario and Canadian law journals.
He then joined the litigation department of the Barreau du Québec, where he regularly represented the professional order before the courts, including the Court of Appeal, and acted as a legal advisor to the Barreau du Québec. He then worked in administrative, criminal, civil and professional law.
Since 2015, Marc has been a partner lawyer with the Quebec Center for Environmental Law. He holds a deep conviction that environmental law brings together the most important issues of the present and the future.

Mr. Voghel holds a certificate in administration from UQÀM and a bachelor’s degree in law from Université Laval. As soon as he graduated from university, he joined the team of the Québec Parliamentary Ombudsman, the Protecteur du citoyen. Since his swearing-in, Mr. Voghel has acted exclusively in litigation, notably as a criminal and youth lawyer, first for legal aid in Abitibi-Témiscamingue and then on his own, as well as in police law as a prosecutor for the Police Ethics Commissioner.  

Having dedicated his practice to defending the most vulnerable and those whose voices deserve to be heard more forcefully, the environment seemed to him to be a natural client.

The CQDE offers a structured and supervised legal clinic to university students wishing to complete an accredited internship in environmental law.

After completing a bachelor’s degree in law at Université de Sherbrooke and joining the Quebec Bar in 2018, Ms. Cloutier began her practice in administrative law and civil litigation. She returned to Université de Sherbrooke to complete a master’s degree in environmental management, which led her to work on the themes of water governance and population resilience in an era of climate change alongside a multidisciplinary research team.   

 Since completing her master’s degree, Camille has worked as a lawyer representing several First Nations and environmental organizations. Based in the Eastern Townships, she enjoys being involved in her community and strongly pursues the ideal of a world free of all forms of oppression on humans and nature.